It all boils down to one game.University of the East and Ateneo De Manila University clash this Thursday, in a do-or-die affair for the UAAP men's basketball championship. After UE's Game one defeat, the Red Warriors bounce back, led by Elmer Espiritu and Pari Llagas to trounce the Blue Eagles 88-68 to knot the series 1-1 and more importantly, bringing the pressure into the Blue Eagles side, a site we last saw 3 years ago when JC Intal led-Ateneo blew an 1-0 lead in the finals and lost to Jojo-Duncil led UST.
Based from my other Atenian friends, they boldly predicted "It ain't gonna happen again."
Think again guys, Ateneo is in a brink of duplicating one of the most embarrassing letdown in UAAP finals history.
Blue Eagles have remained the favorite to win this year's title but somehow UE is surprising everyone since towards the end of regular season by winning 7 straight. Led by Paul Lee and Elmer Espiritu, the duo have been consistent throughout the season and making a name for themselves during this part of the season wherein every possession counts. Lee has vastly improved from a Paul Artadi Caliber into a known scorer and great ballhandler. Throw in Pari Llagas and sharp shooter Val Acuna have made UE a more dangerous team despite the departure of ace guard Marcy Arellano. Despite having a new coach in Lawrence Chongson, who first broke into the basketball scene as a bust coach for the defunct-MBA Pangasinan Waves, Warriors have adopted a more defense-oriented team since the departure of Dindo Pumaren as head tactician.
As for the Blue Eagles, if ever Ateneo would lose this game, it will mark as the second time in 4 years that they squandered a 1-0 lead in the finals. Heavy favorites during the start of the season despite the departure of Chris Tiu, Eagles now found themselves playing the game of their life after breezing through the elimination round. We saw the struggles of Erik Salamat, Ryan Buenafe and Nico Salva in Game 2. These 3 guys have been solid for Norman Black throughout the season and to see these 3 struggle at the wrong time means danger for Ateneo. Rabeh will get his numbers eventually, but his teammates must help him out. Chongson have already admitted that stopping Rabeh is impossible, so these guys must also help Rabeh in scoring. For three quarters, Ateneo were within striking distance and yet, they let UE ran over them during the fourth quarter.
For sure Araneta would be jam packed. This is one game students, alumni would not miss. Even those non-alumni are itching to see what kind of basketball would be played. Physical could be as some Atenians sore-losers lashed out their frustration during their game 2 loss by throwing out elbows on UE players. Me? As a LaSallian, I would love to see Ateneo lose this game. I admit, I was never a fan of Ateneo and I'll never be one.
As long as Ateneo played their normal game on Sunday, there's no doubt that Eagles would reign supreme this year.
If not, then Katipunan would again be flooded.. by tears of dispair and disappointment.
0 comments:
Post a Comment