When Old Rivals Meet: The drama and sub-plots behind the Ateneo-UP UAAP Finals

When Old Rivals Meet: The drama and sub-plots behind the Ateneo-UP UAAP Finals

by rick olivares 
pic borrowed from joey hernandez FB profile pic

When the college basketball world was young, it was the University of the Philippines that the first power. They won a few titles before Ateneo upended them in 1929 and eventually became a basketball power in its own right.

Their renaissance began in the early 1980s when they managed to pick up many of the San Beda Red Cubs after their school briefly left the NCAA. However, they faced nothing but heartbreak in the finals. That is until their own version of Moses – in the form of Benjie Paras -- led them to the Promised Land.

Thirty-two years later, they managed to snag that dominant center in Bright Akhuetie, and like Benjie Paras before him, a refugee from the NCAA, he’s had an MVP season. And now there is all the more reason to Bo-lieve -- as they Maroon faithful put it – that the long wait is finally over.

Is it déjà vu all over again?

In 1986, the dominant team was the University of the East. Allan Caidic had graduated and that left Jerry Codinera to hold the fort. He did have a lot of capable help though and it seemed like their would nip Maroon Pride in the bud as they defeated UP in both elimination round games. Come the finals, it was all UP. And in that finals, it was the third man in their Big Three – the other two being Eric Altamirano and Ronnie Magsanoc that year that hurt UE – and that is now the man they call “Coach E”.

UP’s Big Three goes by the name of Akhuetie, Paul Desiderio, and Juan Gomez De Liaño.

When I watch De Liaño, I am reminded by Jeron Teng; although more athletic. When JT came into the league, he was nipping at the heels of a Ravena – Kiefer Ravena to be exact. Now, Gomez De Liaño is the one tugging at the cape of that Superman that is Thirdy Ravena. We all know what JT did – he led DLSU to two titles. And UP has stockpiled on nuclear weapons that they will unleash next season. But why wait ‘til next season?

There are similarities today, but the basketball world has turned around. Ateneo, FEU, and La Salle lord it over the league while UE is down there (and that is putting it mildly). UP has made all sorts of noises in the last three years picking up big wins here and there. They took the big step of making the Final Four and then now, the Finals. And they Bo-lieve it is destiny – there is another Paras – Kobe Paras to be exact -- and this massive reinforcement from La Salle Greenhills in Ricci Rivero both suiting up; albeit for next season. In ’86? That was Joey Guanio.

Are the ingredients all here for an incredible finish? One for the books? We’ll find out.

As for Bo Perasol… what sweet redemption. After all, his first foray in college coaching was with Ateneo where he tasted a modicum of success. After the end of his three-year coaching stint with Ateneo, he returned to his alma mater where he has enjoyed success. It is rather strange that not only will he be coaching against his former team but some of the players helped recruit. He will try to sink Ateneo's incredible season.

How huge is this chance to win a title? For so long, the UP fan reverted to the Pride of ’86. Several generations have passed since. Now, they feel, is the time to create new heroes and new memories.

Standing in their way is Ateneo, an NCAA refugee in its own right, that went through two long droughts before they fought their way out of the rut. And now they are in their 13^th UAAP Finals berth (winning nine of them).

They have fended off the challenges of everyone. Like UP, they somewhat struggled to find their groove in the first round (but had to deal with a suspension and injuries) before making a run; hence, a battle between the two hottest teams in the league.

After Ateneo regained the crown in 2002, the joke, especially among its rivals from Taft was that it would take another 14 years to win another championship. It took exactly six years; the beginning of what eventually was a historic five-peat. When that ended, the question was, when would that campus along Loyola Heights taste the bubbly once more? It took five years. And now there is a chance to continue the run.

Everyone likes to talk about winning it as a team. Of course, everyone is a team. The same can be said for UP. But unlike UP which needs its Big Three to go, Ateneo relies on everyone. Sure, Angelo Kouame is the Big Difference, but Isaac Go isn’t chopped liver.

Kouame is the only one set to receive an individual award. Not since 2010 has Ateneo not had anyone receive an individual award. And that is fine with them. They neither care for that. The only thing that matters is defending that crown.

You can bet there is a lot of pressure on Ateneo’s shoulders. They are up against a rival; one that is coached by their former bench master who will not say this so I will say it for him – he wants to prove a lot of people in the blue side of Katipunan wrong. Furthermore, the whole 2019 has been a banner one – three summer league crowns and a sterling William Jones Cup appearance. But that might not be remembered if the defense of the crown goes south.

When these two teams tangled in the second round, there was that incident between Thirdy Ravena and Paul Desiderio. They might be Gilas Cadets teammates, but make no mistake, they’ll be at each other come game time.

While Matt Nieto is almost back to speed, the question too here is will Tyler Tio once more be that UP killer? After all, two of his biggest games to date were superb performances against the Fighting Maroons.

Of course, there is that titanic match-up between Akhuetie and Kouame.

There is so much drama, so many sub-plots in this Finals match up. Two premier schools. The first two college basketball powers in Philippine history.

This is going to be electric.