FINAL FOUR PREVIEW: ADMU Blue Eagles vs NU Bulldogs #UAAP77
By Yanzi Eco
September 24, 2014
The Final Four stage is finally set. The top-seeded Ateneo Blue Eagles will be facing the gritty fourth-placer NU Bulldogs in a make-or-break series that could be one of the most interesting matchups this year.
The Blue Eagles just got back in the playoffs after a painful exit as early as the eliminations last year.
While the Bulldogs is on a streak with their third straight Final Four appearance. But this time, they did it without Ray Parks Jr. who has been their main man in the past seasons.
ADMU BLUE EAGLES
The Katipunan-based squad led by MVP Kiefer Ravena has been on fire this season with second-year head coach Bo Perasol calling the shots.
They ended up the season as the #1 seed, giving them the twice-to-beat advantage in the playoffs.
After losing their stars from the past seasons like Greg Slaughter, Nico Salva, and Ryan Buenafe, the Eagles’ fate is now on the hands of Kiefer Ravena and of course with the help of his teammates like his co-mythical team member Chris Newsome, hotshooting Von Pessumal, and rookie of the year Arvin Tolentino.
During the post-game presscon, head coach Bo Perasol stated that one of their biggest challenge with other teams is in the frontcourt. The Blue Eagles indeed are a bit undersized in their frontline with Fonzo Gotladera, G-Boy Babilonia, and John Apacible manning the posts.
On the brighter side, Ateneo has one thing the Bulldogs doesn’t have: a legit scorer. Kiefer Ravena isn’t an MVP for nothing. He has the ability to score in bunches game after game. He has even broke his career-highs this season a couple of times. Besides Kiefer are guys like Von Pessumal and Chris Newsome who can make and create good shots for themselves.
FACT: The Blue Eagles hasn’t won against NU since Bo Perasol took over the coaching duties. Interesting.
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS
NU has shown that there is life after Ray Parks Jr. era.
The Bulldogs have been doing well since the season started and has even reached the top of the standings early in the elimination round but eventually slid back after a couple of heartbreaks in the 2nd round.
With the leadership of guys like Gelo Alolino and Glenn Khobuntin, the Bulldogs came back to the Final Four in a huge do-or-die win against UE.
Despite Ateneo having the twice-to-beat advantage, Coach Eric Altamirano stated that it won’t be an issue and their defense would be an edge in their series against the top-seeded Eagles.
Coach E reiterated that their defense is one thing that brought them to where they’re at now and they’ll just have to ‘go with it.’
Big men like Alfred Aroga, Henri Betayene, and a versatile big man Troy Rosario could also give them an edge over Ateneo’s undersized frontline.
FACT: Though making the Final Four in the past three years, the Bulldogs has never advanced in the Finals. Their last Finals appearance (and championship) was in 1954. That’s way before the Final Four system is implemented in the UAAP!
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