Zeroing in on the UAAP finalists

YOU’RE seated beside the coolest guy/girl you’ve ever seen inside a throbbing Araneta Coliseum just before the game starts and you desperately want to start a conversation with him/her. But your varsity heart is pounding several beats per minute as it is and your brain can’t come up with a coherent ice-breaker.
Then you notice he/she is a basketball addict and you figure, why not show the target of your adoration that you’re as much of a basketball nut yourself?
Here are a few facts and figures to get you started:   2005—Last year that FEU was in the Finals (won over La Salle, 2-0)   2003—Last year that FEU and Ateneo met in the Finals (FEU won, 2-0)   19—Number of UAAP men’s seniors basketball titles won by FEU (tied for 1st with UST)   12—Number of times out of 16 instances (or 75%) since 1994 that Game 1 winner has gone on to win title   11—Number of current Ateneo players who have won at least one UAAP championship   9—Most number of consecutive Finals appearances by a school since the league adopted the Final Four format in 1994 (La Salle: 1994-2002)   8—Number of times out of 16 instances (or 50%) since 1994 that the best-of-three championship series has gone the distance   5—Number of UAAP men’s seniors basketball titles won by Ateneo (5th overall)   4—Number of Finals appearances by Ateneo coach Norman Black (2010, 2009, 2008 and 2006)   3—Number of consecutive Finals appearances by Ateneo What went before   Defending champion Ateneo and FEU crossed paths twice during the elimination round of UAAP 73. Here’s a look-back at those meetings, both won by the Tamaraws:   FIRST ROUND
July 11, 2010 (Araneta Coliseum)   FEU 72, Ateneo 69 (halftime: 35-30)   Key statistic: Rebounds (FEU-46, Ateneo-35)   Player of the game: RR Garcia—25 points (7 in the fourth quarter), 5 rebounds., 3 assists   SECOND ROUND
September 11, 2010 (Araneta Coliseum)   FEU 74, Ateneo 72 (halftime: 32-33)   Key statistic: 3-point shooting (FEU-73 percent,  Ateneo-29 percent)   Player of the game:  Terrence Romeo—15 points (11 in the second half), 10 rebounds   Key UAAP statistics   FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY TAMARAWS   Eliminations record: 12-2 (No. 1) 
First round: 7-0, Second round: 5-2   Final Four: Defeated No. 4 La Salle, 69-59, in overtime   Overtime record: 3-0 (La Salle 84-80, 2 OT;  University of the East, 83-77 OT; La Salle in Final Four, 69-59 OT)   In games decided by four points or less: 4-1   Key players: RR Garcia (16.4 ppg, 38% 3 pt. FGs, 3.7 rpg, 2.6 apg). Aldrech Ramos (11.3 ppg, 55.3 % FGs, 8.4 rpg, 2 bpg). Reil Cervantes (10.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.6 apg). Terrence Romeo (8.3 ppg, 52% 3 pt. FGs, 2.9 rpg, 2.2 apg). Pipo Noundou (6.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg)   Head coach: Glenn Capacio (4th year, 43-19*) *including playoffs   Number of men’s championship: 19 (2005, 2004, 2003, 1997, 1992, 1991, 1983, 1981, 1980, 1979, 1976, 1973, 1972, 1961, 1956, 1950, 1947, 1939, 1938)     ATENEO BLUE EAGLES   Eliminations record: 10-4 (2nd) 
(First round: 5 – 2, Second round: 5 – 2)   Final Four: Defeated No. 3 Adamson, 68-55   Overtime record: None   In games decided by four points or less: 3-4   Key players: Eric Salamat (11 ppg, 2.7 apg, 4.2 apg, 1.9 spg). Nico Salva (9.6 ppg, 5.7 rpg). Kirk Long (9.5 ppg, 35% 3 PT. FGs, 4.1 rpg, 2.9 apg, 1.5 spg). Emman Monfort (8.8 ppg, 42% FGs, 3.3 rpg). Justin Chua (8.6 ppg, 48% FGs, 5.9 rpg, 1.4 bpg). Ryan Buenafe (7.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.3 apg).   Head coach: Norman Black (6th year, 77-24*) 
*including playoff matches   Number of men’s championship: 5 (2009, 2008, 2002, 1988, 1987)   Compiled by Lorenzo Z. Manguiat