With Ateneo down by 19 points nearing endgame against FEU Saturday, Blue Eagle faithful were already bracing themselves for another Best of Three showdown with De La Salle University for the twice-to-beat advantage. Hey, that’s déjà vu right? Somewhere along the year of 2007, it also happened thanks to an NU upset to close out the UAAP regular season. But lo and behold, FEU became FUE and melted in a fourth-quarter onslaught by the Ateneans. One last power rankings before we head to our Final Four predictions it is then, offering a slight change to last week’s edition!
| 1 | | Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles (11-3) That was a scary game against the FEU Tamaraws last Saturday. Kiefer Ravena went off for an ungodly 5-for-28 day, which just made everyone’s eyes sore. The Blue Eagles cannot have Ravena firing blanks like that in the post-season and get measly support from someone like Arvin Tolentino, who’s wasting away in the corner. This week: vs. TBA |
| Last week: 1 | ||
| 2 | | De La Salle University Green Archers (10-4) The Green Archers did not have any difficulty dispatching the NU Bulldogs last Saturday and are now ready for a best-of-three showdown with the FEU Tamaraws. Buhay pa ang #Back2BackArchers.
This week: vs. TBA |
| Last week: 2 | ||
| 3 | | Far Eastern University Tamaraws (10-4) Mike Tolomia and Mac Belo were clicking on all cylinders until the score got pegged at 57-40 against Ateneo. It has been the biggest choke job for the younger brother of Chester Tolomia. And to add to the nasty downfall for the Tams: 13-for-32 free throws. Free. Throws. This week: vs. TBA |
| Last week: 3 | ||
| 4 | | University of the East Red Warriors (8-5) Surprise! UE finally breaks the top half of Star Sports Hub’s weekly Power Rankings. That is no thanks to great performances to come back from the dead and stay alive for a Final Four berth. Imagine that? Well, it still took them the whole regular season to figure out that going with Mammie over Arafat would change things up. This week: vs. UST |
| Last week: 5 | ||
| 5 | | National University Bulldogs (9-5) After looking mighty and invincible halfway through the regular season, NU closed out their record with a whimper. They have to pray Karim Abdul goes out of his mind and tows UST to victory in the final play date of the regular season to avoid a playoff for the Final Four spot. This week: vs. TBA |
| Last week: 4 | ||
| 6 | | University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers (5-8) (Week 7 rank: 6) One last time to remain relevant for UST as they tangle with UE in their final game and keep the Red Warriors out of the Final Four and exit with their heads held high. Karim Abdul has played his heart out all season and has been rewarded by disappearing teammates not named Louie Vigil. This week: vs. UE |
| Last week: 6 | ||
| 7 | | University of the Philippine Fighting Maroons (1-12) (Week 7 rank: 7) One last game for UP and its fans as they keep breaking hearts after halftime. It was a matter of sustaining the #UPFight for the whole game but alas, it has a timer of one half. Against Adamson though, expect Mikee Reyes, Dave Moralde and the rest of the Fighting Maroons to end the season on a high note. |
| Last week: 7 | ||
| 8 | | Adamson University Falcons (0-13) Last chance, Coach Kenneth. Last chance to give Don Trollano a win in his last collegiate season before moving on to the pros. This week: vs. UP |
| Last week: 8 | ||
Line of the Week
We’ll be handing out this award to players who garnered the most eye-popping stats for the week. Drumroll please as we hand it to...
Chris Newsome, ADMU Blue Eagles: 13 points, 4-11 FG, 16 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals versus FEU
Surely, we have consolation prizes! And they are...
Mac Belo, FEU Tamaraws: 16 points, 6-15 FG, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
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Player of the Week
Our Player of the Week is judged not only on numbers but overall performance in helping his team win. Quality of opponent is also added for heavy consideration. The Player of the Week goes to...
Bong Gallanza, UE Red Warriors: 21.0ppg, 7.0rpg, 2.0apg, 2.0topg, 44% FG, 60% 3FG, 100% FT
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#NgiwingDeAndre Player of the Weak
A revamped weekly award that we give, with all chagrin, to an incumbent and a surprise entry...
Aljon Mariano, UST Growling Tigers
Right now, we cannot blame the head coach anymore for under-utilizing Aljon Mariano even if he really is under-utilizing the guy. Whatever happened to this nightmare match-up that made Nico Salva work for his game? Also another power forward makes his debut and he’s none other than...
