Season finale

SEASON 85’s men’s basketball tournament is done. All hail to the Ateneo Blue Eagles for pulling off their Revenge Tour and bringing back the championship trophy to their side of Katipunan.

The recent championship series between Ateneo de Manila and the University of the Philippines (UP) was one for the books in terms of drama, expectations, preparations and ticket demand. The Smart-araneta * Coliseum buzzed with a crowd-size never before assembled after pandemic restrictions eased. You could feel the electricity in your skin.

Game 3 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball finals was the fitting climax to a season that started still with considerable Covid protocols in place. Only in the second round were fans allowed to occupy the Patron sections of the Mall of Asia Arena. So as the season wore on, fan numbers surged, making this a Revenge Tour for spectators as well.

Basketball fans will remember this one as “the unpredictable season.” Coaches and fans had always assumed that Ateneo would be the team to beat every year. But this year was different. Even as Season 85 was marked as Ateneo’s revenge tour, there was no clear path to that conclusion at the start of the season.

Spectacular performances from National University and University of the East (UE), for one, made them strong contenders for the bright lights. Disappointing starts from erstwhile strong teams Far Eastern University and Adamson U were nevertheless turned around by resurrections and strong finishing kicks. Up and down plays from De La Salle University kept it in the running till the last trip to the playoffs. Only University of Santo Tomas had a luckless season, although it did pull off surprises now and then. The defending champs University of the Philippines were the front runners for most of the eliminations, but got upended by their now favorite rivals, Ateneo, in the last game of the elims.

New heroes were hailed this year that were not on the radar last year. Luis Villegas, a one-and-done UE Warrior, was so impressive he became a member of this season’s Mythical Five. Rey Remogat, also from UE, wrote his name in the books after a sparkling 24-point performance highlighted by a dagger three in overtime against La Salle in UE’S last game this season.

Tamaraw Patrick Sleat reminded me so much of Payton Pritchard of the Boston Celtics for his hardworking, takecharge, never-say-die personality. Growling Tiger Nic Cabañero could make eyes pop with his shot-making ability. Kevin Quiambao of the De La Salle came good as advertised. Blue Eagle Kai Balunggay was a sweet-faced assassin just like UP’S Harold Alarcon. Maroon Cyril Gonzales was hardy and fearless, like a 4-wheel drive traversing rugged terrain. Falcon Joem Sabandal always showed grace under pressure. Steve Nash Hernandez never said never to any rough situation the Bulldogs were in.

Much as the fans enjoyed the anything goes trajectories that almost every team faced, the athletes and even the sports media found the season schedules brutal and physically demanding. The still shortened season plus four-game Wednesdays taxed the stars and the scribes who wrote about the games. But somehow the beautiful stories and unexpected outcomes of the competitions made everything worthwhile.

So in the end, most fans got the finals that they wanted. This new, seething rivalry between the Blue Eagles and the Fighting Maroons played out to a crowd almost 23,000 strong. Although the Blue Eagles controlled the game from the start down to the last quarter, the Fighting Maroons put on a show that erased a 20-point lead and shaved it down to five, at one point, reducing it to three in the dying seconds. But a crucial possession awarded the ball to Ateneo.

And so it was all there, the emotion and the drama. The little known fact that Ange Kouame was still playing hurt all season long despite his monster performance. The bittersweet image of injured Maroon Xavier Lucero sinking the last shot on a technical foul that allowed him to step on court again and be showered with love by the crowd.

Thus ended Season 85 basketball. Stay tuned for what might happen in Season 86.