Blog ► We’re betting on Ateneo

First off, an admission.

We did mess up big time when we penciled University of the Philippines as a Final Four squad in Season 73. Not only did we flub that call, we flubbed it big time. The Maroons failed to win a single game, crashing to the cellar amid the debris of alumni intrigues and coaching controversies.

You’d think we would have been sensible enough to stay away from creating pre-tournament form-cheats after getting burned that badly. But apparently, we are that stubborn.

So, armed with our ballots and a scoring system we’ve implemented throug the years, this is how we feel the UAAP Season 74 will end up (you can check out the complete version in the papers and somewhere in this site.)

Ateneo wins the championship, FEU again is runner-up, Adamson finishes third and NU rounds up the Final Four cast. La Salle winds up fifth—maybe a playoff loss from notching the fourth spot—and UST, UP and UE form the bottom 3.

It wasn’t such a risky call for the sports staff as last year, when we were merely working on preseason tournaments and potential thus the UP debacle, so it should be pretty safe to risk our reputations this time around.

Yes, the Eagles are that good. Yes, Ray Parks will make a huge impact and provide the Bulldogs with that last thrust that allows it to zoom straight into the Final Four.

We’ve sent enough pairs of eyes to monitor preseason tournaments to be confident in our choices.

Plus, even Ateneo coach Norman Black, in an understated manner, admits that the team is going to be highly competitive this season. The Eagles admit that, too.

“We’re a lot deeper this year,” said shooter Kirk Long.

From the team that won the crown last year, the notable graduates were Eric Salamat and Jumbo Escueta. That guard-big man tandem was replaced this year by Kiefer Ravena-Greg Slaughter. How can not that be an upgrade?

And it’s not like the Eagles are treating this like someone has already guaranteed them a fourth straight crown. While they’re a confident bunch, they are aware they don’t exactly have an upset-proof roster.

But the things is, they’re prepared.

“[All other teams] have their eyes on the prize as well so they all want to knock us out of our thrones,” said Long.

“We have to play close to perfect if possible,” Ravena added.

FEU and Adamson are solid threats and the two teams have the best shot at toppling the Eagles. Parks and the Bulldogs will be both entertaining and competitive. But Ateneo is just a cut above the rest in talent and experience.

The monkey wrench here?

The Green Archers.

Suffice it to say we won’t be surprised if La Salle throttles any of the Final Four contenders not named Ateneo and earns a shot at a championship ticket when all is said and done.

If that happens, we’re never doing form sheets again.

Then again, we said the same thing last year.