Bilog talaga ang bola.
I’m very much amused – thrilled is the better term – that the UAAP title favorites are getting wake up calls.
Didn’t imagine that after UP dealt DLSU a stinging loss (72-69) in their first round encounter, the defending Fighting Maroons would be skewered by the Bulldogs (80-75) last Wednesday who are not in my
championship radar.
Yup. a merry go round indeed.
The Green Archers shot down the Blue Eagles (83-78 on Oct.9) but then were surprisingly ambushed by the resurgent UE Red Warriors (81-74 on Oct. 12).
So, the standings look like this: Ateneo, 3-1 win-loss card; NU, 3-1; UP 3-1 and DLSU 2-2; Adamson 2-2; UE 2-2; UST 1-3; and FEU 0-4.
Sorry folks, I had not even given the Bulldogs a second look. Now with a 3-1 slate, the Sampaloc boys look even worthy of respect as the dark horse in the tournament.
I thought FEU, which gave Ateneo, DLSU and UP a big scare before eventually suffering successive defeats including a loss to UE, was good enough to figure in the Final Four.
My crystal ball conked out with this reconfiguration.
UP’s armor as the reigning and defending titleholder has been pierced while building up – at the same time – the confidence of the Bulldogs which last won the championship trophy during the collegiate days of Troy Rosario and Glen Khobuntin seven years or so ago.
The Diliman squad needs to go back to the drawing board. Whether they win or lose to their Katipunan-based rivals in their eventual first round confrontation, coach Monteverde might discover where their weaknesses lie before the end of the two-round eliminations.
The same is true for both ADMU’s Tab Baldwin and DLSU’s Derek Pumaren.
One thing is sure, though.
No team will now enjoy the chance to make a clean sweep as the Blue Eagles did in the past editions.
Even if the Fighting Maroons are the current titists, its unexpected defeat to NU dampened the former’s hope to retain its number one ranking.
To an outsider like me, Ateneo has retained the yardstick for all team yearning and looking to figure in the Final Four.
Meaning, UP, NU, ADU, UE, UST and FEU must inflict at least one painful loss on Baldwin’s platoon to merit respect and credibility as a Final Four contender.
At this writing, only the Green Archers have done it – and with great impression.
Of course, nothing is certain and nothing is improbable.
Bilog talaga ang bola. (Email feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!
