A second chance for Green Archers

Just to attend the crucial playoff between DLSU and Ateneo yesterday, I cancelled an interview with the DHL hiring manager, which is scheduled in the afternoon. The other day, I took the exam for management trainee position.

This is not to spur envy to anyone who also wanted the job. One factor I realized is that the company is really far…far away from my hometown in Sampaloc Manila. Imagine, traveling to Alabang everyday takes two and a half hours of ride. Though I passed the written and screening interview, I dropped my application. I would consider other job applications…

Yesterday morning, I decided to call an administrator to purchase a ticket. Tickets for Upper A and Lower box were already sold out; but using my connections inside, I was able to get two tickets for my brother and I. While scalpers and other alumni sell tickets around P700-800, I only bought it for a hundred. Now, I realized the power of acquaintances. 

Before the game, I had the chance to chat with my friends who are both students and alumni. I learned that some alumni either excused or escaped from their work just to watch the crucial game. But some who stormed the gates of Araneta were permitted to leave early, because their senior managers also watched the game. Some students, on the other hand, cut classes. 

***

Though we lost twice against Ateneo, we were able to win the most crucial game of the season. As Tony Atayde described it: “There is a mathematical anomaly where two is better than one.” 

After the NU-ADMU game, Franz read his Daily Bread with the topic on Second Chance. In an interview with inboundpass.com, he said:” I don’t know if this is really destined on our part. But we were given the second chance. The opportunity was open to us so might as well enter and grab it.” Coach Franz furthered that he has coached for 120 games, but this “was the most relaxed experience.” 

 

The game between Ateneo and National University last Saturday was important on the part of Ateneo. If the Katipunan-based squad wins the match, the team will enjoy the twice-to-beat match and they will advance to the second place. So Franz and company maximized the opportunity, which I believe has a Divine blessing.

Green Archers were down by few points in the first half, but the boys of Franz didn’t give up. As Inquirer reported:

Instead of popping out a pass to anyone or stepping back beyond the arc for a bucket that would tie the count, Laterre took — and made — a meaningless teardrop shot that left a tenth of a second on the clock and the Eagles with no chance to get the ball back.
“I was really confident coming into this game,” said La Salle coach Franz Pumaren, surprisingly cool and emotionless despite coming off a thriller of a ballgame. “The manner in which we lost our last two games showed the character of this team.

 

JV Casio is the star player of the game as he scored 21 points (JV happened to be my school mate in San Beda before. When he was still part of San Beda Red Cubs, I used to interview him for our HS publication).

Compared to his performances during previous games against Ateneo, Casio made the most of his time inside the court.

Date (games against Ateneo)	Minutes	Points	3PM-A	Free throws
07/26	29 minutes	21	1-7	2-3
09/09	26 minutes	5	0-3	3-3
09/18	35 minutes	21	3-7	2-2

 

His performance, no doubt, made Green Archers into the final-four. Rico Maierhofer’s 13 points and 12 rebounds also contributed well for the team’s victory. Thank God, he was spared from a possible injury.

 

***

 

Deciding to watch the game than to attend the job interview was worth it. The experience can never be replaced by an offer far away from my hometown. (Going to Araneta Cubao only takes 15 minutes from our place).

While walking along the Araneta after the game, my phone rang: An Ortigas-based company called me. Wow, a job interview again. An exam and interview are scheduled in the afternoon. I think I will like the job because it involves technical writing for manuals. And this is my Second Chance.

 

Sources:

1. http://www.inboundpass.com/2007/09/18/green-archers-gain-2x-to-beat-advantage
2. http://www.pbfantasy.com/uaap/player/0000000030
3. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/sports/view_article.php?article_id=89382