ATENEO BLUE EAGLES : Champions of UAAP Season 71

Ateneo Blue Eagles won over La Salle Green Archers 62 to 51.

Ateneo Blue Eagles has taken the UAAP Season 71 Seniors Basketball Championship and won 11 points ahead of La Salle Green Archers. The key to the game was defense... La Salle tried to stop towers like Rabeh al-Hussaini in the Championship game held at the Araneta Coliseum but failed since this tank was really unstoppable inside the paint... even if he was not given that much playtime since he played only three minutes in the first half after being assessed two early fouls.

DLSU played a very physical game because they wanted to get this one. With the refs as tight as they were, they should have expected those calls... Pumaren did not accept the 1st Runner up trophy in the ceremonies and opted to say after the game this statement:

"“We were called for 29 fouls and Ateneo 13. Ganu’n ba talaga sila kagaling dumipensa?" Pumaren said.

Is this a classless act? Well from the standard of an onlooker like me it's a big YES.... I was even rooting for La Salle today... but this particular gesture was a little uncalled for. Maierhofer on the other hand was ejected after he incurred a second technical because of an unsportsmanlike gesture at the 1:31 stage of the third quarter. Both teams suffered from tight officiating. La Salle starters Bader Malabes and James Mangahas and Ateneo’s Chris Tiu were forced to ride the bench for most of the game because of early foul trouble.

In the end, Ateneo prevailed and wins this one as they were the stronger team. Now its time for their Championship Bonfire, I hope I get invited so I could bring out my own set of marshmallows and make some smores! ^_^

But next season, I'd still be rooting for my UE Red Warriors! Go Fight Red and White! Pamantasan ng Silangan Talunin ang Kalaban! ^_^

UE Red Warriors bows to Ateneo Blue Eagles 70-50

Chris Tiu and 2 warriors battle out for the ball

It all ends here UE! as Ateneo wins 70-50

I am disappointed but really who wouldn't be as the UE Red Warriors suffered a heart wrenching loss to favored Ateneo Blue Eagles in the Final 4 playoffs in the UAAP.

It was a whole game of turnovers, turnovers of turnovers, airballs and veterans not stepping up as the mighty Ateneo clawed the skins of the UE Warriors. Congrats Marcy and Llagas... and the others as well... Let's just try next season!

Well what can we do... we are only spectators.... we stayed with them till the end but still... we did not win... Ateneo just played better... that's just it... next year... and the next after that... we'll just hope something good's gonna happen.. till next season.... hey! it will happen! ^_^ you know the drought will end... GO FIGHT RED AND WHITE!

The journey of UE temporarily ends here. Some seniors will cease to exist next year and the start of something else. I hope its more than this though... I know we'll win the Championship even if its ON season! We are hungry for it! I believe! Go UE RED Warriors!

UE Red Warriors task : FINAL FOUR massacre!

My Team the UE Red Warriors!

Now the UE Red Warriors has the final four slot in the UAAP, they have to step up and beat expected favorite Ateneo Blue Eagles. No fourth-ranked team has pulled off an upset over a top seed since the Final Four format was implemented in 1994.

“Even if history says otherwise, I think we still have a good chance,” said Warriors coach Dindo Pumaren. “I’m very happy with the way we’re playing in the last few games and we hope to bring it in the Final Four.” Ateneo has been successful against La Salle and UE so far this year, beating both teams twice in the elims. Ateneo closed it out with a 13-1 record, its only loss being dealt by FEU. But the Final Four is a different story.

“UE is a good team. I mean they were the favorites going into this league (season). We have respect for them. We have to break their pressure and get the ball inside,” Black added.