As always the number one spot and the fourth spot are the bones of contention in the UAAP race for Final Four slots in its men’s basketball competition.
In the classification (or the elimination phase as we still tend to call it), schools battle like crazy for the top of the totem pole, hoping to secure first or second place and the precious twice-to-beat advantage against supposedly tired and embattled teams which finish at third and fourth.
This is where University of Santo Tomas and Far Eastern University find themselves.
With its 78-63 win against Adamson last Wednesday, the Growling Tigers have temporarily secured first place with an 11-3 slate. As to whether they hold on to the top spot still depends on FEU’s last two games. The efficient Tamaraws are at second with a 10-2 card with still two games to play.
FEU is a well-coached team with extremely able personnel. If there is one year that pundits may say that this is a season for the Tamaraws to win, then this is it. But standing in their way is a rejuvenated UST squad that is propelled by energy from its veterans and its vibrant, enthusiastic cheering gallery.
If things hold out and UST stays on top, it then faces whoever wins the last ticket to the playoffs which most likely boils down to National University and De La Salle.
Ateneo de Manila at third place with a 9-4 record is probably content where it is having gone through some trials in the early going but gaining enough momentum to not be caught in a battle for the fourth spot. With one game to play against the struggling University of the East Red Warriors, Ateneo is waiting for the rest of the chips to fall to see whom they will play in the next round.
The twice-to-beat prize is definitely an edge but can also be a strain to close out a pesky opponent that is determined to go all the way. One can recall the UE Warriors of the James Yap era that had the advantage against Ateneo but lost out in the last few seconds when reserve Gec Chia hit a winning shot of a lifetime. Ateneo went on to win the title that year.
Conversely, Ateneo had first place last season and could not close out a talented NU squad. NU also went on to win the championship against FEU.
Nothing is more difficult than closing out a series because so many intangibles can come into play or go out of control.
Predictions are never easy but trends can surely be spotted about this current season’s playoffs. If UST holds on to first place and plays either NU or La Salle, it should be able to enter the finals, regardless whether it takes one game or two. If FEU stays at second and plays Ateneo, the Blue Eagles are in for a tough war given that they have always struggled against the Tamaraws.
If UST finishes second and play the Blue Eagles, then it’s a toss-up as to who FEU (if it secures first place) meets in the finals. Two of the oldest universities in the country have always had intense battles like UST’s conquest of Ateneo in the 2006 finals. There were two classic games in that series: Doug Kramer’s lay-in after a long inbound by Macky Escalona to give Ateneo a win in Game One and then UST’s overtime win in Game Three to win the title.
No matter how the cookie crumbles in this season, hoop fans are in for a big finish, similar to the way Letran and San Beda battled for the title in the recent edition of the NCAA.