Three hours. That's how long tickets for Game 1 of the UAAP basketball championship series between Ateneo-La Salle were available.Seven thousand pesos. That's how expensive tickets for the match of the year became.
Here are five key match ups that can spell the difference between sweet victory and a year of "what ifs".
STARS. Ateneo has two in veteran Chris Tiu and rising star Rabeh Al-Hussaini. La Salle also has two in veterans JV Casio and Rico Maierhofer. Both pairs give roughly the same in points, rebounds and defense. My take? A tie.
DEFENSIVE PRESENCE. Ateneo has shot blocking Nonoy Baclao and master swiper Eric Salamat. La Salle has great team defense but no truly outstanding defender. My take: Ateneo goes up 1 point.
COACH. Black versus Pumaren. Both proven, both battle tested, both with something to prove. My take? Black is a master tactician while Pumaren is a master motivator. Another tie, but barely. Ateneo still up by one.
X-FACTOR. In other words, Eric Salamat versus Bader Malabes. So far, Eric has been absolutely sterling for the Eagles, with his effort on both offense and defense usually catapulting Ateneo to victory. Malabes, on the other hand, has been on and off but when he's on, he's really hot. My take? Ateneo goes up 2-0.
CROWD. Noise? Check. Screaming? Check. Old fogeys trying to remember what it felt like to be 18? Check on both sides. My take? Sorry but I think the La Salle crowd has more hotties and cuties than Ateneo.
So Ateneo wins the match up 2-1. My bet is that the series ends that way.
MY BIASED PICK. La Salle. 11 years of education can't be washed away that easily.
MY VERY BIASED PICK FOR NEXT YEAR. UP Parrots, este, Maroons go all the way!!!
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