What a record UAAP season 73 it has been for the Ateneo de Manila University, who happens to be next UAAP host school.
Although the current UAAP season is not over just yet and UAAP is not only about basketball in the first place, It already calls for a major Atenean celebration (October 4, 2010 has been declared a special school holiday) as their Men’s Basketball Team just placed themselves in the league’s history book after duplicating the rare three-peat made also by their junior’s counterpart through a finals sweep of the FEU Tamaraws in Game 2, 65-62 Thursday at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.
FEU Players and coaching staff (w/o Glenn Capacio) broke into tears at the dugout.
Finals MVP Ryan Buenafe carried the Blue Eagles in his shoulders in the last seven minutes of the game against the Tams, that came out fighting until the end, despite the absence of coach Capacio for the entire second half as he was brought to Medical City for precautionary check-up for high Blood Pressure which he has no history of, says FEU Athletics Director Mark Molina. Coach Glenn Capacio's contract is about to expire, FEU management said they have yet to assess everything in the off-season.
Meanwhile, Ateneo head coach Norman Black said, “With respect to my former players, this has been the most gratifying championship for me, mainly because this is the most difficult. We weren’t the favorites going to the season but I think we had a good team at the start, I just had to develop them as the league went on.” “The players just played hard all season and they have big hearts to get the job done,” added Black
Among the 17, 215 strong fans who trooped to the Big Dome for game two of the Men’s Basketball Finals were some notable FEU Alumni:
Jose Marie Viceral (Vice Ganda), FEU High school / Political Science undergraduate
“Ang babait ng mga taga Ateneo. Kahit FEU ako super greet at papicture p rin cla sakin! CONGRATS again Ateneo! Better luck next year FEU!” – Vice Ganda on twitter
Johnny Abarrientos, PBA Star / former UAAP Standout (FEU)
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“being blue blooded, i'm proud and happy that ateneo won, but i have so much respect for feu. great team, great school, all heart!” – TV Personality Bianca Gonzales on twitter
Also seen at the Ateneo Bench were prominent figures: Former President Joseph Estrada, Chief Justice Renato Corona and Senator Richard Gordon.
For next season, Ateneo has a star-studded cast to boost their chance to score a four-peat with the addition of Fil-Am center Greg Slaughter, Gwynne Capacio (son of Coach Glenn Capacio), Blue Eaglets Kiefer Ravena and Von Pessumal to fill the shoes left by Eric Salamat and Jason Escueta.
Albeit ending up in second place, the FEU Tamaraws will still remain a formidable force in 2011. Consider this, Terrence Romeo is just in his freshman year (Rookie of the Year awardee), Season MVP Ryan Roose Garcia is only a sophomore, Smart Gilas mainstays Ramos and Cawaling are still on the team plus the towering 6’10” Cameroonian import Christian Sentcheu, the cousin of Pipo Noundou. Did we say that except for Paul Sanga, the rest of the Tamaraws are intact? – That’s all for UAAP 74!
We’ll get that championship crown back to Morayta again!
NPPA Images, Ryan Ong
