In line with the ongoing University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Men’s Basketball tournament, this weekly series will analyze the state of the Ateneo Blue Eagles in their quest to reclaim the crown.
This piece will take a look at each team in comparison to the Ateneo Blue Eagles, recapping their first round and looking ahead to their second round match-up. With Ateneo holding a perfect record after the first round, the whole UAAP will be gunning to hand them their first loss in Round 2.
Recap of the Week (October 5 to October 11):
The rematch of last season’s UAAP Finals between the Ateneo Blue Eagles and the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers served as the lone game for the Blue and White squad last week. Matt Nieto’s crucial steal and clutch free throws with 3.9 seconds remaining boosted the Blue Eagles to a 76-75 win as well as an undefeated 7-0 record after the first round of eliminations. Ateneo now sits in first place, a game and a half ahead of current second placer DLSU.
#1 Ateneo Blue Eagles (7-0)
The first round stats show that the Blue Eagles are the best team in the UAAP—by a significant margin. The team is ranked first in points scored per 100 possessions (109.29) and second in points allowed per 100 possessions (92.55) behind only Adamson. These two metrics are arguably the best indicators of championship caliber teams because the normalized pace eliminates the effect of how fast or slow a team plays, factors, which can skew the numbers.
Beyond the stats though, the simple eye test is enough to confirm how good the team really is. The fluidity of the Blue Eagles’ half-court sets is mesmerizing to watch for basketball purists. Coach Tab Baldwin has given his team a clear offensive identity, centered on ball movement, spacing, and the occasional backdoor cut that has trounced the entire UAAP thus far.
The real driver for their success however, has been their defense. Ateneo has allowed the second lowest points in the paint per game (33.4), the second lowest 3-point percentage (28%), and the least amount of points off turnovers in the league (13) thus far. The Blue Eagles routinely pack the paint when opposing players attack the rim and close out shooters frequently. The versatility of the players Coach Baldwin has at his disposal, like agile bigs in Vince Tolentino and Raffy Verano, allows them to switch when needed.
The Blue Eagles still have a long way to go; plenty of things can change in the remaining seven games. Despite the dominant first round for Ateneo, many people, including Ateneo Assistant Coach Sandy Arespacochaga, still consider La Salle as the favorite to win it all. The first round provided the Blue Eagles the groundwork for their title aspirations. The second round will prove if they are the real deal.
#2 De La Salle Green Archers (6-2)
Second Round Meeting: November 12, Sunday, 4PM at the Araneta Coliseum
Despite already recording one loss more than they had all of last season, the Green Archers still boast the league’s most intimidating roster on paper, and were just a completed Kib Montalbo inbounds pass away from being tied with the Blue Eagles in the standings after Round 1. In fact, Coach Sandy Arespacochaga referred to La Salle as still the favorite to win the championship, despite his squad’s slim win last Sunday. Now, the question for the Green Archers entering the second round is whether Head Coach Aldin Ayo can find a way wherein both Ben Mbala and the rest of the team can simultaneously succeed on the offensive end. If Coach Ayo can find a way to put his Mayhem system into place like he did last season, Ateneo will face a very different and more potent La Salle squad in the finale of Round 2.
#3 Adamson Soaring Falcons (5-2)
Second Round Meeting: October 14, Saturday, 4PM at the Araneta Coliseum
Over the last four games, the Adamson Soaring Falcons have looked like a completely different team from the one the Blue Eagles blew out on opening day. They have proven why they were a highly-regarded team entering the season, racking up four straight victories over NU, UE, UP and FEU, most of which are teams competing with them for a spot in the Final Four. Since former Blue Eagle Jerie Pingoy (3rd in the UAAP in assists, 1st in steals) was brought into the starting line-up, he has become the stalwart that helped the Falcons climb up to a tie for second place after the first round. The Blue Eagles will have to quickly shake off the emotions from their win over La Salle last weekend as they play an Adamson team that is looking to insert itself into the conversation of championship contenders.
