The UAAP men’s championship between Ateneo de Manila and the University of the East is moved to Thursday (due to Typhoon Ondoy), enough time to give some breathing room for the Red Warriors, who are coming off a hard-earned sudden death victory over the FEU Tamaraws last Thursday at the Big Dome.
Dismantling FEU’s twice-to-beat incentive was no easy job, considering that UE doesn’t have the manpower to match up with its University Belt neighbors.
Yet, when FEU’s top management decided to drop ace point guard Mark Barroca from its roster following reports of alleged game fixing, things began to go sour for the Tamaraws.
Now, UE will have its chance of ending its 24-year title drought in the UAAP at the expense of Ateneo, the same school that prevented the Red Warriors from annexing the 1987 UAAP men’s cage championship when the Blue Eagles still had Danny Francisco leading the way.
Well, the 2009 season is a completely different ballgame to start with.
Ateneo has a veteran slotman and 2008 UAAP Most Valuable Player Rabeh Al-Hussaini to lead the way for the back-to-back title seeking Blue Eagles.
Of course, the presence of multi-titled PBA mentor Norman Black is the biggest factor why the Blue Eagles are the favored bets to win the UAAP crown.
His coaching experience that spans more than 20 years, is Ateneo’s biggest weapon going into the Finals.
Curiously, both Ateneo and UE are entering Game One of their best-of-three title duel this Thursday carrying a long winning streak.
Ateneo has an 11-game winning streak intact, including its 81-64 demolition of my alma mater University of Santo Tomas a week ago in their Final Four match up.
On the other hand, UE is coming to the Finals with an eight-game winning run that includes its consecutive playoff wins against FEU.
Defense will surely be Ateneo’s ticket to the championship, something UE will really have to improve on in its bid to frustrate Black and his Blue Eagles.
UE do have a slew of scorers capable of puncturing the hoop—Paul Lee, the hero of the Red Warriors’ twin victories over the Tams, big men Pari llagas and Elmer Espiritu, as well as shooter Val Acuna and guards Rudy Lingganay and Toto Bandaying.
Friends of mine, who are avid UAAP followers have all predicted an Ateneo Finals sweep.
I, too felt Ateneo has the big advantage in its goal of annexing its second UAAP crown this decade.
With the sea of blue and white cheering expectedly come this Thursday, the Red Warriors better be ready or Ateneo will bring out the broom.