(Photo Credit: Janine Torre, The GUIDON) ADMU Blue Eagles def. UE Red Warriors 97-73 Notable Players: Thirdy Ravena, ADMU (17 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block): Thirdy had an all around masterful game. He had it going on offense while also locking down UE’s top scoring threat Alvin Pasaol. Jolo Mendoza, ADMU (13 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 11 MINUTES): Jolo had real quality minutes for the game. He didn’t miss a shot   in 4 attempts, 3 of those from 3pts. Anton Asistio, ADMU (9 points, 1 rebound, 6 assists): Anton had it going for the first half of the game and had good facilitating through the game Mark Maloles, UE (20 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal):   Mark Maloles was efficient tonight and had his best outing for this season. Mark Olayon, UE (15 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals): Olayon continued his all-around contribution for UE as he steps up on both offense and defense Alvin Pasaol, UE (8 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 s...

(Photo Credit: John Oranga, Fabilioh) Ateneo Blue Eagles def. La Salle Green Archers 76-75 Notable Players: Matt Nieto, Ateneo (16 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 ballsy free throws): We all know the big shots, but how he broke La Salle's mayhem and settled down Ateneo was just as impressive. Anton Asistio, Ateneo (14 points, 4 made threes): He didn't do too well late in the game but his threes at the start were key. Jolo Mendoza, Ateneo (10 points, 2/3 3FG, 2 assists): Jolo was terrific for most of this game, taking advantage of La Salle's poor coverage on the perimeter to hit some timely shots. He still has a ways to go at being a play maker, but he's getting there. Ben Mbala, La Salle (18 points, 13 rebounds): He had *just* 18 points, but how he forced Ateneo to help on him again and again was key in making this game close. A facilitating Mbala is a nightmare to be up against. Ricci Rivero, La Salle (19 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steal...

(Photo Credit: John Oranga, Fabilioh) Final Score: Ateneo Blue Eagles def. Adamson Soaring Falcons 85-65 Notable Players: Chibueze Ikeh, Ateneo (18 points, 17 rebounds): Ben Mbala has met his match. All jokes aside, major props for Ikeh in this game. He took advantage of the stage given to him courtesy of Papi Sarr's absence and made the poor Soaring Falcons pay. Highly unlikely he replicates such a line again, but this is a huge confidence booster for the much-maligned Ikeh. Thirdy Ravena, Ateneo (20 points, 10 rebounds): Ikeh's been the talk of Ateneans, but Thirdy was arguably the MVP of Ateneo in this game. He looked to force things early on by taking threes, but he went to his strengths come the second half by using his slashing to create for himself and his teammates. He's always had the tools to dominate, so Ateneans better hope he keeps this up. Jolo Mendoza, Ateneo (14 points, 3/4 3FG): No one has ever doubted Jolo Mendoza's talent. The biggest g...

The beat of the drums start to fill the ears of basketball fans, while Philippine Basketball Twitter is at its peak from 2pm up to 8pm. Students from different schools debate on who the best team is in the league. Players start to jaw at each other in order to get an edge on the basketball court. Of course, there's the sound of the alumni, with their finger pointed towards the referee as they shout "HOY REF, FOUL?!?!?!"  It's been a while, UAAP. We missed you. It's that time of the year again. To jump start the coverage for this season, we'll be previewing the eight teams by discussing a question that's of utmost importance for each one. This can be something that matters in the long-term or in the short-term. As long as it's something that can be a topic of discussion, we'll talk about it on this space.  For the final installment of this series, we talk about the two teams projected by most to make it back to the Finals. They're...

#joloisgold, but he still has some things to work on. (Photo Credit: Leo Lopez, Fabilioh) One September morning as I was chatting with one of my close basketball-watching friends, our conversation started to circle around Jolo Mendoza. When I first made mention of his name, he said something about Jolo which still sticks in my mind 'till this day. "Ahh Jolo Mendoza. Shet. That kid was born to play." I agreed with his sentiment. As our conversation rolled along, I made mention of some of the things which separates Jolo from his batch mates. Of course, his shooting is a given. His offensive wizardry was part of our conversation as well. But more importantly, it was his maturity and composure for a player his age which really impressed the both of us. Sadly, against the De La Salle Zobel Junior Archers, his maturity for the game wasn't exactly on display. "I think I got a bit frustrated early, which was wrong for me as the veteran for a team," mentio...

Memories of the championship are still fresh in the minds of the Blue Eaglets. (Photo Credit: Mon Rubio, The Shaded Lane) Memories of the Ateneo Blue Eaglets winning the UAAP Season 77 Juniors Basketball Championship is still very much ingrained in the heads of the current Blue Eaglets. Why wouldn't it be? That championship was the first for the Blue Eaglets after 4 years. For Jolo, Shaun and the rest of the Blue Eaglets during that time, that championship meant a lot for them. For Jolo, it was his first championship after 3 years of being ringless in the Juniors Division. For Shaun, it was his second championship his whole life, with the first being with La Salle in the SBP. Point is, that championship meant a lot to the Blue Eaglets. That championship is still fresh in the heads for not only the Ateneo community, but the rest of the basketball community as well. Then, as the popular saying goes... Walang forever.  After Boracay, the partying, the celebrating, it was ba...

4 long years. It’s been 4 long years ever since the Ateneo Blue Eaglets brought the Juniors Basketball Championship to Katipunan. It’s been 4 long years ever since the Blue Eaglets experienced glory in the UAAP. It’s been 4 long years of waiting. 4 long years of losing. 4 long years of trying to hold in the tears every time the Blue Eaglets would be eliminated from contention for the championship. 4 long years of keeping confident that somehow, this drought will come to an end eventually. It did come to an end, and oh boy, the story that unfolded before our very eyes as that drought ended was simply amazing. An Offseason of Change The Eaglets were determined to bring the title back to Katipunan. (Photo Credit: Philip Sison)  After losing a heartbreaker of a Finals series against the Hubert Cani led NU Bullpups, for sure, something had to change. Some people were starting to have doubts with the coaching acumen of Joe Silva when it came to these...