It's war in the finals

Norman Black and Franz Pumaren are no strangers to each other. They’ve been together in basketball teams for 14 years.

First, they were on the same San Miguel Beer squad in the PBA from 1986 to 1990 when Black was the playing coach. Pumaren continued to play while Black became a full-time coach up 1996 when he relinquished the reins to Ron Jacobs. Then they were reunited at Mobiline with Black as coach and Pumaren as player in 1997. Another reunion came at Sta. Lucia Realty with Black as coach and Pumaren as assistant for two seasons, including the 2001 campaign where the Realtors captured their first-ever title.

There probably isn’t a player or coach closer to Black than Pumaren. But affinity has its limits when what’s on the line is a championship, specifically the coveted UAAP men’s basketball senior title.

Black, 50, and Pumaren, 45, are now on opposite camps. Black is on his fourth year at the Ateneo helm and still searching for his first UAAP crown while Pumaren is on his 10th year at La Salle with six titles under his belt.

This season, Ateneo has lost only once and is riding a nine-game winning streak. The Blue Eagles haven’t been beaten since dropping a 66-72 decision to FEU last July 31. They’re No. 1 in the standings with a 14-1 overall record.

No starting lineup in the UAAP is as potent as Black’s. In Ateneo’s 14 wins, three players averaged in doubles figures – 6-6 Rabeh Al-Hussaini (16.4), 5-11 Chris Tiu (14.1) and 5-11 Eric Salamat (10.0).

Seven players have seen action in all 15 contests and five are averaging at least 5.5 points. Black has made extensive use of his 16-man lineup with Tonino Gonzaga, Oping Sumalinog and Justin Chua logging the least exposure at five games each.

Backing up Al-Hussaini at center are 6-3 Jobe Nkemakolam and 6-4 Vince Burke. Nonoy Baclao, Nico Salva, Mike Baldos and Chua make up the corps at power forward while the wingmen are Ryan Buenafe, Kirk Long and Gonzaga. At offguard are Tiu, Salamat and Sumalinog. The point guards are Jai Reyes, Yuri Escueta and Bacon Austria.

Black has five rookies in the cast. Tiu and Escueta are the only players finishing up their eligibility. Al-Hussaini, Baclao, Baldos, Nkemakolam and Reyes have a year left to play.

Black said the three keys in winning the title are staying healthy, maintaining a high energy level and executing defensively.

“We’re up against an outstanding offensive team so it’s important for us to execute defensively,” he expounded. “Conditioning is just as important because La Salle is always in top condition and we’ve got to at least match their energy. Finally, the team that stays healthy until the end of the series has a big edge.”

Black candidly assessed the Eagles’ strengths and weaknesses.

“We’ve got size, the ability to get the ball in the post and the ability to get to the line,” he went on. “Another advantage is Chris’ leadership. Then there’s our consistency on defense anchored by Eric and Nonoy.

On the other side, we’ve got to take care of the ball, break their pressure defense and execute offensively. We need to shore up our perimeter defense because La Salle is No. 1 in the league in three-point shooting. We’ll also focus on defensive rebounding to keep Rico (Maierhofer) and James (Mangahas) from scoring on offensive rebounds and to ignite our running attack.”

Black said his message to the fans of both schools is just to enjoy the series.

“It’s going to be an exciting finals with an electric atmosphere,” he continued. “I’m hoping if there’s any animosity, it stays on the court. You couldn’t ask anything more because we’ve got the best two college basketball teams in the finals. For the fans, it’s a dream series.”

Last Aug. 21, Ateneo displayed its mettle by coming back from eight points down in the final minutes to force overtime then beat UE, 61-57. Tiu’s three clutch triples and another from Buenafe saved the Eagles from defeat in regulation.

As for La Salle, it’s been a roller-coaster ride for the Archers who went through two games without Pumaren, coaching the national team at the FIBA-Asia under-18 Youth Championships in Tehran.

La Salle roared to a 5-1 start then finished the double-round eliminations at 10-4, tied with FEU. The Archers beat the Tamaraws twice in a row, 62-59 and 67-62, to arrange the title showdown with Ateneo. La Salle’s losses were to Ateneo twice, 79-73, and 65-57, UE, 68-62, and FEU, 83-75.

What weighs heavy on Pumaren’s shoulders is losing twice to the Eagles in as many outings this season.

In the first game, Tiu erupted for 26 points and Ateneo shot 34-of-42 free throws (compared to La Salle’s 13-of-29) as the Eagles won, 79-73. La Salle had more turnover points, 16-6, but was outrebounded, 46-41. JV Casio hit 19 points, Maierhofer 16 and Mangahas 13 to pace the Archers.

In the second game, Ateneo’s defense limited La Salle to only .338 shooting from the field and the Eagles controlled the boards, 43-37, to prevail, 65-57. Al-Hussaini, Baclao and Reyes wound up in twin digits. Maierhofer was the only Archer in double figures with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

While Ateneo has emerged as the league’s best defensive team, La Salle is winning with offense. The Archers are 8-0 when scoring at least 76 points. In 12 wins, they averaged 77.8. In four losses, the clip was down to 66.8. What gives Pumaren’s attack a lot of sock is the Archers firepower from the bench. La Salle is No. 1 in bench scoring with 39.3 points a game.

Pumaren brought in six rookies this season – 6-1 Hyram Bagatsing, 5-11 Manoj Chandumal, 6-4 Mark Mendoza, 5-8 L.A. Revilla, 6-3 Maui Villanueva and 6-2 Joshua Webb. Casio is graduating and will be a big loss but Pumaren’s system thrives on team play so he should be able to compensate.

The tallest Archers are 6-4 Maierhofer, 6-5 P.J. Walsham and 6-5 Ferdinand. How Pumaren plans to neutralize Al-Hussaini inside the shaded lane will be critical in solving the Ateneo problem.

Ferdinand usually starts at center with Villanueva and Walsham as relievers. Mangahas, Maierhofer and Mendoza play the four-spot. Maierhofer can also play five alongside Mangahas. Sharpshooter Bader Malabes, Peejay Barua and Webb are the small forwards. Casio, Bagatsing and Rejan Lee form the offguard troops while Simon Atkins, Revilla and Chandumal are the point guards.

Pumaren’s distinct advantage is his mastery of the college game. When it comes to winning, there’s nobody more dependable.

“Towards the end of the season, we always try to step up a notch or even two notches higher,” said Pumaren. “Based on my experience playing in the finals, it will take a collective effort from all the players to win the championship. Down the road, it’s the poise and execution that will help us in the series.”

No doubt, championship experience is Pumaren’s biggest asset. He knows what to do at crunch time because he’s been there and done that. His six titles are proof of his capability.

With Pumaren not available to provide an analysis of the finals, La Salle graduate Tony Atayde offered his take.

“The key is Ferdinand or Walsham,” said Atayde. “They’ve got to contribute in the middle like Kish Co, a virtual unknown, did against UE in last year’s finals when La Salle was weak at center. Their contribution could be more defense and rebounds, not necessarily points.

“Mangahas and Barua have to score so the defense sags off Casio. We’ve got to slow down the Ateneo guards like we did to FEU. Al-Hussaini can’t be effective if the guards can’t get him the ball. Against FEU, he scored 33 points but no other Ateneo player was in double figures and they lost. An option is to let Al-Hussaini score all he wants.