UAAP second round storylines

By Christian D. Soler for Yahoo! Southeast Asia   Thursday August 12, 2010 10:36 pm PDT

Let's give credit where it's due: De La Salle University couldn't have coined a better theme for UAAP Season 73.

True enough, the eight squads have set the stage for a compelling drive to the Final Four. And that stage is begging for heroes to come through. Here are five storylines to watch out for as we enter the critical part of the year.

When will UP win its first game?

Boyet Fernandez (yes, him) leads the Fighting Maroons to familiar territory. Nevermind the great expectations people had during the pre-season. This is the real thing, and in the real world, UP doesn't really win much. Sounds harsh, but think about it. While the likes of pre-Henry Sy NU (2001) and Adamson (2006) have made the Final Four, State U has not even come close (for the record, its last semis appearance was in 1997).

But there's one difference, though. This UP team should be winning, right, with three fifth-year players and a handful of exciting prospects, yes. Also, Fernandez is actually the man capable of restoring a bit of pride for UP, contrary to popular opinion. He's won in the pros, and is a tough tactician who walks the talk and doesn't care less what anybody else thinks. That's a good start.

In the real world, expectations about the UP basketball are just the opposite of the institution's academic standards. Perhaps, that will be the key to winning.

Adamson is winning close games. Am I dreaming?

Nope. The team that lost six of nine games by six points or less in 2009 is 4-0 in games decided by the same margin a year after, with the last victory coming against erstwhile unbeaten Far Eastern University. Coach Leo Austria has a group of kids who believe in him, much like the 2006 version that sneaked up on everyone and churned out a Most Valuable Player in Ken Bono.

This team has grown by leaps and bounds, and this is for real. Alex Nuyles has emerged as one of the premier swingmen in the country, while Eric Camson is developing into a complete big man. The point guard combo of Lester Alvarez and Jerick Cañada are the best in the UAAP, and Jan Colina remains steady down low. Yes, the Falcons are for real.

A lot of teams are bunched up in the middle...
...and this can only make for more down to the wire, end-to-end action. Currently, five teams are separated by just 3.5 games after UE opened its second round slate with a win over UST. Last year, the Growling Tigers squeezed into the Final Four with a 6-8 win-loss record, the worst since the inception of the format in 1994. Don't expect a team with a losing record to barge into the semifinals this time, as current fourth-placer De La Salle has four wins, incidentally one shy of its total victory haul from Season 72.


The MVP race is pulsating!

At the end of the first round, FEU guard RR Garcia led the statistical race with 17.7 statistical points, with UE counterpart Paul Lee a close second at 17.3. Rounding out the top five are NU's Kokoy Hermosisima, UP swingman Mike Silungan and Nuyles in that order. This will definitely go the distance as all five are their teams' respective go-to-guys.

Incidentally, if this quintet holds, it will be the first all-mythical selection made up of players from five different schools since 2006. That year, Bono, along with JC Intal (Ateneo), Jervy Cruz (UST), Marvin Cruz (UP) and Jeffrei Chan (FEU) were named to the Mythical Five.

Will the FEU story have a happy ending?

FEU winning UAAP Season 73 will be the "feel-good" story of the year. Think about all the problems this program has encountered, from the disbanding of its squad in 2006 to the Mark Barroca blame game last year, and the Mac Baracael shooting in between.

The Tamaraws have endured tough times in recent years, but have so far displayed newfound grit and hunger. Will 2010 be any different for this golden generation of Tams? The clock is ticking on the likes of JR Cawaling, Reil Cervantes, Jens Knuttel, Aldrech Ramos and Paul Sanga, who all entered the league at the same time in 2007. This is their best shot at a title to date.

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