Later today, we will all witness the first game of
the Season 76 UAAP Finals between the De La Salle Green Archers and the
University of Sto. Tomas Growling Tigers. Both teams went through some dramatic
stuff to get to this stage, and, judging by that alone, perhaps we can all
agree that either team is deserving of the title.
Having two champions is just not possible, of course,
(Oh, wait, this is the UAAP. That actually happened already!) and that means,
to reference Optimus Prime in the original animated “Transformers” motion
picture, “One shall stand and one shall fall.” This resonates in a very
interesting way for this particular match-up, since, as many outfits have no
doubt dissected and re-dissected, we have two brothers on opposing sides of the
conflict. This kinda reminds me of the 2009 film, “Brothers,” featuring Tobey
Maguire and Jake Gyllenhaal torn by the affections of one Natalie Portman, or,
if you want to wax biblical, the inherent struggle between Cain & Abel or
the Prodigal Son and his kuya.
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| Who's the better Teng? (composite image by Enzo Flojo/Hoop Nut using images by Leslie Sy and JB Janeo) |
One of the most interesting plot points, in fact, is
what color will the Teng parents wear and how they will react when they see
their sons play against each other. I mean, this is no longer the elimination
round. This is for all the marbles. The silver lining is the Teng household
will have a pretty new piece of hardware by the middle of October, but the
tough part is not everyone under the same roof will be jumping for joy (in a
manner of speaking).
But there are other undertones, too. This rekindles
the classic DLSU-UST rivalry of the 1990s. This pits two contrasting styles of
play and coaching philosophies. Heck, we have two coaches that, at least as far
as their level of expression, couldn’t be more different. By all intents and
purposes, this is going to be one memorable Finals affair.
So who is the smart money bet? Let’s see.
All
Efficiency Ratings are based on the data on PBA-Online.net.
Frontcourt:
Versatility vs Bullishness
UST: Karim Abdul, Aljon Mariano, and Kevin Ferrer
Combined Efficiency Rating: 96.4 EFF
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DLSU: Norbert Torres, Arnold Van Opstal, and Jason
Perkins
Combined Efficiency Rating: 83.9 EFF
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What makes UST’s main frontcourt so dangerous is
that these guys can hurt an opposing team in so many ways. Abdul and Mariano
are effective at getting to the basket from pretty much anywhere inside the
arc. Both guys can finesse their way to the hole and, at least in Abdul’s
case, the power game is a viable option, too. Ferrer, for his part, can
stroke from deep and is a great weak-side defender. Versatility is the name
of the game for the UST bigs.
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On the other end of the floor, we have a DLSU
frontline that is menacing and bullish. All three guys have a respectable
back-to-the-basket game, and if they can avoid those extra steps, then making
minced meat out of guys like Paulo Pe or Robert Hainga will be an
eventuality. Here’s an interesting fact, though – despite DLSU’s size
advantage, they actually average fewer rebounds than UST, BUT in the two
games these teams have played, DLSU has won the battle of the boards each and
every time.
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Advantage: Draw
Backcourt: Playmakers
and Snipers
UST: Ed Daquioag and Tata Bautista
Combined Efficiency Rating: 40.5 EFF
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DLSU: LA Revilla and Almond Vosotros
Combined Efficiency Rating: 45.1 EFF
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Daquioag reminds me a lot of Mark Barroca (I didn’t
say they look alike, but now that you mention it…). He is a creative slasher
who can finish around the basket or via pull-up J, and he is also the number
one playmaker on his team. On the other hand, Bautista is the classic spot-up
shooter in the mold of Reggie Miller or Ray Allen. Bautista can read screens
pretty well, and he has shown an affinity for getting to open spots. If
Daquioag gets to the hole too often and/or Bautista gets too many open looks,
then it will be lights out DLSU.
