New kings of the UAAP hailed as Blue Eagles’ 5-year reign comes to an end
The Blue Eagles were out to defend their five-year dynasty but lost key players, especially at the post, with the exodus of Greg Slaughter and Nico Salva. Many believed that Ateneo’s chances of taking home a sixth straight title would be slim, but not impossible. After all, it still had the sensational Kiefer Ravena in its fold.
The UST Growling Tigers seemed prime for the championship this season after losing their chance in the finals against Ateneo last year. Besides, they still have a formidable line-up that includes Jeric Teng, Karim Abdul, Aljon Mariano and Kevin Ferrer.
The NU Bulldogs looked solid with an almost intact line-up and a more seasoned Ray Parks. They also have an incredibly deep bench.
The UE Warriors surprised many with their conquest of the pre-season Fil Oil Cup. With the scoring prowess of Roy Sumang and the addition of the bull-strong Charles Mammie, they were certain to give other squads a run for their money.
The FEU Tamaraws are always considered a dangerous team with explosive guards like Terrence Romeo and RR Garcia. This was proven to be true when the Tams swept the first round this season.
The Green Archers entered the season with the tallest frontline and the deepest bench. Although a young team, they were immediately considered as title contenders.
So it was a wide-open race.
But nearing the playoffs, the tournament became even more interesting due to certain unexpected events including numerous suspensions on players and coaches. Ateneo’s chances were hurt when new head coach Bo Perasol was slapped a two-game suspension after a confrontation with a DLSU fan at the end of the Ateneo-La Salle second round match. UST eventually eliminated the Perasol-less Blue Eagles in their second round match-up to barge into the Final Four.
Thus, Ateneo’s five-year dynasty finally met its end.
And after the semis, the two teams that survived were also the most determined this year, having gone through the fire earlier in the tournament. The Green Archers were criticized in several games during the first round for their inability to close out games that they’ve dominated in the first three quarters. The Growling Tigers groped for form in several games due to the absence of Jeric Teng, who sustained a back injury during the first round encounter with NU.
La Salle entered the second round with a renewed spirit and has not lost a single game since. UST, the No. 4 squad in the semis, defied the odds and defeated the No. 1 team NU Bulldogs twice to return to the UAAP finals.
And the finale was everything it was expected to be. The best-of-three championship series went the distance, with all three games equally heart-stopping. The Tigers took Game 1, with a 73-72 squeaker over the Archers, in a highly charged contest. But La Salle got its act together to even the series with a convincing 77-70 victory. This set the stage for a climactic ending to a great season.
Game 3 was sure to bring out the best in both squads. It was electrifying, emotional, physical and spectacular.
From the get go, you could see the fire in the eyes of both sides. Both teams played excellent defense that neither of them was able to build a big lead, unlike in the first two games.
Four quarters could not settle the championship. Extra five minutes were needed.
At this point, both sides were slowly losing steam. Both coaches limited their player rotation. One after another, the players were getting the cramps. The overtime period was starting to look ugly, marred by forced shots and turnovers from both sides.
The first basket in the extra period was a lay-up by Vosotros after a loose ball play, 67-65 for DLSU. Jarencio asked for an isolation post play for Kevin Ferrer. Brilliant move. 67-all, 1:15 left in the game.
UST makes a stop. Jarencio directs another post play, this time for Jeric, against Vosotros. Jeric did a tough fade away shot for the 69-67 UST lead with only 34 seconds remaining.
Jeron takes charge and draws a foul from Mariano. He sinks the first but bungles the second.
Mariano got the loose ball but was trapped in the corner. He spots Ferrer on the weak side, but his pass was off target. Crucial turnover.
The ensuing play became the play of the game. Jeron attacks the hoop and draws all defenders to him, leaving Vosotros open. Vosotros makes his favorite move – a shot fake and one-dribble J. Swoosh. La Salle now up, 70-69.
Abdul misses on his penetration and LA Revilla recovers the leather. UST sends him to the stripe. He makes one of two for a 71-69 La Salle lead.
Abdul attacks coast-to-coast but Jeron taps the ball out. Upon video review, the officials gave the possession to the Tigers, with only 2.3 seconds to go. Abdul finds himself wide open from mid-range but muffs his third attempt in a row.
La Salle gets the win and the title.
Two months later, the Green Archers also took home the PCCL crown via a 2-0 sweep of the South Western University Cobras in the finals.
With only LA Revilla graduating from its program, La Salle looks to build its own dynasty in the UAAP after archrival Ateneo ruled the league from 2008 to 2012.
The Teng brothers became household names especially after the finals. But other UAAP heroes emerged during the season like AVO, Perkins, Mammie, Chris Newsome, and Jericho Cruz, even as Romeo got the MVP award and Kyles Lao the Rookie of the Year plum.
Red Lions struggle to keep NCAA dynasty but win four-peat just the same
Many thought this season was going to be a walk in the park for San Beda, especially with an almost intact line-up. But from the opening day when the Red Lions barely escaped the College of St. Benilde Blazers, it became clear that this year’s NCAA tournament was also going to be anybody’s season.
