JUDGMENT DAY for both the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles and the Adamson University Soaring Falcons as they prepare for yet another ‘Battle of the Birds’ for the UAAP Season 86 Men’s Basketball Tournament’s last Final Four position.
The Blue Eagles had a chance to move to the semifinals, but they were defeated by rivals De La Salle Green Archers, 69-72, last Saturday, dropping their record to 7-7. The Soaring Falcons, on the other side, won 63-61 over the UE Red Warriors to advance to the play-off game.
The Blue Eagles and Soaring Falcons both finished the elimination stage with identical 7-7 win-loss records, and will face off for the final slot in the Final 4 this afternoon at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The last time the Final Four contenders met in the second round, Adamson head coach Nash Racela cried foul on what he regarded unjust officiating after their 62-58 loss to Ateneo, which Tab Baldwin indirectly called ‘shameful’ for putting UAAP officials under pressure.
Ateneo and Adamson split their elimination round matches, but Nash Racela’s Soaring Falcons appear to be in the lead going into their must-win game. This comes after they won two consecutive must-win games last week to keep their Final Four hopes alive.
Given the significance of today’s game and the ‘cold war’ between the two teams, the more pressing question for today’s game is which bird will own the nest for the ‘TREElogy’ of the Battle of the Birds?
The champion’s heart
Throughout the season, the Blue Eagles experienced a rollercoaster ride. After losing to their archrival last Saturday, the Katipunan-based team will compete in a playoff for the fourth slot for the first time.
Photo Courtesy: UAAP Media Group
Tab Baldwin and his team will prepare for a challenging game in a different atmosphere as Ateneo attempts to continue its streak of eight consecutive Final Four appearances, the longest in the league.
“I hope we get in. That’s the biggest thing. But you know, we’ll see. We’ll see how it plays out,” Baldwin remarked. “Adamson is really tough. They’re one of the tough teams to contend with. We’ll see how the game goes.”
Throughout the season, the coach has emphasized the need of ‘development.’ After losing the original members, their multi-titled coach referred to the squad as “champions of nothing” even before the season began.
Despite their youth, the Blue Eagles have demonstrated that the Katipunan squad can rely on its ever-dependable core of Sean Quitevis, Kai Ballungay, Joseph Obasa, Mason Amos, and spitfire guard Jared Brown.
The longstanding history of success that prior Ateneans have engraved lives throughout the current line up that they have predicated on character and poise throughout the season, proving that they may be a different squad in a different standing.
Soar above the storm!
In a situation quite similar to last season, the Soaring Falcons has to work for another play-off game and try to sneak their way into the Final Four, this time against the reigning champions.
Photo Courtesy: UAAP Media Group
Adamson has a little edge given their Katipunan counterparts haven’t had a season of dreams and are currently in a situation that they aren’t used to.
However, head coach Nash Racela feels that his team changed. Graduating senior Jerom Lastimosa sustained a full anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear, causing the squad to lose a vital figure who played a critical role in their play-off game previous season.
“Sino ba nandun last year? Sila Cedrick (Manzano), sila Didat (Hanapi), sila Vince (Magbuhos) ‘no but not everyone. Sila Monty (Montebon) are new guys. They weren’t part of last year, sila Matty (Erolon), sila Eli (Ramos), so a lot of new guys also,” Racela explained.
“At the end of the day, it’s all about preparation. We just have to study again and prepare for Ateneo on Wednesday’s game,” he went on to say. “I think the biggest experience for our players are the games in the second round. You look at us, that’s when we grew.”
The Soaring Falcons will rely on Mathew Montebon, Didat Hanapi, Mat Erolon, Cedrick Manzano, and graduating Vince Magbuhos when they face the Blue Eagles this afternoon.
The much-awaited game will begin come 2:00 pm at the Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay City.
