UAAP finals: Archers snatch Game 1 from Warriors, 64-63

The De La Salle Green Archers snatched Game 1 in an upset win, 64-63, over the University of the East Red Warriors in the best-of-three finals of the UAAP basketball tournament, witnessed by almost 16,000 spectators Thursday at the Araneta Coliseum. The Archers' victory dealt the Warriors their first ever loss this season, having made a rare 14-0 sweep of the double-round eliminations. Game 2 is scheduled at 3 p.m. on Sunday (October 7), also at the Araneta Coliseum. It was a highly emotional victory for the Archers, considering that the Warriors ended dominated the first three quarters of the game, always ending them in the lead the lead, 21-14, 39-37. and 50-47. But the Archers stuck close to them all throughout, at times overtaking the erstwhile undefeated team. Veteran guard TY Tang was named best player for making 17 points (nine of them in the fourth quarter), four rebounds, and two assists for the Archers. Forcing errors on the Warriors Archers head coach Franz Pumaren, in his eighth finals appearance in the last 10 years, attributed the win to boys’ ability to execute their plays, especially in crucial moments. He also credited his team's championship experience for their being able to limit the Warriors to only 63 points, the team’s lowest output for the season. “We were able to force UE to so many errors and aside from that my boys were able to execute our plays very well, especially in the closing minutes of the fourth period," the multi-titled coach of the Taft-based squad said. “If we’re going to compete with UE in scoring, we don’t have a chance winning against them that’s why we did our best to make the game slow and deliberate. We just played to our strength," Pumaren added. Pumaren also praised his veteran guards led by Tang and Cholo Villanueva and shooter Jvee Casio for their performance against Warriors James Martinez, Marcy Arellano, and rookie-sensation Paul Lee, who are more athletic and fast compared to his boys. Fourth year forward-center Rico Maierhofer, who injured his knee injury before the start of the championship game, also got praise from Pumaren. “My guards are veterans of so many basketball wars," Pumaren said. "I think that was also on our advantage. With regards to Rico, he failed to join our practice last Monday and Tuesday because of the injury but he still came through for us despite the pain." Asked if the Archers could keep their momentum going into Game 2 of the Finals, Pumaren said: "I don’t believe in momentum. UE is pressured because it’s the first time they entered the finals. But the victory is nothing because they are a proud team and are capable of beating us two in a row – just like what happened in the elimination round. That why we really need to remain focused so that we can get Game 2 and the championship on Sunday." “Fatigue is also a nonfactor here," Pumaren said. "I’m so confident of my players. I’ve been telling my players that I pushed you so hard especially during practices because we want to be prepared for this kind of situation." Tight game The game was tight from start to finish with no team leading by double-digits. The Warriors made the biggest lead in the second quarter at 31-32, after two free throws by athletic big man Hans Thiele, who finished the game with eight points and 15 big rebounds. The Warriors struggled hard to close this quarter and go into halftime with a 3-point lead, 50-47. In the third quarter, the Archers did not ease up on the pressure. In one stretch, they traded 2-pointers with the Warriors so that a one-point lead alternatively changed side, starting at 41-40, with the Warriors ahead. This went on until Casio, assisted by Maierhofer, made a jumper to put the score in favor of the Archers at 44-43 – after which they upped their lead, 46-43, and froze it there for a few minutes. It was Thiele who broke the impasse for the Warriors. He made one of two free throws to put the score at 46-44. From that point on the Warriors' game turned into a free-throw crawl to chase the Archers. In successive turnovers, Warriors Rudy Lingganay and Jun Bandaying made a point each off their two charities to even the score at 46. Then Hans Thiele returned to the charity line to make both shots. And that put Warriors in the lead again, 48-46. PJ Walsham made the Archers last point for that quarter, sinking one of two free throws to put the score at 48-47. But a quick and sneaky Marcy Arellano slipped past three Warriors to make a layup that ended the quarter at 50-47. Nip-and-tuck The fourth period was a nip-and-tuck affair with both teams still taking turns in getting the lead. The winning trend became clearer with under a minute left in the game. At this point, the Archers were up by three points at 63-60. With just 34.8 seconds left, Mark Borboran sank a three-pointer to tie the count for the Warriors at 63 – the 13th deadlock of the game. With 14.1 seconds left, TY Tang missed a three-pointer from the top of the key, but Maierhofer got an offensive rebound and was fouled in the process. Maierhofer missed his first gift shot but converted on his second to give the Archers a shaky one point advantage at 64-63. Warriors coach Dindo Pumaren, younger brother of the Archers' coach, immediately called a timeout for one last play briefing. Warrior Mark Borboran made a last-ditch three-point attempt that went in and out, with the Archers taking the rebound and holding on to the ball till the game clock expired. The Warriors actually shot better from the field going in the first half – 15 of 37, or a 39 percent clip. The Archers only did 14 of 37, or a 37 percent clip, from the field. The Warriors also had more rebounds in the first half – 34 compared to the Archers' 13. But the Archers managed to make the score close in the first half due to less turnovers with five compared to the Warriors 12, which were converted into points. A shot at redemption Taking Game 1, the Green Archers now have a chance to redeem themselves after suffering a year-long suspension in 2006 due to a player-eligibility scandal that rocked the school. Since the inception of the Final Four tournament in 1993, the winner of Game 1 of the men’s finals has won the title nine out of 13 times. Before Game 1, the Warriors coach Pumaren had lain dormant for the last three weeks because they had already clinched the finals slot with their rare 14-0 sweep of the double-round eliminations. The Warriors are aiming to get their 19th men’s title since winning its last crown under former players Allan Caidic and Jerry Codiñera in 1985. Archers coach Franz Pumaren will be gunning for his fifth title since taking over the coaching reins for La Salle in 1998. Both Dindo and Franz are prominent members of a closely-knit basketball family, that also includes father Filomeno Pumaren, the former multi-titled UE mentor, and brother Derrick Pumaren, the two-time Archers champion coach who is now consultant of UE. Quarter scores (UE-DLSU): 20-14, 39-37, 50-47, 63-64

- GMANews.TV