The UAAP Finals Matchup

It has been three games of Final Four basketball. Four teams fought for two spots, and now the positions are settled, as the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles takes on the University of the East Red Warriors for the 2009 UAAP Basketball supremacy.

The earlier matchup was pretty much spot-on, as Ateneo took only one game as they beat the UST Tigers to get into the Finals while UE punches their ticket to the Finals after two hard fought games against the FEU Tamaraws.

Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles vs University of the East Red Warriors

One is out there to prove its domination, while the other is to prove to remove the stigma of being chokers and to win it all. The Blue Eagles heads into the finals having an 11 game winning streak, while the Red Warriors heads with an 8 game winning streak.

The Fatigue Factor: The UE Red Warrioirs fought two close games with the FEU Tamaraws as coach Lawrence Chongson used a very tight rotation of using around 7-8 players, as the Ateneo Blue Eagles drubbed the Tigers as coach Norman Black used a more balanced rotation of his players. The Ateneo Blue Eagles gets a 1-week rest to prepare for the Finals while the UE Red Warriors gets a two days break to prepare for the Finals. Obviously, this is in favor of Ateneo as UE just finished a tough battle heading into the Finals.

Heading into the match-up of the teams, the Blue Eagles will be spearheaded by Eric Salamat and last year's MVP Rabeh Al-Hussaini. This time, it looks like Salamat will be the leader of this Ateneo team, as Al-Hussaini at times loses his composure and complains a lot to the referees.

Coach Norman Black would like to have an inside-outside game for the Blue Eagles as Rabeh and Nonoy Baclao mans the paint while Eric Salamat creates for his teammates and make sure Jai Reyes, Ryan Buenafe, Eman Monfort and Kirk Long to his those three's. The Blue Eagles needs to make sure Rabeh asserts himself on his inside and perimeter game and not let the defense frustrate him.

On defense, the Blue Eagles must keep Paul Lee in check, as they have done so this season against the Red Warriors. Salamat will be keeping his San Sebastian buddy on the perimeter while on the inside, Al-Hussaini and Baclao mans the paint and wait for Lee to prevent him from scoring bunches inside and creating for his teammates. The Blue Eagles must also keep Val Acuna in check at the perimeter to prevent the Red Warriors outside game from exploding.

Meanwhile the Red Warriors will now ask for Paul Lee to step up his game against the Blue Eagles as he and his UE teammates prove that they are capable of winning it all this time around. Backing Lee will be Elmer Espiritu and Pari Llagas

Coach Lawrence Chongson will still let his players go on the flow of the offense, but this time, with the toughest defensive team in the league and the defending Champions their facing, it will not be east for UE hotshot Paul Lee to breakdown the defense and create opportunities for the Red Warriors. Elmer Espiritu must keep doing what he does best by getting second chance points and hitting crucial mid-range jump shots, as Llagas must assert himself inside the paint. The others must also step up as guys like Val Acuna and Rudy Lingganay hit those outside shots.

On defense, Llagas and Espiritu must keep the composure they did against the Tamaraws on the Blue Eagles and make sure to get those defensive boards and prevent the Eagles from getting second chance points. Meanwhile Lee must prevent his buddy Salamat on creating shots for his teammates and the Red Warriors must shut down their outside shooters. The Red Warriors could also take the opportunity to frustrate Al-Hussaini and use Rabeh's hot-headedness to their advantage.

Prediction: UE will take this one, but this will go down the wire in three games.