It was also the longest season in league history, which ran from June to November. All ten teams had brilliant games throughout the season. The Mapua Cardinals only won twice in the tournament but one of them was over San Beda. Lyceum, the cellar dweller last season, defeated all four semi-finalists once this year.
Up to the last two weeks of the elimination round, the final standings were still unclear with only San Beda and Letran assured of a semis ticket.
But just before the Final Four, reports came out that Red Lion guard Ryusei Koga saw action in another tournament during the season, which was a league violation. If proven true, up to four SBC wins would have been forfeited, dropping the Red Lions to no more than the No. 4 spot. It would have meant a date with the Knights in the semis, but with a twice-to-win disadvantage. The NCAA formed an investigating committee that found no evidence to prove the allegation.
San Beda still emerged on top of the standings after the elims, followed by Letran, San Sebastian and Perpetual Help.
The Red Lions and Knights easily won their semis matches to set a most awaited rematch. San Beda got its third straight championship last year in three games at the expense of Letran.
It was another chance for the Lions to win the four-peat after they failed to achieve this in 2009. But it was a chance for retribution too for the Knights after bowing to San Beda in the previous year.
Many thought the match-up was dead even. But many agreed too that this was Letran’s best opportunity to snatch the NCAA diadem, which it last held in 2005. The Knights, after all, were more balanced this year, especially with the vast improvement of Raymond Almazan. The 6’8” center was declared the season MVP. He was a good match-up against San Beda’s Ola Adeogun.
In Game 1, the Lions’ championship experience and bench depth proved useful as they turned a see-saw battle into a rout in the last five minutes to take the victory, 80-68. San Beda entered the fourth quarter with a 47-53 deficit. But the Red Lions imposed their will in the same period, scattering 33 points as against only 15 for the Knights.
n Game 2, the Knights’ bench delivered the goods to level the series with a 79-74 win. The Lions had an excellent first half that saw them on top by six. But with their backs against the wall, the Knights responded to new mentor Caloy Garcia’s call to fight with all their might in the second half. Letran used a run-and-gun attack to force a sudden death for the title.
Still fresh in the minds of some Knights from last year’s Game 3, especially Mark Cruz, Kevin Racal, Jonathan Belorio and Almazan, was the 28-point mauling they received from the Lions. This time, they were ready for war.
Game 3 was a basketball junkie’s dream. It was one of the best college games in recent years, especially if you appreciate a defensive-oriented approach. There were 11 lead changes and three deadlocks.
At halftime, San Beda’s rookie coach Boyet Fernandez pointed out the Lions’ usual meltdown in the third period. In Games 1 and 2, they were ahead going into the second half only to lose the lead midway in the third quarter. In Game 3, they were down by six points after 20 minutes of play.
When the Knights brought their lead up to eight points in the third, the Letran gallery went wild, as it was looking very much like Game 2. But Fernandez pulled one from his bag of tricks and surprised the Knights with a 2-2-1 zone press and 2-3 half-court zone that allowed the Bedans to slowly crawl back into the game until an Amer jumper from the corner put San Beda back in the driver’s seat by one point.
Then came the payoff period. There was so much passion from both sides in the jam-packed Mall of Asia Arena. It was winning time.
Both teams traded baskets and the lead kept shifting from one side to the other. Letran rookies Rey Nambatac and Reneford Ruaya came to play and hit some big shots in the last eight minutes of the game.
But in the final two minutes, sophomore power forward Arth Dela Cruz took over the game, converting two floaters that kept the Lions ahead. With under a minute to go, Yvan Ludovice split his charities to give San Beda a two-point lead.
Racal tried to tie the count but was blocked by Adeogun.
With only eight seconds remaining, all the Red Lions had to do was make a good inbound pass. They didn’t. Dela Cruz lost grip of the ball and was stolen by Racal.
But the Knights wasted a golden opportunity to tie the count after Racal's pass was deflected by Dela Cruz into the hands of Ludovice and then to Amer, who was eventually fouled. Letran still not in penalty.
This time, San Beda made sure to inbound the ball well, which landed in the hands of Adeogun. Letran sent the Nigerian gentle giant to the line. He calmly sank both charities to give San Beda a luxurious four-point advantage with just two ticks left in the game.
And then it was all over. The Red Lions celebrate their fourth consecutive NCAA championship via a 60-56 triumph in Game 3.
This season was unquestionably the most difficult for the Red Lions, who have won seven of the last eight NCAA titles.
Next year, the Red Lions gun for a league record five straight championships that San Sebastian first achieved in 1997. With only Rome Dela Rosa exiting the program, this seems to be a great possibility.
But then again, each year becomes tougher for the Red Lions to keep their dynasty in the NCAA.
One thing's for sure, the 2014 collegiate season should be something to watch out for in both the UAAP and the NCAA. JMP
