Picking the Brains of Former Players

The facial expressions couldn’t have been more different.

Enrico Villanueva, seated at his usual spot behind the left basket, let out a big smile and an approving applause after Ateneo de Manila University back-up forward Bacon Austria scored on a kamikaze drive to give the Blue Eagles a 64-41 lead with under six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

Johnny Abarrientos, on the other hand, wearing a green polo shirt, slumped several rows behind the Far Eastern University (FEU) bench, buried his face on his right palm and shook his head in dismay after the Tamaraws committed under defensive blunder.

Here are two former players from the two respected schools, watching the same game but going through completely contradicting emotions. Villanueva, who played for the Blue Eagles from 1998-2002, was clearly enjoying the match, while Abarrientos, undoubtedly the best player to don a FEU jersey, was left hoping he could step on the court and help his alma mater.

But of course, he couldn’t.

Ateneo made mincemeat of FEU in Game 1 of the UAAP Finals in front of a capacity crowd at the Araneta Coliseum, 72-49—the second most lopsided win in league championship history next to De La Salle University’s 25-point massacre of FEU in Game 1 of the 1998 Finals. It wasn’t much of a tightly fought battle as Last Dance games go. It was more of an obliteration. An execution. The exact opposite of gentle reproval.

The former Ateneo and FEU players in attendance couldn’t help but notice the discrepancy between the performances of the two protagonists. After all, there was a time when they were the ones hustling and jostling on the court, while being serenaded by the cheers and jeers of the raucous crowd.

“Championship is not about the Xs and Os. It’s all about having the will to win,” said Villanueva, who was named 2002 UAAP MVP. “Clearly in this game, it was Ateneo who wanted it more.”

“If they (FEU) start believing they can beat Ateneo, then that’s the only time their game will come to form,” said Abarrientos, who led the Tamaraws to back-to-back crowns in 1991 and 1992.

Ex-Ateneo stars Paolo Bugia and Larry Fonacier, who watched the game with Villanueva, pointed to the Blue Eagles’ blistering start as the telling factor of the match. The Men in Blue scored 26 big points in the opening quarter, anchored on a blinding transition offense, while holding FEU to just eight markers.

“Ateneo had a good start. They shared the ball well and executed on fastbreaks. With that start, FEU simply got shocked and never recovered,” said Bugia, who donned the Blue and White from 1999-2004.

“Ateneo displayed confidence early on, while FEU just gave up too early,” added the soft-spoken Fonacier, who shared 2002 Finals MVP honors with Wesley Gonzales.

Even former FEU big man Mark Isip, a member of the three-peat squad from 2003-2005, agreed.

“The first quarter proved to be crucial. Ateneo determined the phase of the game and dictated the tempo,” said Isip.

All game long, the Blue Eagles clicked on all cylinders with the turbo boosters turned on. They hit their midrange shots, drove to the basket, and scored on pick-and-rolls. They shot 47.5% from the field and registered 18 assists. Even the bench came to play, putting up 32 points against FEU’s 12. The Tamaraws simply had no answer to the Ateneo annihilation.

“FEU had no defense right from the start,” said former FEU guard Benedict Fernandez. “Maybe they were just taken aback by the atmosphere since it’s their first time in the finals.”

“They (FEU) really lacked defensively. Most of the players were too bent on scoring that they forgot to play defense,” said former FEU forward Eder Saldua. Kung hindi sila maka-shoot, dapat hindi rin maka-shoot ang kalaban (if they can’t score, then Ateneo shouldn’t score as well).

Villanueva, Bugia, and Fonacier proudly raised their right fists as the Ateneo hymn was being played. Fernandez and Saldua stood stunned, with their arms folded on their chests, after excruciatingly and hopelessly witnessing their beloved school get blown out. Abarrientos, obviously deeply frustrated with the outcome, didn’t even wait for the FEU anthem as he exited the venue seconds after the final buzzer sounded.

Former varsity players watch the games to be part of the entire UAAP experience all over again. But just like their playing days, some will go home with the win and some will go home with a whimper. Unfortunately for the ex-FEU players, Game 1 ended with an Ateneo celebration.

“This (Finals) is for Ateneo to take. FEU should be the one to adjust in Game 2,” said Villanueva.

Paolo Mariano, UAAP Home