Throw away the stats – it’s all about heart

MANILA, Philippines -  If the entire elimination round was a virtual free-for-all, the Final Four of the UAAP Season 76 men’s basketball tourney will follow the same script, coaches from eliminated teams assessed.

“Unpredictable. Hindi mo alam ang mangyayari, minsan number one ka, biglang malalaglag sa number two o number two biglang aangat sa one (things can happen so fast and change team’s fortunes). For me, it’s anybody’s ballgame,” said University of the East tactician Boycie Zamar.

Zamar’s Red Warriors, one of the pre-tournament favorites, narrowly missed a playoff for a semis berth with an even 7-7 card. They ended up with the same record as deposed champion Ateneo, which settled for fifth overall after a five-year reign.

“Based on my experience, kahit may dominating center ka o dominating point guard, walang guarantee iyon (having a dominant center or point guard  is no guarantee). This is the Final Four already, wala nang statistics (throw away the statistics from the elims), it’s all about who has the heart and head,” he said.

Like Zamar, Eagles assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga and outgoing Adamson mentor Leo Austria believe anyone among National U, De La Salle, Far Eastern and University of Santo Tomas can make it all the way.

“We have a tough Final Four cast. Any team can win the championship. (There) might be an upset or two, you don’t know,” said Arespacochaga.

“Lahat sila deserving in that place at wala kang itulak kabigin (All four are deserving to be there),” said Austria, who is set to leave the Falcons bench (4-10) after seven seasons.

According to Austria, NU may have been the top team from the elims “but they can never be sure they can make it to the finals.”

“UST has an equalizer against NU – import versus import, they have (Karim) Abdul, big men versus big men, they have (Paulo) Pe, number four they have (Aljon) Mariano, and against (Bobby Ray) Parks, they have (Kevin) Ferrer, who seems to have the edge in thrashtalking whenever they’re matched up,” he said.

As for the other pairing, Austria said the Archers have three bigs who can play any time in Arnold Van Opstal, Norbert Torres, and Jason Perkins, who can even shoot from the outside, even as Jeron Teng blends well with the team now. The Tams, he said, have the fearsome trio of RR Garcia, Terrence Romeo and Mike Tolomia in the backcourt.

“La Salle is playing as a team and according to the system of their coach (Juno Sauler). If they can sustain that and if the law of averages won’t fall on them, they have a chance to get into the finals. As for FEU, we knew from the start they are capable of winning the title. If they’ll play as a team, it’s hard to beat them because anybody can score. Plus they have the best point guard in the UAAP for me – all three of them,” he said.