Blue vs. Green: Another dream match-up

So it’s Ateneo versus De La Salle for the UAAP basketball crown starting this Sunday.

The gods of scalpers must be pleased, albeit recent reports had it that the NBI actually picked up some “illegal” ticket-sellers outside the Big Dome a couple of weeks ago.

Friendships will be tested as ticket demand reaches pressure points, from the “Bahay Na Puti” in the Kingdom of Cubao to university presidents’ offices and those of alumni orgs and athletic directors. Why, even the coaches and players may get distracted from the game plan when their girlfriends’ or wives’ relations express expectations for the sacred observance of putative family ties.

Only the Aranetas, Roxases, Pumarens and Blacks are assured of ringside seats, however, and of course the sportive American lady ambassador, as well as some politicians with a moist eye towards 15 seconds of face and name recall via TV courtside coverage, in the hope of becoming president or senator.

We’ll know the real movers and shakers in Philippine elite society by scanning the front rows during the next two or three game days that bring the season’s UAAP cage wars to a climactic finish.

Mark those days: Sept. 21, 25 and possibly the 28th, when the wheels of finance and friendship are both placed on hold for a couple of hours in the afternoon, and the Big Dome sees yet another raucous edition of a tribal war.

Late last year, some friends and I thought it was high time to come up with a coffee-table book on this rivalry between the Blue and Green, which has even been reported on in the New York Times. It would take some doing, we agreed: exhaustive research, the cooperation of alumni both ways, and of course a balanced presentation while chronicling the rivalry’s history down the years, without diluting the inherent passion that fuels the traditional “blood feud.”

It would have photographs and reminiscences galore, fine writing and editorial supervision to make sense of the wealth of material. And it would not exclusively feature the competition on the hardcourt brought over from the NCCA to the UAAP, but also the contests fought over golf greens and other sporting arenas, even dance floors.

And of course the documentation should feature some stories on and of the people caught in between — Ateneo grade or high schoolers who entered La Salle for college and vice versa, as well as clans and families divided in their allegiances to avenues of faith: Katipunan or Taft. 

It would have been propitious to come up with the book before the basketball season began, as a sellout could’ve been expected, especially now that we revel in yet another classic showdown. I know for one that alumni from abroad even come home for such a torrid finish.  

Unfortunately, the project didn’t get to go much beyond talk, plans and projections. But hey, there should be time and opportunity enough to still see it through, with this latest encounter as the freshest feature.

I just hope the diehard Green Archers won’t mind so much that the Blue Eagles are likely to take another march on storied time, and go up 3 to 1 in these head-to-head crown duels. Heh, heh. Why do I say “likely”? Heck, here’s putting the old foot in the mouth: Ateneo should claim this season’s UAAP title, as pre-ordained, and as forecast earlier in this space.

In fact, the defending champions weren’t given much of a chance to repeat, with the experts tipping FEU as the prospective co-finalist. But then the Green Archers showed the proverbial heart of a champ and pulled off a dramatic squeaker after an initial upset of the hard-luck Morayta boys or Tamaraws. Hey, we used to call it Morayta, okay?

Casio and Maierhofer are the only veteran anchors for DLSU’s title defense, and the former can have bad scoring days. But James Mangahas has stepped up, and together with Malabes and Barua, show much promise, needing just a bit more seasoning. The rookie Revilla, backup center Ferdinand, and Atkins and Bagatsing are expected to sub for quality minutes.

As a whole, however, the Archers don’t match up too well against the Eagles, which boast of a tall and consistent frontline in MVP contender Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Baclao, Baldos and Nkemakolam. Spritual leader and all-around veteran Chris Tiu should play the games of his collegiate life starting on Sunday. He just has to exit the league with a ring.

Jai Reyes has blossomed as a long bomber of a starter, while Ryan Buenafe is a beefy, savvy swingman who could dominate the league in years to come. A Juniors MVP, he’s sure to develop consistency, especially in finishing in the paint and from the charity stripe, since his attacking style draws fouls, unless they lead to errors. Eric Salamat provides dynamic bench energy that translates into steals and fast breaks, apart from southpaw triples from the corners.  

I have to hand it to Norman this year. Indeed, he’s taught his boys to play solid half-court defense, as he proudly says. And the way he can substitute in waves — going deep to play Escueta, Long, Austria, and Salva — assures fresh legs and no let-up in defense. He’ll only have to guard against the propensity to start the fourth quarter with a majority of second stringers. 

The Archers are an exploitative and opportunistic lot, playing with heart and pride every minute, so that double-digit deficits can be wiped out in no time, given the right breaks.

La Salle has shown regular league dominance since its entry in 1986, figuring in the Finals a remarkable 17 times in 23 years. Ateneo pales in comparison, showing the ups and downs of team development, with only its seventh Finals appearance in 31 years. Thus, in Finals experience, La Salle definitely has a great edge.

This year, however, the Eagles’ buildup over the last few seasons has come to evident fruition. The squad has got just the right mix of veterans and fresh projects that allows it to mix it up in offense and defense for four full quarters.

While obviously having an advantage in the over-all lineup, the Blue Eagles can’t be assured of easy sailing through the 2008 Finals. An Ateneo-La Salle encounter hardly ever goes the way of the form charts. Each game is played with heart and guts, so that a sweep is never likely.  

Still and all, I predict, like most Ateneans as well as unbiased observers, that the Blue Eagles will take it this year. The only question in my mind — and heart — is whether my Ninong Arben Santos will see to seating me closer to the players’ benches or the nosebleed section.

After this UAAP dream finals that could wind up as another classic, what we can look forward to is a Red & Blue match-up. Should the San Beda Red Lions execute an NCCA three-peat in the coming weeks as expected, surely a collegiate champs’ winner-take-all will be in the offing. And like Ninong MVP or Manny V. Pangilinan, I’ll be in for a loyalty test, whether on the sidelines or way up in the rafters.