THE Ateneo-La Salle basketball rivalry boiled over at the Sydney Entertainment Centre this week, with the Green Archers shooting down the Sea Eagles, 28-18, in a 30-minute curtain-raiser for the Sydney King v Perth Wildcats main event.
The Green Machine pulled away from the very start, although beaten at the tip-off by Ateneo’s captain Fidel Fernando, and the La Sallites never looked back.
Half-time score was 13-8.
The Ateneo v La Salle alumni game was part of a Filipino Day arranged by Hoopdreamz’s Miko Selorio, president of the newly formed Filipino Australian Basketball League, for the Sydney Kings.
Filipino-Australians provided break-dancing entertainment for the Sydney Kings v Perth Wildcats game as well as a female quartet singing the Australian national anthem, Advance Australia Fair.
There was the traditional cheering sections of opposing supporters, with the La Salle contingent complete with banners, visibly outnumbering Ateneo’s in the bleacher.
Playing in “official” uniforms ~ navy blue-and-white for Ateneo, green-and-white for La Salle ~ the teams played an exciting match, each alternating between zone defence and one-on-one during the game.
The Sea Eagles never took the lead, but they stayed within range with a gutsier attacking game. It was also the speedier side, but clearly lacking enough match-practice to overcome a better disciplined and more accurate-shooting Green Machine.
La Salle sealed the game with two exciting interceptions in the last few minutes and scoring the last points before the final gun.
The exhibition was the third held between Ateneo and La Salle alumni basketball teams since 1989. The Green Machine has won all three.
Teams comprised exclusively of school alumni and son of alumni from Ateneo and La Salle.
This year’s teams were:
LA SALLE:
Andrew Aebi, Don Aquiatan, Mark Picones, Moto Garcia, Paolo Policarpio, Patrick Caunca, Red Policarpio, Ron Mariano, Vergel , Willard Manay, Weng Marcelino, Kyle Mendoza. Coach: Joey Jimenez Reyes.
ATENEO:
Fidel Fernando (captain), Albert Tirona (co-captain), Joseph Prochina, Miguel Hitosis, Lorenzo Asalemo, Carlo Roman, Franz Simeon, Henry Nayle, Robbie Tirona, Miguel Goco, Raymund Paradeza. Coach: Edmund Carino.
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CAPTIONS
Top picture: Sea Eagles captain Fidel Fernando unchallenged as he reaches for basket. Lower picture: La Salle’s Red Policarpio floats through defence.
Photos by: RAYMOND POLICARPIO