#4 Far Eastern University Tamaraws (4-4)
Second Round Meeting: October 21, Saturday, 4PM at the Araneta Coliseum
The FEU Tamaraws are truly a middle-of-the-pack team this season: They dominate the lesser teams, but then fall short against superior competition. This was evident when Ateneo dropped a dozen triples to defeat FEU by 12 in their first meeting. However, with a two-way stud in Ron Dennison and a pair of microwave scorers in Arvin Tolentino and Wendell Comboy, the Tamaraws have the tools to win on any given night. While Ateneo will likely not relax against a possible Final Four combatant, the Blue Eagles will have to stay fresh as they play the Tamaraws on the tail end of a gruelling stretch of three games in eight days to open the second round.
#5 University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons (4-4)
Second Round Meeting: November 8, Wednesday, 4PM at the Araneta Coliseum
While the Blue Eagles cruised past the Fighting Maroons in the first round, UP showed its potential by besting the heavily-favored Green Archers a week later. However, after a 3-1 start, the Fighting Maroons suffered three crucial defeats to a trio of fellow competitors fighting for Final Four spots in FEU, AdU and NU. The main culprit for their recent struggle has been their offense, with the team ranked last in both scoring and field goal percentage. Still, UP tied a UAAP record 16 triples in their win over DLSU, and King Maroon Paul Desiderio (18.1 points per game) is always a threat to explode. The Blue Eagles need to stay focused to avoid a potential trap game, especially because the second Battle of Katipunan will be just a few days prior to Round 2 of Ateneo versus La Salle.
#6 National University Bulldogs (3-4)
Second Round Meeting: October 18, Wednesday, 4PM at the Mall of Asia Arena
The Bulldogs were one of the tougher competitors against the Blue Eagles in the first round as Jjay Alejandro’s 24 markers kept NU within reach for most of that game. Alejandro has quietly been having a monster season with averages of 17.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.8 steals, but the Bulldogs have struggled to find consistent offense elsewhere. Matt Salem looks an option for that extra scoring punch after he finally broke out of his slump last Sunday after dropping 21 points in their much-needed win over UP. When the two teams meet next Wednesday, Ateneo must come out and equal the hunger of a fast-paced NU team whose contrasting style could help them steal a win.
#7 University of the East (UE) Red Warriors (1-6)
Second Round Meeting: October 28, Saturday, 2PM at the Mall of Asia Arena
Thirdy Ravena had one of his best games against UE. The forward scored 22, including the final 11 points, to seal the wire-to-wire victory for Ateneo. Despite their paltry record, the Red Warriors’ recent games have showed that they are capable of hanging with any team in the league, mainly due to Alvin Pasaol’s dominant play. The burly forward’s record-breaking 49-point outing almost single-handedly upset DLSU, which he followed up with a 32- point, 1o-rebound performance to lifted his team over UST. Though the team has shown that they are capable of shutting down main offensive options, Blue Eagles still must be wary of the threat Pasaol poses when they play the Red Warriors.
#8 University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers (0-8)
Second Round Meeting: November 4, Saturday, 2PM at the Araneta Coliseum
Although they remain at the bottom of the league, the Growling Tigers were one of the few squads that truly tested the Blue Eagles. The winless squad nearly ran Ateneo out of the arena during their first meeting. UST averages a league-leading 94.3 possessions per game, which contrasts the Blue Eagles’ meticulous style of basketball. The Growling Tigers’ 14-0 run late in the third was the largest unanswered stretch Ateneo allowed all season. Most of their offense was shouldered by the guard duo of Marvin Lee and Jordan Sta. Ana, who combined for 42 points in the contest. The Growling Tigers exposed one of Ateneo’s key weaknesses: Complacency. The Blue Eagles nearly lost through mistakes that they do not normally commit, which is something the team must definitely keep in mind next time around.
Is a repeat on the cards?
After Ateneo’s undefeated run in the first round where they won 6 out of 7 games by double figures, the second half of eliminations is set to offer a much tougher challenge. Teams like AdU, NU, UE seem to be hitting their stride mid-season, while the rest have proven to be worthy challengers despite their first round losses to the Blue and White. With a weighty target on their backs entering round two, the Blue Eagles need to dig deep and continue to trust Coach Tab Baldwin’s system if they wish to replicate their first round performance.
