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.

Recap of the Week (October 26 to November 8):

Two wins over four days have put the Ateneo Blue Eagles within a victory of sweeping the elimination rounds. Ateneo used a 27-point fourth quarter to pull away from the still winless University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers last Saturday.

The Blue Eagles followed it up by securing Round Two of The Battle of Katipunan over the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 96-82, despite the Eagles trailing for majority of the first three quarters.

The De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers is all that stands in the way of Ateneo from the school’s first ever UAAP Men’s Basketball elimination round sweep.

Upcoming Game:

November 12, Sunday, 4:00 PM vs DLSU Green Archers in the Smart Araneta Coliseum

1. What is at stake in Ateneo versus La Salle Part II?

Coming into Sunday’s game against their archrivals from Taft, the Ateneo Blue Eagles hold a 13-0 record, just the second time in school history that the team has reached that mark. A win over DLSU would give Ateneo its first ever elimination rounds sweep, thus propelling them straight into the UAAP Finals and forcing the stepladder format to be implemented. A loss for the Blue Eagles would mean still holding a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four over Far Eastern University (FEU), which just clinched the fourth spot.

For the Green Archers, stopping Ateneo from the automatic Finals berth is their only tangible reward from winning Sunday’s game. Win or lose, La Salle is still assured of the second spot and a twice-to-beat advantage. The only difference, should they lose, would be that Adamson University (AdU), currently fixed at the third spot, would need to battle FEU for the right to play La Salle.

Either way, barring a gargantuan upset in the knockout stage, it seems as though Ateneo and La Salle are on a collision course to meet in this year’s UAAP finals. That begs the question: What really is at stake in this Sunday’s Ateneo vs. La Salle game?

Looking back at the postgame press conference of the first round thriller, Ateneo Assistant Coach Sandy Arespacochaga referred to La Salle as still being the favorites despite the win by the Blue and White. The defending champion Green Archers have seemed to support his words since then, amassing six wins in a row since their loss last October 8 to Ateneo.

However, this underdog mentality might actually work to the advantage of the Blue Eagles. When the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors went undefeated in the elimination rounds a decade ago, they were actually swept by La Salle in the finals, with many pinning it on the pressure brought about by their dominant performance through the season. Because of the sheer talent on this season’s Green Archer roster, a possible 14-0 Ateneo team may not have to carry a similar pressure to the Season 70 Red Warriors, that of being clear-cut favorites in the finals.

Also, Ateneo has had La Salle’s number ever since the conclusion of UAAP Season 79. Ateneo racked up a win over DLSU in preseason action, holds the better record, and owns the victory in their lone game so far in UAAP Season 80. Another W for Ateneo may not change the inevitable Finals match-up, but it could give a psychological edge to the Blue and White side.

On the other hand, this game can go a number of ways, and a crushing victory from La Salle could just be the confidence boost needed to push them over the top for the second year in a row. The mental advantages a win could provide both teams is more than enough reason for this to be an all-important contest.

Lastly, there is still the fact that this is the greatest rivalry in the history of Philippine sports. It is no question both teams will bring their A-game in what will surely be another spectacle inside the Big Dome.

2. The Blue Eagles have been limiting their opponent’s’ top scorers all season long.

Much has been said about Ateneo’s team-centric style of play this season, but the individual performances put up by the other stars of the UAAP have been just as impressive.

Despite missing two games, Ben Mbala will most likely repeat as Most Valuable Player (MVP) this year with massive averages of 25.8 points and 12.5 rebounds. Alvin Pasaol—who famously dropped 49 on Mbala’s team—is the first Filipino cager to average at least 20 points per game in the UAAP since Kiefer Ravena, who did it three years ago (per HumbleBola).

Jayjay Alejandro of NU quietly put up one of the greatest individual lines in recent memory; his 17.4 point-6.6 rebound-6.1 assist average is reminiscent to the numbers that Ravena, Bobby Ray Parks, and Terrence Romeo all put up during their UAAP MVP seasons years ago. Ron Dennison’s efficient offensive output each game, and Paul Desiderio’s scoring including his game-winning shots, have fueled the Final Four aspirations of FEU and UP, respectively.

Whenever a team’s top scorer faces Ateneo however, they often struggle to replicate the numbers that they put up against the other squads. Five of the seven players who led their team in points score fewer—on a lower shooting clip—in all their matchups against Ateneo, with only Marvin Lee of UST playing up to par. (The lone outlier is Alejandro, who seems to revel playing against the Blue Eagles.)

