Color the UAAP blue

After UAAP’s entertaining first round, the cream has risen to the top. Ateneo has definitely separated itself from the pack. Adamson seems to have lived up to its potential and should make the semis and even the Finals.
The real battle will be among FEU, UST and La Salle for the last two slots in the semis. NU still has an outside chance; it has the players to mount a challenge. Losing to UE after leading all the way really must have hurt. UP does not have the firepower to make a bid but it will play the spoiler’s role, just as UE did.
With the way Ateneo dominated every team, it’s fair to say the Eagles are not just this season’s favorite, but will be the favorite for years to come. Ateneo has two great additions in the skilled giant, Greg Slaughter, and the precocious guard, Kiefer Ravena. Their role players could easily star on other teams. Ateneo’s all-star roster is the result of proper recruiting and wise spending.
But what really separates Ateneo from the other teams is the coaching staff. The coaches seem to be working so well together and have gotten better every season. Norman Black is way above all the other coaches and when he is in top form, Ateneo is unbeatable. His ability to read the game and adjust along the way is what separates him from the other coaches. The other coaches know their basketball but lack the ability to adjust in mid-game.
MVP also deserves significant credit. His teams now dominate all levels of Philippine basketball: the PBA, UAAP, NCAA, not to mention the Gilas Pilipinas Team, where I think he may have bitten off more than he can chew. (To dream of an Olympic gold in basketball is unrealistic. He could have used his funds for other sports in which we stand a better chance of winning). He runs his basketball teams as he does his corporations: he hires the best and demands results. He has developed a refreshing sense of professionalism and responsibility that is rarely seen in Philippine sports.
The only team that can truly beat Ateneo is Ateneo. They are a complete basketball team with a coaching staff to match. Despite my green alma mater, I have to admit that I see a blue horizon in the foreseeable future.