The Week That Was Season 2: Week 14 (September 24-29)

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Before we prepare ourselves for an Ateneo-UST UAAP Finals, let's recap what happened in the UAAP Playoffs and also check the scenarios in the NCAA as the elimination round there is approaching its final week. Simply speaking, it's playoff time here on TWTW.

5. NCAA Invades Subic!

San Beda's Ola Adeogun scored inside against the defense of the Mapua Car-
dinals in their NCAA game in Olongapo.

There were no games last Monday, but that was done to have more preparation for the next day's NCAA spectacle in Olongapo. In the first game, the San Beda Red Lions made easy work of the Mapua Cardinals, 65-41, to secure the top seed in the Final 4, eliminating the Cards in the process. The Red Lions will face either the Perpetual Help Altas or the JRU Heavy Bombers in the Final 4 as it stands. In the nightcap, the Altas whipped the Lyceum Pirates, 64-53, to eliminate the EAC Generals from playoff contention.

4. Like UAAP, Like NCAA

John Villarias' heroics against San Sebastian last Thursday set up a possible
fatal 4-way for the other twice-to-beat advantage.

Back in San Juan, the JRU Heavy Bombers built a cushion large enough to withstand a late San Sebastian rally as the Bombers trounced the Golden Stags, 82-74, last Thursday. The big win by JRU now puts the Bombers, the Stags, the Altas, and the Letran Knights (with a win against also-ran EAC) in a scenario the same as the De La Salle Green Archers, the UST Growling Tigers, the FEU Tamaraws, and the NU Bulldogs after the Archers' win over the Tams: a possibility of a four-way tie for second. More on that in an upcoming Do The Math post.

3. Heartbreak

A three-game losing streak ended the FEU Tamaraws' season
in tears and questions.

For the FEU Tamaraws, the past two weeks would seemingly be something to forget. After the cheering team lost to the UP Pep Squad in the one of the tightest UAAP Cheerdance Competition yet, the men's basketball team suffered big heartbreaks. From a team who were in a good position to at least force a best-of-3 2nd seeds vs. 3rd seeds semifinal clash, FEU lost both their last games to NU and La Salle, booting the Tams out of the Final 4. For the green-and-gold, they never saw it coming. For Coach Bert Flores, he thought the loss to NU screwed them. With Flores and even RR Garcia's respective careers in jeopardy (Garcia can opt to skip his final year and declare for the draft), we don't know what lies ahead for FEU.

2. Payback!

Despite struggling the entire game, Baser Amer banked key shots in to help
San Beda outlast Perpetual Help.

The San Beda Red Lions avenged their super wild overtime loss to Perpetual Help as they escaped with a 60-53 win last night. This time around, San Beda tried to make sure the victory will be theirs. But the Perps rallied late to come within four, setting up another wild finish. But the Red Lions got the better in the end last night due to timely clutch baskets. The loss sent the Altas to a tie for fourth with JRU, but the Perps can still take second place. Refer to the Do the Math post coming up.

1. It's Ateneo vs. UST!

The top story of the week is the UAAP Final 4 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last night. In the matinee game, the UST Growling Tigers banked on their defense in the end to stop the NU Bulldogs, 63-57. Kevin Ferrer scored all but two of his 17 points in the first half to pace the Tigers in scoring before putting his best defense up against fellow former youth team member and soon-to-be-crowned back-to-back MVP Ray-Ray Parks. Parks, the Bulldogs' spark plug, was limited to only 12. In the nightcap, Kiefer Ravena exploded for a college career-high 28 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists as Ateneo came back from a late deficit to defeat De La Salle, 66-63, setting up a rematch of the 2006 Finals, where UST stunned Ateneo in three games.

Games for the Week

Monday

4:00 PM-MIT vs. LPU

6:00 PM-AU vs. CSB

Thursday

4:00 PM-JRU vs. EAC

6:00 PM-UPHSD vs. SSC-R

Saturday

4:00 PM-ADMU vs. UST

4:00 PM-CSJL vs. AU

6:00 PM-MIT vs. CSB