think rainbows

For the first time ever since he became head coach, Glenn Capacio was not with the Tamaraws during the whole second half on one of their most important games ever.
For the second time since 2008, the Blue Eagles swept their opponents in the best-of-three Finals series, Lasalle being the first victim in Season 71.
For the third time in a row, the Ateneo Blue Eagles together with the great coach Norman Black were hailed champions in the UAAP Men’s Basketball action.

And for the fourth time since they won the UAAP Men’s Basketball Championship in Season 69, the UST Growling Tigers have yet again failed to make it to the Finals. I know, I just had to add that though very unnecessary, sorry. :)) I still am, after all, a Thomasian, right? :)

Ateneo just showed great composure a champion team would have even if they were down during the whole first half. FEU started out aggressively, as they incurred 6 fouls already, early in the first quarter. The aggressiveness worked during their final four match against the Green Archers, and they were probably trying to do the same. But it backfired at them.

Season 73 Rookie of the Year Terence Romeo fouled out early in the fourth quarter where they needed him the most. Add to that the unlucky fate in Coach Glenn Capacio’s absence during the whole second half, who according to FEU athletic director Mark Molina suddenly felt dizzy near the end of the second period. He never made it back to the court after halftime. FEU's woes began as Ateneo started to do damage.

Sanga’s three-pointers just couldn’t make it to the basket unlike in the first quarter, as well as his free throws and those of his other teammates. With that being said, the tables turned and the third quarter ended with Ateneo in the lead, 52-50. The free throws could’ve tied the ballgame or even give them the lead, but succumbing to pressure, Ramos and Cervantes split their charities while the graduating Paul Sanga made just one out three free throws. Season MVP RR Garcia was still non-existent as he and Romeo combined for a measly 8 points on 3-of-17 shooting. Though their overall game was better than game 1, it was not enough to force a deciding game 3.

Ryan Buenafe could’ve gained that extra weight but alongside it was a whole lot of confidence. With the shot clock winding down and with less than a minute in the game, he decided to launch a long triple to the delight of the blue and white side. It probably was the biggest shot of his UAAP career as it gave the Blue Eagles the five-point lead, their biggest in the ballgame, with only 22 seconds remaining in the game clock.

I feel some of the FEU fans’ hearts sink after that shot as it practically gave way for the Blue Eagles to celebrate their much awaited three-peat, and earned Buenafe the Finals MVP award. It was still team effort though for Ateneo as basketball is still a team game with no one in the team winning an individual award, except for Monfort who got the Most Improved Player award. Buenafe was just at the right place at the right time for the Blue Eagles, packed with a whole lot of self-belief, and luck. It could have been, indeed, destiny.

Ateneo swept FEU and earned the UAAP Season 73 Men’s Basketball Championship by beating the latter in game 2 of their best-of-three finals series with a score of 65-62.

Now that UAAP Basketball for Season 73 is over, everyone’s back into the recruitment business. Ateneo already has some promising names as Kiefer Ravena and Von Pessumal have been offered scholarships already, and Greg Slaughter is expected to suit up for the Blue Eagles next season too. There are talks about a foreign recruit for UST who will be able to suit up for next season. (And I'm hoping that Kevin Ferrer will stay with UST.) As with the other teams, and for another exciting basketball season, we’ll just have to wait and see, in the coming days and for UAAP Season 74, which, so I’ve heard, will be hosted by this year’s three-peat champions. :)

Congratulations Ateneo Blue Eagles! Good job FEU Tamaraws! We’ll do better UST Growling Tigers! Kudos to all UAAP teams!

P.S.
Watch out for more UAAP action in the second semester games! Volleyball is one of them, hopefully it will be televised on Studio 23 too, and hopefully the Tigers and Tigresses defend their titles! Go USTe! :)

Replay of the Final Four games tomorrow, Saturday, October 2, and the UAAP Finals game 1 and 2 on Sunday, October 3, both on Studio 23.