For The Win

Racing down the court with Hans Thiele chasing after him, Eric Salamat couldn't help but showboat a little. In one fluid motion, he turned his head, stuck his tongue out at Thiele, whipped his head back forward and blew the lay-up.

And that's why Ateneo's winning this year's UAAP championship.

Call it bravado, call it supreme confidence, call it whatever you want, that's the reason why this team is going to duplicate what the 2002 team did and beat La Salle for the 'chip.

Did I mention they're sweeping it too?

This team has got it. "It" being the swagger, the the-trophy-already-has-our-name-on-it-you-have-to-take-it-from-us mentality. They know this is their championship to lose. They know it and they love it.

Why whouldn't they believe in themselves that much? The roster is top to bottom the best Ateneo has had since the aformentioned 2002 team with Rico Villanueva, Rich Alvarez, Larry Fonacier and the rest. Rabbah Al-Hussaini has transformed himself into the best center not-yet-in-the-PBA today. And with a floor game that combines solid post moves (turnaround jumphooks, up and unders, a solid mid-range jumper) and a commitment to running the floor everytime down, Ateneo's biggest Eagle leads the team in scoring and rebounding at 17.5 ppg and 9.5 rpg. Defensively, he isn't as big as Jervy Cruz but you can't bully him like before. On the other end of the spectrum, Chris Tiu is the steadiest guard in the UAAP (sorry JV Casio). You know about the scoring (13.6 ppg) but the rebounding (6 rpg) and the assists (3.6 apg) are solid as well. He does a good job staying out of foul trouble (1.5 fpg) and not turning the ball over (1.7) Point guard and center are the two most important positions in basketball and we have the two best at each position.

While Chris and Rabbah have locked up spots on the Mythical 5, Nonoy Baclao may end up being the real MVP. Nonoy brings to the table reliable rebounding and scoring, 7.7 and 7.3 respectively and superb shot-blocking at 2.5 swats per but it's the little things he does that translate to winning. Timely putbacks when the offense bogs down, the ability to set good screens and a defensive presence that has the other teams rethinking any open lane to the basket. Every coach's dream big and every opponents nightmare match-up. He's strong and lanky, swift and powerful, the perfect guy to grab that crucial board or make an emphatic stop.

The other players are no chickens either. Ryan Buenafe is not your average rookie. Eric Salamat is by far the most explosive player on the squad. Yuri Escueta, Mike Baldos and Jai Reyes bring veteran leadership and savvy to the team while everybody else makes steady contributions across the board. Again, pound-for-pound, no one's got more talent than Ateneo.

Thing is, talent is one thing, teamwork is another. Without teamwork, talent counts for nothing. The main reason why Ateneo is 14-1? They've combined into the most beautiful and destructive force in the UAAP. When everything's clicking, like when they went on that staggering 51-17 run against UE in the semis, they're unstoppable. They do everything a championship team is supposed to. Make the extra pass, rotate properly on defense, work together, make their free throws, box out, pat each other's back, scowl when necessary and smile for the cameras. This team is for real.

Of course, if La Salle forces the second stringers to commit turnovers, if they can get Nonoy and Rabbah into foul trouble, if they can hound Chris all night, if they can deny Eric and Ryan any lanes to the basket, if they can find the open man when Ateneo collapses on Casio, James Mangahas and Rico Maierhofer and if they can get out and run, La Salle will have the upper hand. That's a lot of 'if's' though. But the one thing these Eagles have that La Salle can't beat is the desire to win. This team wants it too bad to let it slip away. Chris wants it to leave on a high note. Rabbah wants it to cement his ascension to "the man" status. Yuri and Mike want to get one before they leave too. Eric wants one to silence all the haters who say he's too fancy and turnover prone. Ryan wants it to fulfill the expectations everyone put on him as the number 1 recruit in the country. Everyone on the team wants it so bad. Everyone not on the team wants it soooo bad. Students, alumni, teachers and staff, everyone wants this team to win. This is it. The best chance we have. 2008 is just like 2002; it's our time.

For Ateneo to win this thing, they're going to have to believe that they are the best team in the UAAP. They'll have to continue playing with the knowledge that what they do is what they're supposed to do to win the big one. Leave no room for fear and no room for doubt. Championship teams believe in themselves and Ateneo has definitely got the faith strong and alive. I'm doing my part. I believe. We got this on lock. I believe in the Ateneo Blue Eagles. This is our time.