How did Ateneo win
Game 2 (G2) of the Finals enroute to a rare 4-Peat? I tried to analyze want
went wrong with FEU in game 1 in a previous post after they were blown out in
the crucial third quarter. Now after seeing Ateneo blow out FEU again in G2 , I want to see what went wrong with them ,
again.
G2 game stats showed interesting figures in terms of the following : field goal/FT shooting (2pt/3pt/FT) , rebounds, assists,
turnovers.
Ateneo
|
FEU
|
|
2 pt FG
|
26-53(49.06%)
|
24-76 (31.58%)
|
3 pt FG
|
4-13 (30.77%)
|
2-20 (10.00%)
|
FT
|
26-35 (74.29%)
|
19-21 (90.48%)
|
Rebounds
|
4-29/33
|
19-24/43
|
Assists
|
18
|
12
|
Steals
|
6
|
5
|
TOs
|
8
|
7
|
Blocks
|
4
|
1
|
Personal Fouls
|
19
|
24
|
Total Points
|
82
|
69
|
First , Ateneo, again, shot better in terms of 2pt, 3pt FG but FEU FT shooting was more impeccable this time at 90% !
Again, FEU had more attempts from the field but had less FTs!
Again, FEU had more attempts from the field but had less FTs!
Second, Ateneo, again, rebounded better defensively and ,
again, FEU had more offensive and total rebounds!
Third, in terms of assists, Ateneo had a more fluid game and outplayed FEU in
terms of sharing the ball and getting it
to the open man to score with an 18-12 advantage in assists!
Fourth, Ateneo had less TOs with 8 this game indicating they had greater control
of the game compared to G1 where they
committed 17 mostly committed in the first half!
Fifth, FEU was slapped more fouls again in G2 just like in
G1.
What the stats mean?
Ateneo had a much
better 2ptFG shooting in game 1(G1) with 60% shooting compared to just 49% shooting in G2 but this time shot 30% 3pt FG
shooting compared to its 22.22% 3pt
shooting in G1!
Again , FEU had more attempts
from the field but had very poor FG shooting (31% 2pt FG/10% 3pt FG)! While FEU won the first quarter (1Q) in G1, Ateneo started strong and outplayed FEU in the 1Q of G2 although its shooting percentage went down in
the second period mainly due to the low percentage shots they took from the
perimeter resulting to FEU outscoring Ateneo 18-12. Ateneo then poured it on in
the 3rdQ where they outscored FEU , 22-9 , to make up for the scoring slack in
the 2Q . It was in the 3Q that
Ateneo scored from outside and inside
while they silenced the big guns of FEU
resulting to their scoring run thus improving their FG percentages! FEU shot
definitely better from the stripe in G2 at 90% vs Ateneo’s 74%
but Ateneo was given more FTs which gave them plus 5 FT points from FEU’s plus
5 Pfouls!
Perhaps learning from their
rebounding debacle in G1, FEU out rebounded Ateneo in G2 on plus 15 offensive rebounds and plus 10 in total rebounds! However,
just like in G1, Ateneo dominated the defensive boards on plus 5 advantage! While
FEU had a plus 15 in offensive rebounds , the fact that Ateneo had a better
shooting percentage may indicate there
was less need for offensive rebounds since they were making their shots
anyway! That was also the story in G1 ! Conversely , again, Ateneo’s gang rebounding strategy gave them the advantage
in defensive rebounds ; thus, limiting FEU on their second chance points , a vital
key in FEU’s game! FEU players , as shown in Romeo’s G2 disappointing 7 points ,
just weren’t making their shots ; and, worse , had a hard time grabbing back missed
shots!
While both teams played more
controlled basketball in G2 , Ateneo was plus
1 in G2 total TOs indicating again a chaotic offense early in the 2Q but then again
FEU committed more TOs in the second half when Ateneo started to break away!
Probably learning from their 1Q sloppy performance in G1, Ateneo played better
team ball in G2 by dishing out plus 6 in total assists mostly in the second
half starting with their 3Q methodical breakaway! Again, Ateneo’s game improved as the game
progressed while FEU’s just collapsed big time !
This time , however ,Coach Norman’ made sure there will be no FEU pick & roll nor pick & pop advantage !
This time , however ,Coach Norman’ made sure there will be no FEU pick & roll nor pick & pop advantage !
Note that what hurt FEU most in G1 was the plus 17 BIG points for Ateneo in FTs
made! In G2 , FEU made sure history won’t repeat itself , so it only gave up
plus 7 in FTs to Ateneo this time and more
importantly shot a high 90% FT shooting!
In contrast to G1 , FEU was only plus 5
in PFs vs the plus 9 for G1.
Lessons ?
To win a championship : Shoot better. Grab those rebounds. Play much better
defensively but limit fouls! Play 40
minutes of perfect TEAM basketball !
Next year , perhaps?
In the meantime, let Ateneo enjoy that sweet taste of a 4-Peat!
VS 