Not a déja vu of 2006 Finals

By: Anthony Don T. Marca

History repeats itself as the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers will face the Ateneo De Manila University Blue Eagles in the 75^th season of the UAAP Men’s Basketball Finals on October 6 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The last time these two teams met at the finals was way back in 2006, when Pido Jarencio’s squad, led by Jojo Duncil, Japs Cuan, Jervy Cruz and Dylan Ababou, completed a Cinderella run to take the title against Norman Black’s crew of J.C. Intal, Macky Escalona, Chris Tiu and Doug Kramer.

Ateneo finished in the top of the eliminations to face the 4^th seed and rival school, De La Salle University. The Loyola-based cagers escaped with a 66-63 victory over the Green Archers behind sophomore guard Kiefer Ravena and MVP candidate forward Nico Salva.

On the other bracket, UST routed the National University via 63-57 win, with Kevin Ferrer aweing everyone by his 17-point performance and clumping down Bulldog star Bobby Ray Parks Jr. to just 12 markers despite suffering from illness.

The best-of-three series is very important for UST’s Jeric Fortuna and Carmelo Afuang because it is their final stint to capture a title in their UAAP career, while it is also the last for outgoing Ateneans Salva, Greg Slaughter, Justin Chua, Oping Sumalinog and Tonino Gonzaga, along with Black who will assume coaching position for Talk ‘n Text in the PBA right after the UAAP season.

It is, by far, one of the most thrilling championship series. Will the Eagles capture its 5^th straight title or would the Tigers break the streak and repeat an upset? Let us all be witness to another history in college basketball.