IT'S OFFICIAL: Ateneo/La Salle In the UAAP Finals!

by Migs

Ladies and gentlemen, it's official- the Eagles and the Archers will once again tussle for the UAAP championship.

For many fans, it's been a long time coming.

With today's Ateneo win over UE (70-50 final), and with La Salle's victory over FEU (67-62), sports fans are on their way to being treated to the first Ateneo/La Salle finals tiff since 2002 (the two previous ADMU/La Salle finals battles happened in 1988 and 2001).

Bust open the bubbly- we're in for, potentially, 3 games between arguably the most reknowned collegiate squads in the country.

For the first time, Ateneo seems to be the favorite going into this series. For the first time, it seems that defense is the Blue Eagles' calling card coming into the finals. For the first time in years, the Loyola Heights natives have a dominant big man to rely on (Al Hussaini- present; Villanueva- past).

For the first time, DLSU coach Franz Pumaren seems to be coming into the finals as the "clear" underdog (they weren't quite that even against UE in 2007). For the first time in a while, the Archers have an inside/outside threat in the middle in Rico Maierhoffer. For the first time ever, we're going to see former San Miguel Beermen Franz Pumaren and Norman Black tussle in the UAAP Finals in a battle of bench tacticians that is set to be a chess match for the ages.

For everyone else, there are no first times- only familiar feelings. Ateneo/La Salle games have had the propensity to bring out the worst in alumni, fans, and spectators from other walks of life, however, it has tended to allow for the emergence of heroes, win or lose.

This campaign's final round should be no different.

In a week's time, it will all begin- again.

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