Final Flight

Mission accomplished dear NFP followers and Ateneo fans alike. Four straight UAAP championships all done with hard work by the boys in Blue and White. While they say that this year’s crown was ours to lose, I beg to disagree. As challenging as the first three titles have been, this year’s competition was definitely more difficult. All teams, with the exception of UE, have souped up with five-star, four-star recruits who will definitely be making noise in the years to come. We, however are blessed with a team that has a solid core, great recruits, the best coaching staff across the nation, and of course, a tried and battle-tested system.

My heart was literally pounding even as me and my buddies watched the pre-game talk (sadly, we could only host our own viewing party) and labored through Boom and TJ’s “commentating.” I even said out loud, “start the freaking game already!” That’s how anxious I was, everyone was. We’re on the doorstep of history, of immortality, and as Brad Pitt said in Troy, it’s ours to take. And in such fashion did the boys take the offered crown. Not through a tight, heartpounding affair, but through a statement, a thorough beatdown the Ateneo way. The best send-off a team can give its graduating captains. What a sweet final flight it is for Bacon, Kirk and Emman.

The final score read 82-69. People, who obviously hold grudges against the team will just grumble “tambak na naman, ano pang bago? Nabili na ang referee...” and so on. But this was far from an easy game from the get go. The Tams actually led 36-35 during the break thanks to an 18-5 bomb midway through the second period. However, in true Ateneo fashion, the Blue Eagles imposed their will in the third canto, slowly but surely pulling away and disposing off a stubborn FEU side. It seems that Aldrech Ramos was the lone Tamaraw willing to fight. Terrence Romeo was his usual self, which means throwing up a 1 of 15 from the field and building a house. RR Garcia, the MVP that he is (yes, he should’ve been the MVP) showed up but for mere flashes and wasn’t consistent throughout the game. The Emman Monfort (one banner amused me by saying MonFOURTH) puzzle will never be solved by RR or the FEU Tamaraws.

But how on earth did we manage a beatdown? I mean, I was looking forward to a grind out similar to that of last year’s Game 2. Well, I only saw one reason, and it may as well be the conclusion. Norman Black let go of the Phenom’s leash. Yep. I don’t know if it’s only me but... Kiefer was totally calling the shots in that monumental run. He called his number everytime down and Coach B never bat an eyelash. It seemed as if he was goading the Rookie of the Year to show them all what he’s made off. Me and my buddies were howling in delight as he buried Cris Tolomia, Ping Exciminiano, Terrence Romeo and for all that is holy, RR Garcia.  He completely toyed with them. Watching him post them up, make a half-spin/dropstep then fadeaway? I must be dreaming but I thought his number was 23 or 24! He completely beasted it out there. That makes the PCCL much more exciting. We’re also gunning for another national title. NATIONAL guys.

5 for the Blue and White (with an additional two, which doesn’t need to be explained):

•         Kiefer Ravena – Topscoring in a Finals game? No big deal for the Phenom. It just goes to show that he is as good as advertised, and even better. That’s some serious moxie young fella. Total domination of the FEU guards was just too cruel.

•        Nico Salva – Why hello there Mr. Finals MVP sir. Yet again you proved your mettle and made a point of saying Ateneo doesn’t rely on Kiefer and Greg alone. That when they have a bad day, you will be the constant. One more year Nic. It’s good to end it with a ring to complete your hand, just saying.

•      Magic Tiongson – Magic indeed. The timing was right for the heir apparent to Emman MonFOURTH. Each of those 11 points were needed as Zags and Chua weren’t that much their effective selves. Besides, making this a stepping stone for your ascendancy? What a way to stage it, in the Finals nonetheless. 

•            Greg Slaughter – Come back next year please big fella. It would be much more fun, not to mention crazier. Imagine a frontline of you, Nic and Ryan. Sheesh, that makes me shiver. Besides, as you said in your “speech,” we welcomed you. Best to pay it back by going for one more run.

•      Emman Monfort – Cap, I know it’s sort of wrong (in a masculine world such as the Philippines) to say it, but hell I’m going to miss you. You are the champion for little guys, pun intended. You got cut, yet you proved to be our diamond in the rough in the long run. One may say you’d never play at the pro level, but the hell that I care, what matters most is that the Pocket Rocket made #6 so cool in Blue and White. What matters most is that you are the heart and soul of this team. Yes cap, make no mistake, this was your team to command. It was a joy watching you zoom, outwit, outmuscle, outhustle, and win on the sacred floor of SMART Araneta Coliseum all my years in school. This was your swan song, nay, I say, a King Eagle’s song, and what a show you put out there for me. You are a legend cap. And you may have not noticed me, but I was a seatmate back in Sir Sev’s Public Relations class. Cheered my heart out for the Pocket Rocket, just so you know.

•       Kirk Long – As my favorite NBA team, the Chicago Bulls, had a Captain Kirk who defended to the death and was an absolute team player, we also have our own Captain Kirk. Entering the Loyola Schools the same time as I did, even being classmates in Public Relations under Sir Sev, I was wondering how good a ballplayer Kirk was. I thought he was a beast-it-out type of guard who could bury his defender at will. He was not, and while I was partially dismayed, he excelled at the other side of the court, the side which I love: defense. Nothing feels as great as shutting down your opponent on the court, more so if he’s the main man. And that’s what captain Kirk does. He does it without question, without complaints, without doubt. There’ll only be one Kirk Long, dogged defender, nightmares of wing scorers, but I know for sure, there’ll be others who will take up the mantle with gusto.

•     Bacon Austria – This guy was such a beast back in our days in Ateneo High School. Everyone always asked, when it’s time for intramurals and sportsfests, will Bacon play? Being in the same batch as he, I was sure freaking scared. This is not to downplay our own Carlo Balmaceda, but Bacs was just a different beast. He outscored the NU Bullpups in one whole quarter by himself during our last year in High School. He was the epitome of “Ang bumangga, giba!” Together with Tonino, he punished the FEU Baby Tams’ frontline that boasted of Mark Lopez and Soc Rivera (where the hell is this guy?). Sure, his stellar Juniors career didn’t elevate as much as we, his batchmates, hoped, but it was not that bad. He made do with what Coach B had in store for him. He never questioned it. He never rebelled from it. He never complained. He knows what it takes to be a winner. I’m sure you can recapture your old magic if you decide to test the waters Bacs. You just played within the system since you know it’s what will give you the thing you desire the most: a championship. And oh, you weren’t only gifted with a championship, you were gifted with four. Mike G might be regretting his decision to go to UP now but that’s just the way it is.

And so another basketball season in the UAAP has come and gone, and we still are kings of the hill. As to how long our reign will end, that I cannot answer with certainty. But as long as the Blue and the White, with the Eagles in flight, I know Ateneo will fight everyday. I cannot, in earnest write a better feature for our captains as of the moment, but I’m sure, our thanks will go beyond words and they will understand it. Oh how I would give anything to hear the mass at the Church of Gesu like I did three championships ago, but alas, time presses me to meet deadlines. The next time Ateneo basketball will make news, Blue and White faithful, is when our boys are duking it out  for a National title. Winning that, will be the cherry on top for the captains, especially the legend of Emman MonFOURTH. And when it is done and over with, the smell of burning wood suffusing our nostrils, someone familiar will be saying on the stage, “Basta alam ko next year, Drive for Five tayo.”

GO ATENEO!

ONE BIG FIGHT!

By mr. Orange

photo from fabilioh.com