UAAP Season 72: Closing The Books

Another season, another championship. I could get used to this, he he. If only for the fact that as defending champs, the Blue Eagles played with big bull's-eyes on their backs all season, I dare say that this year's title is sweeter than last year's. Ateneo's road to the Season 72 championship was simply more arduous (if losing two games, one more than in Season 71, can rightfully be called "arduous"). Unlike last year, the Blue Eagles didn't collar majority of the individual awards. Still, this season had its highlights: the twelve-game win streak, the two-game sweep of archrival La Salle, and the emergence of players expected to be vital cogs in Ateneo's three-peat drive next year. And to mark the end of another near-perfect campaign, let me record for posterity's sake the Blue Eagle's title run in Season 72, beginning with the people responsible:

Players 4 Juami Tiongson, PG 5 Jai Reyes, PG 6 Emman Monfort, PG 7 Nonoy Baclao, PF 8 Bacon Austria, SG/SF 10 Tonino Gonzaga, SF 11 Eric Salamat, SG 12 Kirk Long, SG 13 Ryan Buenafe, SF 14 Nico Salva, PF 15 Vince Burke, PF 17 Oping Sumalinog, SF 18 Justin Chua, PF/C 19 Rabeh Al-Hussaini, C 20 Chris de Chavez, SG/SF 21 Frank Golla, PF/C Head Coach Norman Black Coaching Staff Sandy Arespacochaga Gene Afable Jamike Jarin Gabby Severino Jon Jacinto Dennis Aenlle Chester Tiongson

The route the team took in winning the title:

Eliminations, First Round Sunday, 12 July 2009, 63-59 win over FEU Thursday, 16 July 2009, 72-57 win over UE Sunday, 19 July 2009, 93-77 win over UST Sunday, 26 July 2009, 58-68 loss to UP Thursday, 30 July 2009, 61-51 win over Adamson Saturday, 1 August 2009, 75-47 win over NU Sunday, 9 August 2009, 76-72 win over La Salle Eliminations, Second Round Thursday, 13 August 2009, 80-75 win over UE Sunday, 16 August 2009, 81-65 win over La Salle Sunday, 23 August 2009, 80-70 win over UST Thursday, 27 August 2009, 75-54 win over NU Sunday, 30 August 2009, 61-52 win over Adamson Sunday, 6 September 2009, 93-75 win over UP Saturday, 12 September 2009, 74-73 win over FEU Final Four Sunday, 19 September 2009, 81-64 win over UST Finals Thursday, 1 October 2009, 78-71 win over UE Sunday, 4 October 2009, 88-68 loss to UE Thursday, 8 October 2009, 71-58 win over UE

The standings after the two-round eliminations:

ADMU Blue Eagles (13-1) FEU Tamaraws (11-2) UE Red Warriors (10-4) UST Growling Tigers (6-8) AdU Soaring Falcons (5-9) DLSU Green Archers (5-9) NU Bulldogs (3-11) UP Fighting Maroons (3-11)

The Blue Eagles who stood out:

Rabeh Al-Hussaini Finals Most Valuable Player Member, Mythical Team Jollibee Yum Doubles Duo Nico Salva KFC Sixth Man Eric Salamat Jollibee Yum Doubles Duo PSBank Maaasahan Player of the Year

There, that ought to be the last of it. See you next season!

...

[12 October 2009 Edit] I suck at marking milestones. Just like last time, I forgot to note beforehand that this is my 250th entry since TPatS started in July 2008.