National U, Far Eastern U open quest: Deja vu: Finalists relive ’54 duel

Games today (MOA Arena)

12:30 p.m. – NU vs FEU (women’s finals)

3:30 p.m. – NU vs FEU (men’s finals)

MANILA, Philippines - On one side is a team determined to take a bite at history and on another is a squad looking to live up to its glorious tradition.

National U, on the hunt for its first diadem in 60 years and the distinction of being the first-ever fourth seed to win it all, and Far Eastern U, the winningest team with 19 titles but currently on a nine-year drought, kick off their duel for the UAAP Season 77 men’s basketball crown at the MOA Arena today.

It’s a title showdown 60 years in the making after the Bulldogs and Tamaraws clashed in the 1954 championship with National U winning its only title.

The Bulldogs and the Tams had thrown off the plans of rivals Ateneo, the top seed, and La Salle, last year’s champions, and decided to write their own story in the best-of-three series. Game One is at 3:30 p.m.

“Sabi ko (I told the boys) we’ve broken our ‘Walls of Jericho.’ Andito na kami, malapit na kami sa Promised Land, ituloy-tuloy na namin (We’re close to reaching the Promised Land so we’ll try to make it through); we’re going to prepare well and we’ll just do what we have to do,” said NU coach Eric Altamirano.

“It’s gonna be a tough for us. Alfred Aroga and Gelo Alolino have been playing well and what’s scary about NU is that a number of role players are stepping up,” said FEU mentor Nash Racela.

FEU swept its two assignments with NU in the elims, 71-62 and 74-70 (overtime) but both Racela and Altamirano  believed the title confrontation will be a different ballgame.

“Kontra pelo (They’re like our nemesis) but again, throw everything away pagdating sa (when it’s comes to the) finals. It’s not about numbers, its not about stats. We will prepare physically and mentally,” said Altamirano.

“It’s gonna be a different NU team that will play in the finals,” said Racela. “Laging sinasabi ni coach Eric pagdating sa ganitong series kalimutan na nangyari before (As what coach Eric says, forget whatever happened before). That’s how we also think as a team. Forget the previous matches regardless if we won or lost, what’s really important is the series ahead of us.”

Being first-timers in the finals in a long while, it’s going to be a case of handling the pressure and overcoming jitters.

“Honestly I can’t tell you how it feels kasi first time rin namin (it’s also our first time). Message ko (My message to the team):  Stay together and do what we have to do,” said Altamirano.

“We have to manage our energy; we want us to have that same kind of energy we had in the knockout game against Ateneo,” he added.

Mac Belo, who hit the game-winning trey in FEU’s 67-64 win over La Salle and averaged 27.5 points in the semis, is expected to lead the team along with Mike Tolomia, one of four Tams who played in the finals of 2011.

“Buhos na talaga lahat dito (We’re going all-out now),” said Belo.

Meanwhile, the unbeaten NU Lady Bulldogs shoot for their first-ever women’s hoops tiara at 12:30 p.m. against the FEU Lady Tams. The Lady Bulldogs, who swept the elims en route to thrice-to-beat advantage in the finals, routed the Lady Tams, 80-58, to move on the verge on glory.