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There will be no sweep in Season 71!

The FEU Tamaraws made Ateneo’s vaunted interior game vanish in the last 3 minutes of the game and replaced it with their long range attack to grab a 72 – 66 victory. The final dunk by Cervantes put the exclamation point on the FEU victory.

What a wasted effort by Rabah Al Husseini.. He scores 33 points and hauls down more than 20 rebounds in a futile effort. His teammates looked like they were spectators more than players, watching Al Husseini play the game of his life. He is definitely the best big man in the league right now.

But the story is the inspired play of the Tamaraws. Coming off an emotional and protest marred victory over the UE Red Warriors, FEU brought back the intensity and fighting spirit that propelled them to a tie for first place with 1 game left in the first round.

It was Mark Barroca who just wouldn’t let the Tamaraws die. He outplayed all the point guards Ateneo threw at him. Even Ryan Buenafe, who is bigger and heftier, couldn’t match up to Barroca. Buenafe only made 1 field goal all night and looked like he was in a daze. All the other rookies of Ateneo were also missing in action.

Though Al Husseini played a great game, he was the only Blue Eagle to score in double digits. FEU on the other hand got a very balanced game with 4 players in double digit scoring. Chris Tiu was missing his shots and missing them bad, even shooting a couple of air balls.

This game just goes to show that a very good performance by one player is not enough to make his team win. Every time Ateneo would pull away, FEU would just turn up the heat and come back. In the end game, Ateneo just collapsed and FEU stepped up.

After winning 4 straight, Ateneo showed its vulnerability in its last game against NU. Though the Blue Eagles won, the scrappy Bulldogs exposed the kinks in the Ateneo squad. Their outside game became questionable. With their strong frontline, the Blue Eagles dominated inside the paint but when pushed to a set outside offense they collapsed.

Midway through the 2nd quarter, Eric Salamat, who was playing well, got hit in the jaw and had to be rushed to the hospital. I guess this will make it difficult for him to stick out his tongue as he has normally done and wherein he has received warnings and a technical foul in the past. Tests made on Salamat showed no fracture.

The question is if Ateneo can pick up the pieces and beat UST. It will be a great match-up between Al Husseini and Jervy Cruz. UST however is really missing Japs Cuan, as its point guards have not been able to carry the team as Cuan has done.

FEU’s roster woes however continues as they will lose another player in Robert Kave, who is set to return to Papua New Guinea after his parents feared for his safety. Kave was with Mac Baracael when he was shot.
I could see the frustration of Coach Norman Black on the officiating. Honestly, I don’t blame him. The officiating has been heavily criticized already and if the coaches, players and fans see it, then it must be already an accepted standard by the UAAP Board and its Commissioner. In fairness though, the officiating was questionable against both teams.

So now it gets interesting. With 3 teams tied for first place and with 1 game to go for all 3, the race is on. It will probably take a minimum 8 - 6 record to enter the Final Four. At the least, a 9 – 5 record will be what the league leaders are aiming for. Whatever happens in their last games of the first round, La Salle, Ateneo and FEU will wind up in the top 3. FEU has the best chances of topping the first round as they play the unpredictable but winless NU Bulldogs. La Salle will play UE and Ateneo plays UST.

So Season 71 will have no unbeaten team, no step ladder format and a very interesting Final Four. It will be the then team that peaks at the right time that will come out ahead. It will be the school that plays as a team that will make its mark. It will be the team that stays healthy that will have the advantage to win it all.

I just hope that it will not be the referees who decide the games.

Tags: Ateneo, blue-eagles, FEU, Petron, Tamaraws, UAAP

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