Indeed, the Finals fever has begun. But before we officially welcome ourselves into the main event—the epic clash between the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers and the defending champs Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles, let's take a look back at the season's most memorable, most controversial, most electrifying, and most heart-stopping matches, plays, and moments that have us declaring this diamond series as arguably THE best yet in Philippine college basketball history.
Photos by Juan Benjamin Janeo and Paul Ryan Tan
Raring to avenge themselves against the Tigers after an upset in the 1st round of eliminations, the Eagles had to dodge another comeback effort from the team in black and gold. Notwithstanding a number of dubious calls and non-calls by the refs (including a denied protest), consider their pulsating meetings as the perfect primer to a guaranteed all-heart Finals bout between these two proud schools.
Highlight: 5'11" Kiefer Ravena posterizes the 6'6"Karim Abdul. 'Nuff said.
A 35-point performance by reigning MVP Bobby Ray Parks Jr. (NU), but more important, a 35-point performance by star rookie Archer Jeron Teng that crossed out his counterpart's monster production and registered a big W for the Taft-based unit. It was a feat unheard of since, well, last season with then-rookie BRP.
Highlight: BRP slams over Arnold Van Opstal.
All eyes were on the second UAAP duel between the prolific shooting Teng brothers. This round though, the younger Teng emerged victoriously after hitting a cold-blooded jump shot that carried the Archers past the Tigers as the clock ran out . Highlight: Teng making the game-winner and playing spoilers role to UST's tried-and-tested darkhorse exploit
Highlight: Javier stuns the crowd as he sinks down a buzzer-beating short J to defeat the league-leading Eagles.
A classic David and Goliath match—the #1 team against one of the cellar dwellers in the tournament. Needless to say it became a total shocker when everyone found the Red Warriors ahead by two points against the mighty Blue Eagles at the sound of the final buzzer. Pure disbelief in the faces of the predominantly-Ateneo crowd after UE's Chris Javier drained a jumper as the time expired.
Just for kicks, here is the big man's first game-winning buzzer-beater of the season against the UP Maroons that happened just a few days before the ADMU match.
We've talked about huge comebacks and buzzer-beaters, and this encounter had both! Down by 17 points (14-31) at the half, the Tigers managed to climb their way back into contention, only behind by three until Jeric Fortuna made a buzzer-beating trey to send the game into overtime. Comeback kid Aljon Mariano took matters into his own hands in the extra five minutes, finally winning it for UST with a series of clutch baskets.
Highlight: Jeric Fortuna nailing a desperation heave from beyond the arc that sent the game into OT.
Of course, what's a classic season without its share of controversial calls, right? Epitomized by the questionable officiating in the second-round match between the Bulldogs and the Tamaraws, we saw what could be poetic justice served, as NU came out victoriously in its repeat game against FEU. We also witnessed top dog Ray Parks playing inspired ballgame, sticking it to the entire FEU squad as he sealed the win with his own version of clutch plays in OT.
Highlight: BRP strutting his MVP stuff especially in the five-minute extension.
With their semifinal bids all on the line, the game couldn't have been more important. DLSU edged out Final-Four regular FEU to complete a come-from-behind victory and gain the last F4 seat of the season. Norbert "The Bear" Torres showed off his wares with his late-game heroics, finishing the win-or-go-home match with 21 points.
Highlight: As the televised live game drew to its conclusion, fans of the Green Archers made their presence felt online:
With the crucial win over FEU, La Salle not only made returned to the Final Four, destiny also treated UAAP diehards to an additional third installment in the DLSU-ADMU showdown of the 75th season.
Of course, there can only be one victor. And behind the gutsy plays and sheer athleticism of "The Phenom" Kiefer Ravena, the Blue Eagles ended the F4 run of the Green Archers in just one game.