Humblebola

By: Kyle Reiner Pineda

This start to the UAAP Men’s Basketball season has been the most interesting in quite a while. The previous season’s Finalists currently sit at #4 and #5, while several teams have performed way above expectations, making this the most unpredictable season in a while where there’s no clear winner until the final buzzer.

When people said that this was going to be the most even UAAP season in decades, I did not believe it. After the first round of eliminations, I’m starting to get convinced.

The NU Bulldogs and the UST Growling Tigers sit at the top of the UAAP with 6-1 and 5-2 records respectively after proving they can match with the crowd favorites to be real title contenders this season. The wise coaching of Jeff Napa has steadied the ship with an emerging Jake Figueroa leading alongside Steve Nash Enriquez, Jolo Manansala, Omar John making big leaps from last season. Many expected them to play consistently, this being their signature for the past three seasons, but this time they’ve been able to elevate their game, taking down championship favorites along the way.

The host school from España is looking loaded from top-to-bottom. Collins Akowe is looking like a strong candidate for the FSA MVP with two games with at least 20-points and 19-rebounds against UP and Ateneo no less. Nic Cabanero, Kyle Paranada, and Fortsky Padrigao have all taken leaps as guards for the Growling Tigers to become a three-headed monster in the backcourt.

A logjam is currently forming within the 3-5 spots with the Ateneo Blue Eagles, the UP Fighting Maroons, and the DLSU Green Archers all having their fair share of highs and lows. The UP Fighting Maroons went on a 4-game win streak after starting the season 0-2 thanks to the showings of newcomers Rhey Remogat, Francis Nnoruka, and the emerging Gani Stevens with at least three double-digit scoring games each in their last four games. The loss to DLSU puts them right in the middle of the 3-team log jam for the lower two spots of the Final Four.

The Ateneo Blue Eagles came right out of the gates running, starting the season with a 4-game win streak, including a statement win against title-favorite DLSU. But they have since cooled down, losing all three of their remaining assignments in the first round. In that time, Kymani Ladi and Shawn Tuano have emerged as key players for this re-energized Blue Eagles squad, but overall it’s still the house of Jared Bahay who has established himself as the selfless leader of the team.

The biggest surprise of the season would be the title-favorite DLSU Green Archers teetering at the edge of the Final Four at 4 wins and 3 losses as things stand. Mason Amos is out for at least 6-8 weeks, the offense looks lost without star Jacob Cortez, and the squad looks like a collection of talent rather than a team. To many fans, it felt like this DLSU team lost games they shouldn’t have, but hope is not lost. Most of Coach Topex’s teams have started off slowly but are late-season peakers so Lasallians should hope the third time’s the charm.

Overall, UAAP Season 88 has been a Round 1 for the ages. Pure Cinema as the kids call it. You have surprising schools at the top of the standings, title favorites fighting to make the Playoffs, and games that will get you tuned for all 40-minutes. We’ve had our first 3OT with UST-Ateneo, *that* Adamson-UE where teams went on quarter-long runs, *that* UP comeback in the fourth to hand the Bulldogs their only lost so far, and a classic LaSalle-Ateneo Round 1 clash with the Katipunan school up by as much as 30, only to almost blow it all away in the end.

I have a general rule in Round 1 of taking the standings with a grain of salt as all teams are still jockeying for position at this time. I may have to skip the salt for Season 88 because these games have been pretty damn fun. One winning/losing streak could be all it takes to change the Final Four picture. 

For the rest of the pack such as UE and FEU, there is still lots of basketball to play. Even the stories and narratives for the locals, FSA, teams, and coaches are up in the air to this date. These rounds of games are getting people to talk. One thing is for sure though, it looks like there’s parity in the UAAP again, and I’m glad it is.