Ateneo-FEU. A Finals Preview?

Ateneo-FEU. A Finals Preview?

by rick olivares

The UAAP basketball season is broken down into four – the first round, the second round, the Final Four, and the Finals.

The Ateneo Blue Eagles take a look at the season then set down four goals that by no means are easy: to make it to the Final Four, to secure the twice-to-beat advantage, to get into the finals, and then win.

The first two have been secured but there is still the matter of the final seedings.

The Far Eastern University Tamaraws are at 11-2 while the Ateneo Blue Eagles are at 10-3. Their sole remaining elimination round match is against each other this coming Saturday.  The situation is nearly identical to the previous season’s scenario except that Ateneo was ahead of FEU in the standings. The Blue Eagles won that game of course and they are hoping that in this instance, history will repeat itself.

How important is the match considering the twice-to-beat advantage has been secured?

For one, there’s nothing like heading into the Final Four with a win in the bag instead of a loss. And second, Ateneo’s toughest competition in the past four years has been FEU. The Tamaraws are the only team in that span of time to have dealt the Blue Eagles at least one loss. After Ateneo dropped their season opener, they not only have revenge in their eyes but a loss will give FEU the psychological advantage of having bested the defending champs twice should they meet again in the finals.

As for picking their poison – a choice between Adamson or La Salle as an opponent in the Final Four – if you are a true fan of the Blue Eagles you will know that they don’t care who their opponent is. At the end of the day, it’s the “W” and the championship that counts. And the Falcons and the Green Archers aren’t exactly pushovers. So both match-ups, especially now it’s for the marbles, are huge.

As a sidebar, since 2002, the team that beat the University of the East Red Warriors in the post-elimination round went on to win the title. Now that the Red Warriors are out of the running every team out there has no coincidence to anchor their championship dreams on. They have to go out and create it.

Can the Blue Eagles beat the Tamaraws for the top seed? Of course, they can.

Some analysts say that FEU’s level of play has gone down in the second round where they were defeated twice and had some near misses on others. If anything, one should look at their final game where they bludgeoned the hapless University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons. The players somewhat diverted from their team play and instead hawked for individual statistics. Quite a few of them are in the running for some season awards, but the FEU braintrust believes that their squad will be locked in when it matters. And they will be led by the amazing RR Garcia who is a cinch to bag this year’s Most Valuable Player Award, Reil “The Real Deal” Cervantes who is pro-ready, and Aldrech Ramos who is the most fearsome frontcourt defender in the league today. And there’s Terence Romeo, their former juniors hotshot who will also win the Rookie of the Year Award over Ateneo’s Arthur dela Cruz Jr. They have their own defensive stopper in Ping Exciminiano and other specialists like Paul Sanga who would love nothing than to conclude his playing years with a title.

As for the Blue Eagles, they have waxed hot and cold. Given the level of competition this year, 10-3 with a game to play isn’t that bad. But then again, they should be at 11-2 or even 12-1.

The key to Ateneo’s success this year (aside from the coaching job) has been the stellar play of their veterans. If it hasn’t been obvious then let this statement stand that the Blue Eagles recruited the two best San Sebastian Staglets in recent memory in Eric Salamat and Ryan Buenafe. And that’s saying a lot because key players from their NCAA Juniors four-peat squad are currently suiting up for FEU, La Salle, UST, UE, and EAC.

Forward Nico Salva has battled injuries in the second round but as it was against Adamson, showed that he can be counted upon when the stakes are higher. And there’s Kirk Long who has been the Blue Eagles’ most consistent player this season. If Emman Monfort’s outside artillery can find the range it will open up the game for Ateneo’s bigs who must raise the level of their play. The doughnut hole in the middle remains. Against the tall line-up of FEU, the Blue Eagles will have their hands full.

When the two teams first met during the opening weekend of the UAAP, the match was the most intense of the four games played. It was a play-off like atmosphere that Sunday afternoon. Many came away saying that the match was a Finals preview. While the Falcons and Green Archers would like to have a say in the matter, make no mistake. This Saturday’s match between the two teams that will decide who in the number one squad after the eliminations will have all the makings of Game 1 of the UAAP Season 73 Finals.