think rainbows

It was a busy Thursday for me yesterday. I went on leave from work because I had to go to the doctor for my monthly check-up for my hyperthyroid. We went straight home after to continue with the Christmas decorations at home. It’s still not yet fully finished but we’re getting there. And since I wanted to get more things done, I decided to go to the venue for our company Christmas party, just to check it out and ask about some stuff.

Before I left home, I asked my friend (from AdU) if she wanted to watch the game 1 of the PCCL Finals, since Ateneo and Adamson are playing. Luckily she was available, the game was set at 4:00 p.m., and the venue was not that far (Ninoy Aquino Stadium), so we met up to watch the game. I was really excited because first, I know both of the teams, I am familiar with the players since they are UAAP teams, and the last time I watched a live (college) basketball game was September pa! So being able to watch live again in December is a real treat. And this is Ateneo and Adamson we are talking about, it’s just like the UAAP!

There weren’t a lot of people probably because it was on an ordinary day, and only Adamson had drummers, which at least made the game a bit livelier. (Richard Gordon and Justice Renato Corona were there, pretty cool seeing them during a live game, and outside of the UAAP. :P) It would’ve been better if Ateneo had drums too, and if they also had performers during halftime, though they had their trumpeters around the third quarter at least. Kudos to those guys and the vuvuzela-playing crowd who wore #12 jerseys from Ateneo who still cheered their lungs out even though they were obviously overpowered whenever the AdU pep squad started banging those drums.

First quarter already started when we arrived at the venue, luckily we were able to get good seats. It was a one-sided affair as the Ateneo Blue Eagles had an early run to end the first quarter at 21-9. The Soaring Falcons woke up during the second quarter and tied the game at 37-all at the end of the first half. The Eagles weren’t going to give it away that easily as they registered an 11-point lead at the end of the third quarter looking to get away with the win, 66-55. The fourth quarter was then to become a seesaw of lead changes as the Falcons and the Eagles answered shot after shot, trying to edge out one another to grab the 1-0 lead for this best of three finals.


With less than 5 minutes to go in the ball game, an Alex Nuyles three-point play tied the game at 70-all, but Nico Salva immediately erased that with a jumper to put Ateneo ahead, 72-70. Lester Alvarez rose up to the call and shot a three-pointer to put Adamson in the lead, 73-72. Gonzaga missed a three-point attempt which was converted to an Adamson possession that saw Lester Alvarez take another three-point attempt. The ball rattled off the rim but Rodney Brondial was there to save the day as he tipped the ball in, 75-72 for Adamson with 2:49 to go.

A Salva jump hook and an Eric Salamat split charities tied the ball game at 75-all, the game’s last deadlock. Nuyles missed on a three-point attempt followed by a scramble for the loose ball which eventually led to a jump ball situation since there was less than two minutes left on the clock. Brondial was able to send the ball to Janus Lozada who tried on a foiled three-pointer but was able to grab his own miss and pass it to Nuyles. Adamson got the lead after Nuyles was able to sink in a difficult jumper, 77-75 with 54.1 seconds to go. Ateneo timeout.

Emman Monfort was left open at the three-point area as he undoubtedly sank in a three-pointer, 78-77 for Ateneo. Adamson timeout. The Falcons didn’t need to hurry things as they waited for time to wind down before Alex Nuyles received the ball, attacked the center of the Ateneo defense and went strong to the basket. There was a foul called, and the basket, counted. Nuyles completed the three-point play to put Adamson up, 80-78 with 16.6 seconds remaining. The Eagles had no more answer as the time on the clock expired, even as Coach Norman Black demanded for a foul from the referees but to no avail.

Adamson has won game 1 of the PCCL Finals, 80-78. They have beaten Ateneo once again, after 13 long years, at the same venue where the Falcons last won against the Eagles. What a treat.

Game 2 of the finals will be held on Sunday at the Philsports Arena. I kind of expect more people to watch live due to the fact that it’s a weekend, and that the Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion will be present, and that it is going to be another very exciting game. Ateneo would surely bounce back, while Adamson will try to score a win again against Ateneo, twice in a row, and on a different venue. I am just very pleased not just because we were able to watch another live basketball game, but more due to the fact that we were able to help in a way with the tickets we purchased while watching a game that turned out pretty good. Plus the fact that Adamson won, and that we got to take a picture with the man, Alex Nuyles.

Our next goal: PBA.

P.S.
Congratulations too to the UST Tigers Cubs who won over the SSC-R Staglets, and to the DLSU Green Archers for placing third after beating the UC Webmasters. Good job UAAP! :D