Third Time’s a Charm

With less than 10 seconds to go in the fourth quarter of Game 2 of the UAAP Finals, Ateneo de Manila University head coach Norman Black pumped his fist on the sidelines after the Blue Eagles made another defensive stop that virtually wiped out Far Eastern University’s (FEU) slimmest of hopes.

As the clock ticked away and Ateneo completed a two-game sweep of the Tamaraws, the blue-clad supporters, from the patron seats to the general admission area, whooped it up inside a feverish Araneta Coliseum. The cheers grew louder. The applauses resonated longer. The hugs became tighter. When the final buzzer sounded, the players stormed the court and jumped up and down in total jubilation.



Regular fans may not fully appreciate how challenging it is to win three straight championships. Defending a title is already hard as it is. What more a third consecutive time? In a collegiate league like the UAAP, players come and go as fast an outlet pass. One day you’re just a wide-eyed rookie, next thing you know, you’re playing your final game. That’s why it’s difficult for schools to have a consistent group of players who’ll play together for extended seasons.

Since the UAAP began in 1938, the evasive three-peat has only been accomplished seven times. The University of Santo Tomas (UST) did it first in the mid-1940s, while the University of the East, led by the legendary Robert Jaworski, followed during the 1960s. FEU, starring current head coach Glenn Capacio, also tasted a streaky success after pulling off the feat from 1979 to 1981.

The Final Four era, which began in 1993, also bore witness to several three-peat teams.

A powerhouse UST squad, bannered by future pros Dennis Espino, Bal David, Rey Evangelista, Udoy Belmonte, and Chris Cantonjos and mentored by the fiery Aric Del Rosario, snatched the UAAP crown from 1993 to 1995 for their second three-peat, before winning the Holy Grail for a fourth straight year in 1996.

The Growling Tigers could have won more titles in the ensuing years if not for a talent-laden La Salle quintet. Coached by the brilliant Franz Pumaren, the Green Archers strung up three straight diadems from 1998 to 2000, before duplicating UST’s four-peat in 2001. A steady stream of gifted players, acquired through extensive and expensive recruitment, helped the Taft-based school win title after title after title after title. Some of the players from the all-star cast include Ren-Ren Ritualo, Don Allado, Willie Wilson, Mike Cortez, and Mark Cardona.

After several failed attempts at the crown bridging the late 90s and the start of the millennium, the Tamaraws hit their stride anew in the mid-2000s. The arrival of long and lanky swingmen, spearheaded by two-time league MVP Arwind Santos, contributed to FEU’s second three-peat from 2003 to 2005. Santos, along with Gerard Jones, Mark Isip, Cesar Catli, R.J. Rizada, and Denok Miranda proved that no-name recruits could also reach the zenith of the glitzy and glamorous UAAP.

Then, there’s Ateneo.

Just like UST and La Salle in the early years of the Final Four age, the Katipunan-based squad benefited from its steady and successful recruitment. The Blue Eagles, who experienced a renaissance of sorts after their Dark Ages in the 1990s, had little difficulties in luring blue-chip rookies from the high school ranks or transferees from provincial colleges in recent years.

But after experiencing a heartbreaking finals defeat to an unheralded UST five in the 2006 and being eliminated by archrival La Salle in the semifinals in 2007, Ateneo further pushed the recruitment envelope in 2008 and searched for a new breed of talents that could complement the improved holdovers.

With do-it-all guard Chris Tiu already at the helm, Black, known for being one of the best big man coaches in local hoops history, turned a lackadaisical and disinterested Rabeh Al-Hussaini into an overpowering center. The team also recruited workhorse Nonoy Baclao from West Negros University in Bacolod and elevated backcourt guys Eric Salamat and Jai Reyes into heavy contributors. Year 2008 also saw the entry of heavily recruited rookies in Ryan Buenafe of San Sebastian, Nico Salva of San Beda, and Justin Chua of Chiang Kai Shek. With the pieces in place, the Blue Eagles snagged the first of their three straight titles as they exacted revenge over La Salle in two quick games.



Even with the graduation of Tiu in 2009, Black’s system was already deeply ingrained in his players that they hardly felt the departure of their charismatic leader. Al-Hussaini continued his dominance and won the season’s MVP plum, Baclao and Salamat teamed up as a terrifying defensive one-two punch, while Reyes evolved into a cerebral guard with a knack for making crucial shots. As expected, Ateneo won a second title after disposing University of the East in three outings.

Entering this season, a fair share of pundits wrote off the Blue Eagles, having lost Al-Hussaini, Baclao, and Reyes to graduation. But in a league of young players, most of the time, system and chemistry trump talent and manpower. With Salamat inheriting the main man tag and the emergence of Buenafe, Salva, Chua, and veteran guards Kirk Long and Emman Monfort, Black had a new bunch of guys out to prove they can continue the school’s winning tradition.

The system-chemistry theory bore fruit in the finals against FEU, where the less lauded Blue Eagles, none of whom received an individual award, trampled the laurelled Tamaraws, which boasted of MVP R.R. Garcia, top rookie Terrence Romeo, and Mythical Five member Aldrech Ramos. The Blue Eagles, also honed by their experience from back-to-back championships, once again proved that basketball is a game of five players. Although Buenafe single-handedly lifted the team during Game 2’s crucial stretches, all season long, it was their discipline and belief in Black’s defense-first blueprint that propelled them to a third straight UAAP crown and sixth overall.

Undeniably, winning three straight titles is as difficult as a pirouette, double-pump, fade-away shot with your offhand. In most cases, players lose the hunger factor once they’ve climbed the pedestal. Others become more selfish and aspire for individual accolades instead of another title. But in the case of the Blue Eagles, their burning passion to win as a team never wavered. They continued to feed the flame with their dedication and selflessness. Thus resulting to another looming bonfire in the festive fields of Ateneo.

If the first title is sweet and the second title sweeter, following this line of progressive reasoning, the third title should be the sweetest. That may not be the case for every team, but for this year’s crop of blue-hearted warriors, their latest gleaming hardware is the most cherished of their three consecutive crowns. Even Black himself admitted: “I don’t want to insult my former players but this is by far the most gratifying championship we’ve had.”

Paolo Mariano, UAAP Home