The UAAP Final 4 Bullets

Sep 17
200910:56 am

Posted by GREENARCHERS.PH

The Men's Final 4 starts this weekend. Even with our team already out it, it would still be interesting to see how the four remaining squads will fare in this stage of the tournament.

Will it be back-to-back for the Blue Eagles?
Just like last year, Ateneo won all but 1 game in the eliminations and it all appears that they are all set for another grand coronation at seasons end. The defending champions are in class of their own all season with their consistency and composure.
Will the Tams reclaim lost glory?
FEU is now experiencing the fruits of their rebuilding program which started a couple of seasons back. Solid in all positions, this then-young core has now matured and is ready to regain the crown they last won in 2005. However, issues have just surfaced regarding their best pg Barroca. Will this affect their F4 performance?
Will the Red Warriors finally end it?
End their age-old title drought, that is. The last time UE won the UAAP 24 years ago, none of their current players were probably born yet. Well they came close 2 years ago (we all know what happened there).
Will the Tigers have another miracle run?
It was not too long ago when UST staged one of the biggest upsets in UAAP history enroute to the title. Can they replicate this feat? This was during Jarencio's first year as coach, for which he was lionized (or should it be "tigerized"?). This year, he's been criticized for UST's performance. Will he redeem himself? Interestingly, UST is the only team our Green Archers swept this year.

Ateneo (1) vs UST (4)

Photos Courtesy of Inboundpass.com

For UST, here's the good news: They have the league MVP. The bad news: They have only one of him. They’re also in a 3-game losing streak and must beat the defending champions twice or call it a season.
Everything favors Ateneo here. UST is undersized in the paint and has no answer against the formidable frontline of the Blue Eagles. Salva's 1-game suspension should not seriously undermine their chances.
The Tigers also have to deal with the explosive backcourt of Ateneo (Salamat, Reyes, Monfort) who are all deadly on the perimeter and the open court. UST's Fortuna and Bautista can hit their long shots, but are inconsistent. One bright spot is Teng, but Ateneo has too many offensive options and this will definitely spell trouble for UST.
It will practically take a miracle for the Tigers to win twice. Then again, overcoming such obstacle is nothing new for them. If Ababou and Mirza get hot, they have a chance. History is on their side - they overcame such a semis disadvantage twice in the past which probably makes them the only school to achieve such a feat.
It will take 40 minutes of pure UST will on both ends of the court to take Ateneo down. The Tigers must get their fastbreak game going and be hot from the outside in order to have a good shot in this series.

Prediction: Ateneo in 1

FEU (2) vs UE (3)

Photos Courtesy of Inboundpass.com

This series could go either way. The teams split their elimination round match-ups. UE is on a 6-game winning run while FEU struggled in their final two games.
Man for man, the Tamaraws have the edge here with 3 RP team members, an explosive rookie and a stellar cast of role players. They have the deeper bench.
For UE, being in the final 4 certainly brings a lot of bad memories for them. They never won a series wherein they were the lower seeded team. Come to think of it, they never won a series when they had twice-to-beat edge either.
The Red Warriors seem like a well-oiled machine as of late but it remains to be seen if they can sustain this same intensity going into the semis. History is not on their side when it comes to these situations.
The Tamaraws’ experience and twice-to-beat edge might just be enough to book them in the finals but if the Warriors remain red hot, they might just pull off some surprises along the way.
At the forward and center slots, it's more or less even. UE's version of the "bruise brothers", Espiritu and Llagas are matched by FEU's Ramos and Cervantes. At the guard positions, UE has Lee while FEU has super rookie Garcia, Barroca, and Knuttel - advantage to FEU's backcourt.
It remains to be seen if the reported issues between the school and Barroca will affect FEU's performance.

Prediction: FEU in 2

Tagged as: Ateneo Blue Eagles, FEU Tamaraws, UAAP Finals, UE Red Warriors, UST Tigers

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James G.
September 17th, 2009 - 11:45

FEU vs. Ateneo in the finals and Ateneo wins it all! Book that!

It’s too bad that I’m back home now and cannot watch the finals because I would absolutely LOVE to be able to see how these games play out! Of course I am an Archer through and through but I am also a huge fan of the sport as well and enjoy watching good competition.

