Thoughts on the UAAP Finals: Ateneo-FEU Part II

The Ateneo Blue Eagles are looking for its fourth straight title as it battles the Far Eastern University Tamarraws this afternoon in a rematch of last year's ultimate UAAP showcase.

Hopefully, FEU head coach Bert Flores doesn't suffer a "Glenn Capacio" and is able to lead his team to battle from start to finish. Capacio, last year's coach who led the team to a first place ranking, suffered from high blood pressure in the must-win Game 2 and didn't come out of the lockers after the half. Not that I'm putting the blame on Capacio, but it does hurt your team's overall psyche when the man that's supposed to take the lead is bowing to all the on-court drama.

What are the chances of FEU staging a giant-sized upset?

Slim to none. I don't care if they're "peaking" as most pundits would say, this team is battling an assortment of injuries and just doesn't have the size to control ADMU's 6"11 Fil-Am rent-a-center Greg Slaughter (he's only playing this season before probably moving on to the PBA or continuing with the Gilas program). They could try crowding the paint, but guys like Kirk Long, Eman Monfort and Rookie of the Year awardee Keifer Ravena are bound to wreak havoc all over.

That, plus they need to keep an eye on Ateneo's energy guy Nico Salva who can easily explode for double digits on garbage points/ hustle plays alone.

Perhaps the Tams could try the opposite of what you'd normally do against a team with a dominant big like ADMU. Keep everyone on lock while opting to guard Slaughter one-on-one. Yes, he's tall, but put an assortment of big bodies on him and have them use all five of their fouls to the hilt and let's see just how good the Ateneo anchor really is.

And when I say foul, I don't mean to give him silly love taps for "and-ones." I want the Tams' center and power forwards to take hard swipes at the ball. Make him feel their forearms on his lower back. You can say that I'm being biased here, but I want Slaughter to "man up" in time for international play. If he can rise above all the physicality, then I would be the first to salute him because in the bigger scheme of things, he's our country's hope at the center position.

Back to FEU-ADMU.

The return of JR Cawaling could turn out to be the difference maker in this series. When healthy, the former SMART Gilas recruit is a solid two-way player that can allow last year's UAAP Most Valuable Player RR Garcia to work on offense.

That being said, here's my prediction: Ateneo in 3 games, FEU in 2.