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Whereas Daquioag is the star playmaker for UST,
Revilla fills that role for DLSU. Also, Vosotros is the most trigger-happy La
Sallian in the same way Bautista is the designated chucker for UST. At his
best, Revilla is definitely a top-tier PG in the UAAP, and I don’t think he’s
going to play conservatively in his first Finals appearance since 2008
(remember the bang-bang affair?). As for Vosotros, well, he’s due for a
breakout shooting performance. I mean, he’s shot just 1/20 from long range in
his last three games, and just 3/26 from long distance against UST. If he can
find the bottom of the net more than a few times, the Tigers will be in for a
long afternoon.
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Advantage: DLSU
The Better
Brother: A Clash of Styles
UST: Jeric Teng
Efficiency Rating: 25.9
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DLSU: Jeron Teng
Efficiency Rating: 31.3
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Jeric’s last year in the UAAP hasn’t been a pretty
one. He’s been hobbled by a pair of serious injuries, and he just hasn’t
really been able to get into any rhythm. Still, with so much on the line,
nobody is expecting this kid to be a spectator, right? He also has more to
prove than his younger bro, who has three more seasons of eligibility. Jeric
wants to bow out of his collegiate career a winner, and this is his last
chance of making that happen. Don’t forget, too, that, at his best, Jeric is
the more explosive of the two.
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Jeron has had a fantastic sophomore season for La
Salle, and he is, in fact, the best Archer in terms of efficiency. He has
improved in terms of his decision-making and, perhaps more importantly, his
free throw shooting. The big question, of course, is can he be the leader his
team needs him to be? Will he revert to being the “I want to do everything” Jeron
Teng or will he be the prudent, clutch one we’ve seen since the start of the
second round? In the end, it will be a test of maturity, and, well, this is
his first time in the Finals, so…
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Advantage: Jeric
The Role
Players: Who will step up?
UST: Kim Lo, Paulo Pe, and Jamal Sheriff
Combined Efficiency Rating: 42.6
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DLSU: Thomas Torres, Luigi Dela Paz, Matt Salem,
Kib Montalbo, Oda Tampus
Combined Efficiency Rating: 60.7
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All these guys have had shining moments in UST’s
last few wins, and they will need to be sharp against a deeper DLSU bench.
Sheriff has shown some enviable court sense of late, and that will be
valuable in the few minutes he will spell Daquioag. Meanwhile, Lo and Pe have
to be tough enough not just to bang in the paint, but to convert those
garbage opportunities when they land on their laps.
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Torres is good enough to be anybody’s starter in
the amateurs, and that means there shouldn’t be any drop when he comes in for
Revilla. Dela Paz and Montalbo can both nail the long toms in a pinch, while
Salem and Tampus provide the necessary defensive toughness. It’s a
well-balanced supporting crew for coach Juno Sauler, and he will need every
single one of them to play their roles to a T if DLSU wants to reclaim the
crown.
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Advantage: UST
– Though its bench is not as deep, UST has been able to really milk its
reserves for all their worth. And, well, they do have that critical intangible
– championship experience.
Why I am
rooting for UST:
The plain and simple reason is I like coach Pido
Jarencio. He’s a classic motivator who knows which buttons to push when his
team needs to rally. I don’t really expect any complex plays when the game is
on the line, but UST doesn’t need that anyway. What these guys need is someone
to tell them they’re good enough to win, that they have what it takes, and that
they should take pride in what they have accomplished. In this league, nobody
is better at that than coach Pido. He’s as charismatic as they come, and I am a
big fan of that.
Why I am
picking DLSU to win:
In contrast, coach Juno is as stoic as a stone on a
hot summer day. You think Gregg Popovich is a bit of an introvert? Wait till
you see this guy in the pressroom. But that’s also his strength. That pairing
of singularity of purpose and composure is what has made him so successful this
season, and it seems the Archers have responded to it very well. What DLSU has
always needed is a bit more discipline and structure, and this guy has provided
that in spades. When combined with the Greenies’ depth? Well, that’s a championship
formula right there.
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