UAAP rubber match a tossup between Tamaraws, Bulldogs

MANILA, Philippines - From the outside looking in, UAAP Season 77 MVP Kiefer Ravena of Ateneo considers the titular duel between title hungry National U Bulldogs and equally determined Far Eastern U Tamaraws practically a toss-up and finds it hard to pick a winner.

And the King Eagle feels his good buddies, Gelo Alolino of NU and Mike Tolomia of FEU, would spell the difference and determine the fate of their respective teams in Wednesday’s rubber match.

“I was joking Mike and Gelo to stop practicing and just see each other in the game. It all boils down to the final game and they both will play their 20th game this season so it’s really maxed out, there’s nothing to adjust anymore,”  said Ravena during Friday’s informal launch of his “Hoops for Hope: A Celebrity Charity Basketball Game” slated next month.

“I think FEU played all out in the first game then NU adjusted (in the second) so everything is already out in the open and now it’s just a players’ game really,” he added.

Ravena, who would’ve traded his MVP plum to a stint in the finals, is monitoring the NU-FEU duel with keen interest, most especially since his former Phl youth teammates are slugging it out.

“The X-factor will be Gelo and Mike, how they’re gonna close it out. These two are the leaders of their respective teams; they take it upon themselves to really find a way to help the team win, and both of them are going for their first UAAP championships and want to give it everything they got.

“So I can’t predict any winner. Both are coming in with the same mentality and it will be a good Game Three,” he said.

Ravena noted that FEU’s offense is its main arsenal while NU thrives in the defensive system.

“FEU’s edge I think is their offensive prowess. You don’t know who will explode on offense. Mac (Belo) may be struggling in the first two games but Mike is playing consistent and (Achie) Inigo is always there, so is Hargrove.

“On the part of NU, it’s their system. I’m not saying that FEU doesn’t have a system with coach Nash (Racela) but the system of NU has been there ever since and that has carried them throughout the season; no one really separated from their group from what they run on offense and especially defense,” he said.

The Ateneo star also takes special notice on the match-up between FEU’s Belo and NU’s Troy Rosario.

“So nice to see both guys really shine this year, how much they’ve improved and led their teams to victory but in the end, it will really boil down I think to Gelo and Mike,” he said.

Ravena is excited to return to action with Ateneo in the Unigames. On. Nov. 16, he and teen star Daniel Padilla will lead a basketball exhibition at the MOA Arena for the benefit of the children of World Vision Philippines and the Child Haus Foundation.

The King Eagle reiterated his intention to play his fifth and last year in Season 78, not just in basketball but possibly in volleyball as well.

“Seryoso, magta-tryout out ako sa men’s volleyball team (I’m gonna try out for the men’s volleyball team,” said Ravena, claiming he was a varsity in volleyball during his elementary days at La Salle Greenhills.