The limited scoring outputs of their opponent’s top offensive threats can be attributed to the strategy Coach Tab Baldwin utilizes. He often makes the opposing top scorer work on the defensive end, running the Blue Eagle matched up with him through various offensive sets to get the top scorer in foul trouble or fatigued. This worked wonders in holding Pasaol to just eight points in their second round matchup.

Ateneo also has an arsenal of of long and agile defenders to their disposal, such as Gian Mamuyac and Thirdy Ravena, who are capable of shutting down perimeter scorers. The Blue Eagles also rarely throw double teams at these offensive threats; the coaches are confident that single-coverage combined with smart help defense is enough to corral offensive stalwarts. The team trusts in Baldwin’s defensive schemes and execute it to the letter.

With the matchup against Ben Mbala, who is undoubtedly the best player in the league, looming, limiting the Cameroonian will be the key for the Blue Eagles to come out on top. If Ateneo can replicate the defensive performances they have displayed all season long, a sweep just may come into fruition.

3. It is time to talk about Thirdy Ravena’s incredible play.

With the Blue Eagles comfortably ahead late in the fourth quarter against the UST Growling Tigers, Anton Asistio had an open corner three lined up ready to put the final nail in the coffin. Asistio’s shot rimmed out, but Chibueze Ikeh grabbed the offensive rebound, peaked towards the top of the arc and dished to a streaking Thirdy Ravena, who decided to ice the game himself.

Ravena launched off the middle of the paint, cocked the ball behind his head and threw down a thunderous tomahawk over a retreating Regie Boy Basibas. While the league is well aware of the freakish athleticism and physique of the 6-foot-4-inch small forward, Ravena’s dunk was clearly the peak example.

But Thirdy Ravena is so much more than his otherworldly physical tools, and his play this season has proven that. Playing on an undefeated team driven by a team-oriented offense, Ravena has stood out statistically, leading Ateneo in scoring (14.4) and assists (3.2), while ranking second both in rebounds (8.5) and steals (0.9).

Ateneo’s offense tends to involve a lot of ball movement and player movement. However, late in shot clock, it tends to favor more isolation-heavy or simple pick and roll basketball. This is where Ravena has been able to distinguish himself through his ability to put the ball on the floor to create his own shot, or make the proper pass in traffic.

These skills allow Ravena to be a threat in a variety of ways when attacking the basket. Of course, his athletic ability enables him to finish on acrobatic layups and dunks. But he has also displayed incredible footwork and array of pivots and up and under moves that have allowed him to create space and broaden his offensive arsenal. He has done all of this at an incredibly efficient rate, as he ranks in the top 10 in field goal shooting at 45.5%.

Ravena has also answered the call on the defensive end. Ateneo’s defense does not promote a lot of gambling, thus Ravena’s steals and blocks numbers do not necessarily jump off the page, despite the fact that he does showcase the occasional highlight block. However, often times Ravena is tasked to defend some of the best players on the opposing team, especially when defensive specialist Gian Mamuyac is on the bench. While Ravena’s superior athleticism benefits him in this aspect, his willingness to give his all on that side of the floor is evident when he plays.

Still, for someone on his way to a second straight Mythical Five selection, Ravena has plenty of room to grow in order to become a complete player. The knock on him since his UAAP Juniors MVP days has been his jump shot. While he sports a much improved midrange game, his three-point shot remains spotty at 20.6%.

Ravena also seems to occasionally be rattled in high-intensity situations, though he has hit some big shots this season. In the first meeting between Ateneo and La Salle, Ravena’s late game turnover nearly cost the Blue Eagles the victory. Meanwhile, in their last game against UP, he struggled through a frustrating afternoon filled with tough calls and missed bunnies. Experience is sure to benefit the 20-year old forward, but Ateneo may need him to learn on the fly as they eye a championship this year.

To critique his flaws does not mean to discredit the leaps and bounds Ravena has taken over his four years in college. He went from a rather underwhelming rookie year, to missing a year due to academic ineligibility, to a bonafide top three player in the league just two years later. With reigning MVP Ben Mbala possibly bolting after this season, the door may even be open for Ravena to nab an MVP trophy within his stay with the Ateneo Blue Eagles. Truly, the sky’s the limit for Thirdy Ravena.