THE first round of most basketball tournaments is usually the test ‘em and feel ‘em out period for the teams involved.
It’s the time to test engines against those of the competition, learning time as well as strut-‘em time to excite the academic faithful.
True to pre-season billing, the De La Salle Green Archers have proven themselves to be both Best and Beasts of this University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) season. They have swept the first round, 7-0, and their players-to-watch who have been hyped as blue-chip rookies in the summer have indeed lived up to billing. There’s no one on the La Salle bench—head coach included—that you would rate as a B egg, so to speak. All of the players on the Green bench are Class A.
And so the only uncertain variables in the UAAP mix are the teams that come after No. 1. Most everyone agrees that the top post belongs to De La Salle and De La Salle alone. As for who is next best and who has the ability to challenge the Green Archers with believable opposition, the odds are now divided between defending champion Far Eastern University (FEU) and long, tall National University (NU).
The Ateneo Blue Eagles, despite their youth and veteran-depleted line-up, are steady in fourth place, meanwhile. The Adamson Falcons, despite their meteoric rise up the charts in the early part of the tournament, have dropped their last two games in succession, first to De La Salle, the next to University of the East and are looking for a new surge. The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers are treading water, just at sea level. The University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons and the University of the East (UE) Warriors bring up the rear with equal 6-1 records. But hey, there’s hope. Here comes the Second Round!
The second round begins with nary a yawn or even a hiccup on October 8. The seamless transition from first to second belies the strong undercurrents going on within the teams. This time, armed with more learning and enriched by prior experience with their opponents, the teams have gone back to their drawing boards during the super short break, recalibrated their moves, made drastic changes and are ready for their rematches. This time they hope they can do better, or even defy the odds.
Will De La Salle remain unbeaten all through 14 games? If not, which team will be able to break through the team’s seemingly impenetrable force field? Will FEU rise up and assert its defending champion’s rights? Or will NU be the worthier obstacle to De La Salle’s purposeful march towards the UAAP throne.
What about Ateneo? Will Thirdy Ravena prove that he is not just The Other Ravena and carry his band of Eagles on his broad, Bong Ravena-like shoulders to a better place? Will Adamson U truly show that their multi-titled coach, Franz Pumaren, has transformed them into worthy challengers as well? Will UST find its winning ways and growl itself to contention? Will UP and UE transcend their situations and leap frog into the higher rungs of the UAAP ladder?
The second round is met with much optimism by every one at the lower end of the spectrum, and with prayerful wishes by those on top that they stay where they are or get even better. Whatever position they occupy in the UAAP standings, they all have a gift called “second chance.” They all better know how to make good use of it.
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STILL on team benches, but in a totally different way, let’s also focus on the coaching staffs. Don’t look now, but did you notice how star-studded many of the benches are? Look more closely and you’ll see that most benches are peppered with Philippine Basketball Association personalities—hardcourt stars of an earlier era who are now sharing their shimmer and glimmer with the younger generation.
Let’s start with La Salle. Besides the phenomenal Aldin Ayo Jr. NBA Coach of the Year 2012, who has the reputation of bringing all the teams he has coached to the championship on the very first year, the Archers’ bench also has former Purefoods-Mobiline-Red Bulls player and FEU Coach Glenn Capacio and former UST varsity and Barako Bull, Ginebra Head Coach Siot Tanquincen in the sidelines.
NU has Four-Time PBA MVP Alvin Patrimonio on the bench this year [he was with UST last year] to take care of the big men, alongside Head Coach Eric Altamirano and his UP Fighting Maroons teammate Joey Guanio. Former Bulldogs standouts Jeff Napa and Pao Javelona are lending their smarts to the team, as well.
FEU Coach Nash Racela, meanwhile, has the Flying A, Johnny Abarrientos and Legend Jojo Lastimosa as assistant coaches to complement his old stalwarts Gilbert Lao, Josh Reyes and Eric Gonzales.
UE has the one-two Pumaren Punch courtesy of the Pumaren Kuya, Derrick and the family baby, Dindo. They are the deadliest brother tandem since Wyatt Earp and his bros.
UP has NCAA MVP and Purefoods-Ginebra-Coca-Cola campaigner Rodney Santos riding its bench beside Gin King Alex Cabagnot and ex-Alaskan Poch Juinio to support ex-PBA Coach Bo Perasol.
Coach Franz Pumaren has Don Allado, Tonichi Yturri and Renren Ritualo as star back-ups together with last year’s Head Coach Mike Fermin.
The Ateneo bench’s star attraction is none other than the illustrious Tab Baldwin, who shares his wisdom and system with Head Coach Sandy Arrespacochaga and his trusty deputies.
Among the eight teams, it is UST’s bench headed by former varsity go-to guy Boy Zablan that is All-Collegiate.
So wouldn’t you agree? UAAP action is very interesting to watch, whether it’s breaking out in the middle of the hardcourt or popping like crazy in the sidelines.