I say that Ateneo wins it all because of Al Husseni. I mean that guy is big and can play. In fact, in my eyes, he’s not a 5 at all but plays the post because he’s the biggest on the team! In fact, I would use someone like him as a 4 or 3 and put other big men around the paint as a counter. I see him as the difference and why there’s really no one on the other three teams that can match up with his bulk and skill. Now, if he goes down, (with injury) then Ateneo’s chances of winning it all slide but I really don’t see anyone coming up with a gameplan to derail the Eagles. As much as I would hate seeing them win again, I think they will. Having said that… “that’s why they PLAY the game!”
blade runner
September 17th, 2009 - 14:02

nawawala daw si barocca… or may sakit… whatever?!
dags
September 17th, 2009 - 15:30

Iba talaga Ateneo this year, defense and offense ka tatalunin parang San Antonio Spurs. Someone will beat you down lown (Rabeh), and beat you in the outside (Salamat, Reyes, Monfort). Offense pa lang yun, defensively, they have guys who play good one-on-one and help defense (Salamat, Baclao, Long). Pero sa huli, I will still be cheering for UE, UST, and FEU hope they all score an upset against Ateneo. This season feels like the season when we were suspended… Next Year!!!
ICJ
September 17th, 2009 - 15:45

It’s going to be FEU vs Ateneo in the finals.

X factors for both teams,
Ateneo: Jai Reyes, Ryan Buenafe
FEU: RR Garcia, Reil Cervantes
dieharddlsu
September 17th, 2009 - 16:25

honestly, UE might have a good chance and its not because of paul lee who i think is so overrated. Their main men and hearts and souls are pari llagas and elmer espiritu. with a lot of support from val acuna, rudy lingganay and paul lee. These two are the ones carrying the fight for UE on a very consistent basis. Ateneo and Feu might have the edge in experience(even ust, d 06 champs have an advantage in experience) and depth, but if they find a away to negate these, then they just might squeeze out an upset. plus the fact that they are peaking at the right time.

i hate to say this but ateneo’s quarter is the fourth quarter because this is where clutch players like jai reyes, eric salamat and nico salva(though he’ll serve out his suspension on sat) make the big shots and the big plays to take over the game tight games. which makes me think that they do not miss tiu in the clutch because of salamat and reyes.

in my opinion, these two teams will duke it out in the finals

but that’s just me. thats just my opinion. and i could be wrong. who knows, baka nga maka-upset pa ang uste just like they did in 06. they upset ue in the f4, then ateneo in the finals
bleedgreen
September 17th, 2009 - 23:01

This year’s host might win it all if they successfully neutralize Al Hussaini. I believe it’s a de javu of 2003.

What’s this piece of news regarding Barroca. Is he missing in action?
Fred Cebu
September 18th, 2009 - 10:03

On paper Ateneo would be the favorites to retain their title. But I think that with a good rotation strategy and better coaching FEU could just surprise the pundits!
Ray Green
September 18th, 2009 - 11:21

It’s gonna be back to back for the Ateneo Blue Eagles. They have a balanced team that is cruising like a well-oiled machine.
patV
September 18th, 2009 - 19:10

the news is that barocca won’t play for the tamaraws from now on. i’m not sure, but I read that he’ll just focus on his studies and on the smart gilas – RP developmental team.
big dlsu fan
September 20th, 2009 - 22:43

i was so depressd of the performance of my favorite team it bleeds my heart . i remembered how the names of the archers being burned during the admu bonfire last year as if it was a witchcraft ritual, i think there was an effect cz i cant believe archers loses and it was the first time that dlsu perform poorly. anyway , i hope the curse is over and hail dlsu next year.
wenkz
September 24th, 2009 - 11:13

The ADMU Blue Eagles may repeat as champions, but next year they will not get the 3 peat that they want after all… and that’s a guarantee…
Red Warrior
September 24th, 2009 - 20:36

It’s UE – ADMU on SUNDAY.

It’s FINALLY NEAR.
James G
September 25th, 2009 - 14:04

Fwiw, it’s La Salle vs. Ateneo over here in GOLF this coming October and I promise all of you reading this that we will defeat the Eagles soundly as payback for what they did to us this season in the UAAP! Until we can return the favor to them on the hardcourt next season, this, I’m afraid, is the best we can do for the time being… We will THRASH them as badly as possible and maybe even beat them in golf!!! LOL! Animo forever!

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