Arvin Tolentino, ADMU Blue Eagles
Yes, we know AT is a rookie. Rookies make mistakes. Heck, they might make it all season long. But we don’t care. Tolentino is one smart rookie who would not think of something to get over or break through the rookie wall. But what is this we are seeing? Content to sit around the corner wait for the ball to come your way? Jesus Christ young man, your fellow big men are cutting under the defense for easy drop off passes from the King Eagle while you just chill in the corner? Then complain about buckets? Wow. And on defense you just swipe? But against quality bigs you put up your best effort? Geez. You have to put up your best effort whether you are defending Charles Mammie or Gelo Vito.
To the both of you, DeAndre says:
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MVP Watch
It won’t be as good if we don’t have an MVP watch as well seeing as we have many great players doing a lot for their teams! So, did your team’s top gun make it this week? Let’s see who we got.
- Kiefer Ravena, ADMU Blue Eagles (Week 8 rank: 1)
This week: 23.0ppg, 5.0rpg, 5.0apg, 1.0spg, 5.0topg, 18% FG, 13% 3FG, 67% FT
Season: 21.2ppg, 5.9rpg, 5.6apg, 1.5spg, 2.7topg, 34.2% FG, 28.4% 3FG, 72.2% FT
Man, Kiefer built a brand-spanking new condo somewhere in Katipunan after that 5-for-28 day that elicited a “HESU KRISTO!” from one sports writer. The other Eagles should pick up the slack after him but in the end, he still wins the game anyway.
- Mac Belo, FEU Tamaraws (Week 8 rank: 3)
This week: 16.ppg, 8.0rpg, 2.0apg, 2.0spg, 40% FG, 0% 3FG, 67% FT
Season: 16.1ppg, 7.1rpg, 2.5apg, 0.4spg, 0.8bpg, 2.8topg, 51.5% FG, 29.2% 3FG, 69.6% FT
Mac Belo is a beast. If MVP voting was not based purely on stats, he’ll be hounding Ravena’s top spot or maybe even overtaking him. Ateneo couldn’t defend him and the way for everyone to beat Belo is for Belo to defeat himself, which happened last Saturday.
- Jeron Teng, DLSU Green Archers (Week 8 rank: 2)
This week: 16.0ppg, 7.0rpg, 4.0apg, 1.0bpg, 5.0topg, 56.3% FG, 29% 3FG, 67%FT
Season: 18.1ppg, 7.1rpg, 4.0apg, 0.6spg, 0.6bpg, 3.2topg, 38.5% FG, 27.8% 3FG, 74.8% FT
Well, Jeron looked human against NU as the scoring parade was led by Almond Vosotros. That makes him drop a spot in our rankings.
- Mike Tolomia, FEU Tamaraws (Week 8 rank: 4)
This week: 10.0ppg, 6.0rpg, 6.0apg, 6.0topg, 19% FG, 20% 3FG, 30% FT
Season: 15.2ppg, 4.4rpg, 3.4apg, 0.2spg, 3.6topg, 40% FG, 23% 3FG, 59.7% FT
Tolomia choked big time against Ateneo last Saturday. He missed crucial free throws that would’ve sealed the win for them and avoid a playoff for a twice-to-beat.
- Troy Rosario, NU Bulldogs (Week 8 rank: 5)
This week: 14.0ppg, 5.0rpg, 1.0apg, 1.0bpg, 57% FG, 67% FT
Season: 11.3ppg, 8.4rpg, 2.4apg, 0.3spg, 0.6bpg, 2.6topg, 45.8% FG, 18.2% 3FG, 61.5% FT
Was it a problem that Rosario did not touch the ball more often or was it just DLSU’s unforgiving defense? Bulldogs drop a game they could’ve won had they stuck their heads into it.
Almost made the cut: Chris Newsome, Charles Mammie
Dropped out of MVP race: n/a
Surprise of the week
FEU pulling off a UE-worthy meltdown after leading by 19 late in the fourth quarter. Nerves, boys, nerves!
Team of the Week
Ateneo gets our nod for Team of the Week as they fought off a lethargic game and manage to win after being down 19 in the late stages of the fourth quarter against FEU. Credit goes to the assistant coaches comprising the coaching staff and their star Kiefer Ravena for wanting to win whereas their head coach was content for a playoff.
Team of the Weak
No other than UST takes our Team of the Week. Seriously, outside of Karim and Vigil, they’ve been out of sorts the whole season. They can go out with a bang on Wednesday but we’re not betting on Aljon Mariano to show up.
File your comments, complaints, protests, and blind hate to @PioVGarcia.
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Editor's note: Pio Garcia is a blogger for Unblogged Sports. His views are purely his own.