A whole lot of shaking going on

UAAP’S SEASON 73 basketball tournament has been a season of shakeups.
First major shakeup is the re-entry of Adamson into the Final Four zone after four years.
The last time the Falcons made it to the Magic Four was in 2006, when Ken Bono was around canning long jumpers from the corners.
This year, Leo Austria has a scrappy, hard-nosed crew that has won seven and lost three. They appear to fear no one and are willing to battle with the best of the UAAP.
Adamson has a superb chance of making it again this season. In its remaining schedule are State U, Ateneo, National U and La Salle.  It has the edge against the struggling Maroons and the resurgent Bulldogs. How far their season goes depends on how well they play against Ateneo, a team they haven’t beaten for ages, and if they repeat against La Salle.
The Falcons have to pass the mental toughness tests and win the big games. The rest of the way, they will have to avoid losses, like the 63-71 setback to UE last Saturday.
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Second shakeup is the transition year UE is going through. After making it to the finals last season through the difficult route of beating FEU twice in the Final Four, UE is reeling from the loss of Elmer Espiritu, Pari Llagas, Val Acuna and Rudy Lingganay to graduation.
Paul Lee and his present teammates are still learning how to play with each other. The Warriors’ woes are allowing the Falcons an opening to make to the final dance.
The Warriors have been a staple in the Final Four, making it 11 times since the format was instituted in the 90s.
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The third shakeup is NU making its presence felt just a little more than in previous years. NU has a slim chance of making it to the fourth spot since La Salle already has a three-game lead on them and is intent on making it to the Final Four, after missing it for the first time last season.
NU still has to play UE, FEU, Adamson and UST, and the sailing will not be easy.
NU has always been the heartbreak kid of the UAAP, a crowd favorite regardless of what school you cheer for.
You just hate it, though, when the Bulldogs claw and chew on your team and bury the upset ax on you. It lives up to the ideals of the league by participating well in every sport it’s listed up for, even if they have the slimmest of chances to win.
With the support it has now received from the Sy group of SM fame, expect even greater things in the future for the gritty Bulldogs.
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So who will make the Final Four?
FEU is already in and should seize the first of two tickets for a twice-to-beat edge. Ateneo and Adamson will fight for the second spot and should claw at each other in their Aviary Game on Aug. 29.
If La Salle avoids any more close shaves, then the Green Archers will tote their bows and arrows back to the playoffs.
A few other shakeups could rock the tournament, though, because games are getting fewer and chances of making it to the next round are thinning out for UE, NU and UST.
This will encourage them to battle fiercely and give the frontrunners a lot to think about.