The Games That Play Us: Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock

Kiefer Ravena welcomes Karim Abdul to his
newest poster. SOLID.
(image by Arvin Lim/Fabilioh.com)

First, remember this:

Scissors cut Paper.

Paper covers Rock.

Rock crushes Lizard.

Lizard poisons Spock.

Spock smashes Scissors.

Scissors decapitate Lizard.

Lizard eats Paper.

Paper disproves Spock.

Spock vaporizes Rock.

Rock crushes Scissors.

Okay, moving on, here’s the thing – what a frantic friggin’ conclusion to Season 75’s elimination round it’s going to be! I guess every year UAAP fans hear/read observers and wannabe analysts (ahem!) say, “It doesn’t get any closer than this,” but that cliché applies now more than it does in other seasons.

Things are THAT close.

I mean, consider that, with just two playdates left in the season, three Final Four slots are still up in the air. Consider that four teams are within just a game of each other in the standings. Consider that there’s a possibility that UST, FEU, DLSU, and NU might ALL end up with 9-5 cards. Not enough? Alright. Consider that NO MATTER WHO WINS in the last three elims games, we WILL have a playoff for AT LEAST one Final Four spot. YES, I MEANT TO USE A LOT OF UPPER CASE LETTERS FOR EMPHASIS.

It’s that crazy!

Phew.

The last stretch of Season 75 all the way to the Finals is going be a doozy for UAAP fans and basketball fans in general. More than the Final Four possibilities, however, we have to marvel at the fact that there is no single team, not even Ateneo (especially after Erram’s injury), that can be touted as untouchable, as a shoo-in for the Finals. Each team among the five remaining contenders has dominated a couple of other teams in the same set, while also struggling against the others.

Look at the following scores:

Round 1:

FEU over UST, 73-72

UST over Ateneo, 71-70

FEU over DLSU, 48-46

Ateneo over NU, 89-65

UST over NU, 77-71

Ateneo over DLSU, 71-61

NU over FEU 61-57

UST over DLSU, 84-82 (2 OT)

DLSU over NU, 87-86 (OT)

Ateneo over FEU, 74-71

Round 2:

FEU over UST, 87-60

UST over NU, 58-57

DLSU over UST, 53-51

Ateneo over FEU, 77-64

Ateneo over DLSU, 77-67

NU over DLSU, 72-62

Ateneo over NU, 70-56

Ateneo over UST, 68-66

DLSU over FEU, 63-56

FEU over NU, 77-75 (to be re-played)

Ateneo is 7-1 here, but they’ve struggled most notably against UST and FEU.

UST is 4-4. They swept NU and seem to be the contrapelo to the Eagles, but they’ve struggled against DLSU and were swept by the Tamaraws.

FEU is 4-4 with one disputed win. They seem to have UST’s number, and have really gotten under Ateneo’s skin, though NU and DLSU have repeatedly pushed them to the brink (losing to each team once).

DLSU is 3-5. The Archers succumbed to Ateneo twice and lost each to NU, FEU, and UST, but they’ve also been able to beat those three teams.

NU has the worst record at 2-6 with one disputed loss. Ateneo convincingly beat them twice, but their two UST losses were pretty close. They split their match-ups with both DLSU and FEU.

Rock, paper, scissors, lizard, Spock. Nobody has a clear advantage. Anything can happen. It’s all wide open.

It’s insane.

And there’s really no better time to be a basketball fan.

Just for argument’s sake, the following are my predictions:

UST will beat UE to climb to 10-4.

DLSU will beat Adamson and move up to 9-5.

NU will beat FEU to tie La Salle at 9-5.

FEU will fall to 9-5 as well.

At this point, the quotient system will come into play, and a stepladder match-up for the last two Final Four slots will take place. I’m putting my money on FEU and DLSU to make the Final Four and NU to drop out.

Againt, just for argument’s sake.

So argue! Who’s your pick? What do you think?! Rock, paper, scissors, lizard, or Spock?

*Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock is an actual modification of the age-old Rock, Scissors, Paper game. It was developed by ComicCon regulars Sam Kass and Karen Bryla and popularized through the hit sitcom, “The Big Bang Theory.”

AdMU BLUE EAGLES over UST GROWLING TIGERS, 68-66

AdMU 68 – Ravena 18, Tiongson 13, Buenafe 11, Slaughter 10, Sumalinog 7, Salva 6, Elorde 3, Gonzaga 0, Golla 0, Chua 0

UST 66 – Abdul 22, Teng 12, Mariano 9, Fortuna 8, Ferrer 8, Bautista 7, Vigil 0, Pe 0, Lo 0, Afuang 0

QS: 15-18, 30-33, 52-43, 68-66

Key Performances:

Kiefer Ravena (AdMU) – 18pts, 6rebs, 4asts, 1stl

Oping Sumalinog (AdMU) – 7pts, 8rebs, 1stl, 2blks

Karim Abdul (UST) – 22pts, 12rebs, 3stls, 2blks, 1ast

Nico Salva (R) receives a solemn blessing
from Ateneo President Fr. Jett Villarin, SJ.
(image by Philip Sison/Fabilioh.com)

Juami Tiongson shows a triumphant pose as the Eagles
rally past the Growling Tigers.
(image by Philip Sison/Fabilioh.com)

Ryan Buenafe flashes his now-familiar
three-finger gesture in the first quarter.
(image by Philip Sison/Fabilioh.com)

NU BULLDOGS over UP FIGHTING MAROONS, 65-60

NU 65 – Parks 17, Mbe 13, Rosario 10, Javillonar 8, Alolino 8, Roño 3, Singh 2, Labing-isa 2, De Guzman 2, Villamor 0, Neypes 0, Khobuntin 0, Betayene 0

UP 60 – Padilla 14, Silungan 11, Mbah 8, Soyud 8, Ball 7, Manuel 3, Lopez 3, Montecastro 2, Gamboa 2, Asilum 2, Wierzba 0, Hipolito 0

QS: 12-11, 30-21, 51-41, 65-60

Key Performances:

Emmanuel Mbe (NU) – 13pts, 14rebs 1blk

Ray Parks (NU) – 17pts, 6rebs, 4asts, 1stl, 1blk

Alinko Mbah (UP) – 8pts, 4rebs, 3blks

Emmanuel Mbe and the Bulldogs had to
work extra-hard against the Fighting Maroons.

Robby Weirzba, Mike Silungan, and Mike Gamboa donned
their UP jerseys for the last time.

DLSU GREEN ARCHERS over FEU TAMARWS,

DLSU 63 – Vosotros 21, Teng 10, Revilla 8, Andrada 7, Van Opstal 6, Torres N 6, Torres 3, Mendoza 2, Webb 0, Manguera 0, Tampus 0

FEU 56 – Romeo 26, Garcia 10, Mendoza 8, Escoto 5, Cruz 3, Tolomia 2, Hargrove 2, Sentcheu 0, Pogoy 0, Bringas 0

QS: 11-12, 26-24, 42-33, 63-56

Key Performances:

Almond Vosotros (DLSU) – 21pts, 3 treys, 2rebs, 2asts

Arnold Van Opstal (DLSU) – 6pts, 5rebs, 1ast, 1stl, 1blk

Terrence Romeo (FEU) – 26pts, 5 treys, 2rebs, 2asts, 1stl

RR Garcia and the Tamaraws aren't sure-shots
for the Final Four just yet.

Almond Vosotros had another outstanding offensive
outing as La Salle got win #8.

Unless otherwise specified, all images are from FullCourtFresh.com.