In line with the ongoing University Athletic 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:
The Ateneo Blue Eagles were unable to secure a sweep and automatic finals berth as they suffered their lone loss of the season against the second place De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers on Sunday, November 12. Impending Most Valuable Player Ben Mbala was an unstoppable force on both ends of the floor in the 79-76 comeback victory for Ateneo’s archrivals.
Ateneo holds a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four that began this weekend with La Salle advancing to the finals after defeating the Adamson University (AdU) Falcons, 82-75. The first place Ateneo Blue Eagles can advance to the finals as well with a win over the fourth seed Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws, who finished the elimination round with a record of 7-7, on Sunday.
Final Four Schedule:
November 19, Sunday, 4:00 PM vs. FEU Tamaraws at the Araneta Coliseum
(If Necessary) November 22, Wednesday vs. FEU Tamaraws at the Araneta Coliseum (Time: To Be Announced)
Ateneo-FEU will be a battle of two similar styles
The Ateneo Blue Eagles played at the slowest pace among UAAP teams all season long at 81.69 possessions per contest. On the other hand, the FEU Tamaraws ranked just ahead of Ateneo at 81.80 possessions. This signals a possible grinder on Sunday, November 19, backed up by the slow, low-scoring second round affair between the two teams back on October 21.
Despite the slow-paced styles, both teams have been a joy to watch because of their sweet shooting from beyond the arc. In the first meeting between Ateneo and FEU, the teams both finished with over 80 points and combined for 22 triples despite the fact that the game grinded at a pace of just 81.05.
It is scorching outside shooting that has given identity to these two sound offenses.
The Blue Eagles finished the elimination round leading the league in Offensive Rating (106.42), finishing at the top in three-point percentage (33.1%) and three-pointers made (8.1 per game), while ranking second in field-goal percentage (43.5%).
On the other hand, the Tamaraws have showcased flashes of brilliance from the perimeter. In a game against the National University (NU) Bulldogs on November 8, FEU knocked down a UAAP record of 18 threes, albeit in a loss. In fact, the Tamaraws are tied with the Blue Eagles in three-pointers made for the season, and place just behind them in three-point percentage (32.1%).
Another trait both teams share is their willingness to work as a unit offensively. Ateneo’s starless offense has been well-documented, but FEU’s attack actually features similar qualities. Like the Blue Eagles, the Tamaraws are a top-ranked offensive team that does not rely heavily on one or two players to score majority of their points. Former Blue Eagle Arvin Tolentino and defensive specialist Ron Dennison are the only two Tamaraws who average double digits in scoring, though six other players average between 5.9 and 8.4 points per game. FEU’s clear commitment to a team-oriented philosophy is showcased all the more by the fact that they lead the league in assists per game with 18.7, slightly more than Ateneo’s 18.0.
Both teams also take pride in their top tier defenses. Ateneo enters the Final Four with the second best defense in terms of defensive rating (90.24), while giving up the fewest amount of points per game to their opponents (73.7). The Tamaraws are the middle of the pack in terms of defensive rating (91.86), but are the best in the league at opponent’s field goal percentage (38.9%). These amazing defensive numbers are no surprise as this match-up will feature some of the best defensive players in the UAAP such as Thirdy Ravena and Matt Nieto for Ateneo, and Dennison for FEU.
The final elimination round records as well as the scores of the first two meetings between Ateneo and FEU suggest that this series will be a cake-walk for the Blue and White side. However, if the Tamaraws can find a way to beat Ateneo at their own game, FEU may test the Blue Eagles in the Final Four for the second year in a row.
Can I just say, The GUIDON Sports has done an amazing job with its basketball coverage this year. Its analyses are way better than those of the so-called “professionals” who write for newspapers and almost on par with the ones from ESPN and SI for the NBA.