Full-Court Press: The end of UAAP Season 76 for the FEU Tamaraws and the NU Bulldogs

The De La Salle University Green Archers and the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers launched themselves into the UAAP Finals of Season 76, at the expense of the Far Eastern University Tamaraws and the National University Bulldogs, respectively.

With the season of the latter two squads over, we asked five of our college hoops junkies to look back at their campaigns, and also project ahead to Season 77.
 
 

1. Who had a more successful season overall, NU or FEU?

Carlo Pamintuan, sports desk editor, GMA News Online - FEU, because not a lot of people tabbed them as a top team. NU on the other hand was one of the early favorites. Making it to the Final Four tied for the top spot can be considered a job well done for the Tamaraws. For NU, anything less than the Finals just wouldn't do.

Polo Bustamante, From the Stands, contributor to GMA News Online - FEU no doubt. They weren't even supposed to be in Final Four, having been removed in the preseason rankings for more trendy picks like DLSU, UE or even NU. They might have faltered to end the season, but going 7-0 to start the season is no easy feat. NU finished as a top seed, armed with a twice-to-beat and they still couldn't to make it to the Finals. That failure is bigger, given their lofty preseason ranking.

Job De Leon, writer, GMA News Online - FEU had a more successful year, if only because they had lower expectations of themselves, and so did the public. Meanwhile, bagging the best regular season record meant nothing for Parks and company without playing in the Finals. I also just want to point out that this Parks-Cleveland LeBron James parallel (elite team-first guy burdened with high expectations, tasked to lead other inexperienced guys into the postseason only to fall short) amuses me a lot. Did I mention yet that Parks has his own "The Decision" moment coming up, too?

Aaron Valdez, contributor, GMA News Online - With the hand they were dealt, FEU had a more successful season. A first round sweep, two MVP caliber players, and a Final Four outing despite a rookie coach, an up-and-down preseason and an injury to one of their serviceable big men (Russel Escoto) means more teams will be on their guard against next season.

Favian Pua, contributor - GMA News Online - National U. Denice Villamor, Gelo Alolino, and Robin Rono became key contributors during the Bulldogs' second-round romp into the Final Four. It was an unfortunate circumstance that they were cross-matched with UST, who were armed with Kevin Ferrer, Aljon Mariano, and Jeric Teng, three ultra-physical wings who stretched the floor with their shooting. I will always remember the Final Four match-ups for how UST won and FEU lost, not for how National U lost and La Salle won. The Bulldogs likely would have been a Finals lock had they faced any other team instead.

 

 
 

2. RR Garcia - overrated, underrated or properly rated?

Carlo - As always, I think RR Garcia is underrated. Terrence Romeo might be the MVP but I still think Garcia is the better player. Garcia took a step back and allowed Romeo to be the star, but he is more than capable of being the star himself.

Polo - RR Garcia is properly rated. He was overshadowed this entire season by the exploits and all the side stories of his backcourt partner Terrence Romeo. Now this was rightfully so, as Romeo is more talented and more dynamic than Garcia, but with RR, what you see is what you get. He will bring lights-out shooting, solid ball-handling and a stabilizing presence on court.

Job - What are our expectations of RR Garcia, exactly? Terrence Romeo handles the ball and scores more often, and he's been willing to defer this year more than ever. However, as much as he was a scorer, Garcia earned that MVP award in 2010 as one hell of a playmaker, too. I don't think we've seen him give 100 percent to properly rate him, but hey if Gilas is keeping him as a cadet (a safety net, regardless of what happened this year with FEU) then I'm putting my trust in him.

Aaron - Underrated. We all know what the former MVP can do, but there aren't enough basketballs to go around when FEU plays.

Favian - RR Garcia has the demeanor of a bonafide leader. The 2010 MVP was forcibly thrown into the shadow of Terrence Romeo under Coach Bert Flores' reign since 2011 and has unfortunately remained a second option at best under Coach Nash Racela. Garcia has always relied on the cerebral side of the game, his basketball IQ and calm approach, drawing comparisons to former Tamaraw legend Johnny Abarrientos. The failure of either coach to create a system that establishes Garcia as the King Tamaraw for the past three seasons ultimately doomed them, preventing FEU from winning the 2011 title and denying them a realistic shot at a 2013 Finals berth.

 
 

 
 

3. Bobby Ray Parks - overrated, underrated or properly rated?

Carlo - I think Parks is properly rated. He is the single most talented player in the amateurs right now. He still has holes in his game and he could have played better in the two games against UST, but there's nothing to suggest he is overrated. He might not be the closer we expect, or want him to be, but he is not by any means overrated

Polo - It might be an unpopular answer but Bobby Ray Parks is slightly overrated. While he's clearly the most talented player in the UAAP, he has this T-Mac-ish tendency to float around during parts of the game. He can be frustratingly passive and at the same time unstoppably aggressive. For Parks to be a real superstar, he's got to be able to learn to pace himself properly and take over when he needs to.

Job - He's hasn't been the same Parks that we're accustomed to seeing dominate games, but that might be because he's more willing to defer to his teammates, who've given him a reason to trust them. Maybe he needs to work on balancing the two, but I'm confident in his individual abilities as a scorer and playmaker. Properly rated in my book.

Aaron - Underrated. The guy has talent but it seems like he plays with no pride and no heart at times, which is, of course, out of his control. It's hard to push yourself in closeout games when there isn't anyone to cheer for you.

Favian - Properly rated. Leading the Bulldogs to the Final Four twice has allowed Bobby Ray Parks to shed the "great stats on a bad team" image that dogged him (pun intended) when National U kept racking up the losses early in his collegiate stint. Coach Eric Altamirano continually runs a lot of isolation plays for Parks and he is able to use creases and openings in the lane to draw fouls and find his teammates for open looks, making him a very efficient player in spite of his high usage rate.

 
 

 
 

4. Which team is in better shape next season?

Carlo - I'd say FEU. There are a lot of questions for NU heading into next year. Mbe won't be there and maybe even Parks. FEU on the other hand will declog ala-Petron. Santos and J-Wash never worked, just like Romeo-Garcia never worked. Now that Garcia will be moving on, the Tamaraws might have a better rotation focusing on Romeo and Mike Tolomia.

Polo - Moving forward, FEU might actually be in better shape next season. The rumors that Parks will go pro might just get louder with how NU totally collapsed to end the season. If that happens, NU is losing two superstars in Parks and Emmanuel Mbe. FEU will still have their MVP, Romeo, for one more go. Another offseason learning the nuances of coach Nash Racela's offense should do wonders for the Tamaraws.

Job - Tough call, but I'll go with the team with Gelo Alolino and Alfred Aroga as cornerstones next year. The gap becomes smaller of course if Parks bails on the UAAP, but as DLSU coach Juno Sauler said, FEU is a hot and cold team with that perimeter-oriented attack. Their game swings wildly up and down, and ideally you have to be more stable if you want to win it all.

Aaron - National U will still be in contention next season. Despite Mbe's departure and the cloud over Parks' career trajectory, the team will have most of its role players back, along with Alfred Aroga, who should have more wiggle room to strut his stuff on-court next season.

Favian - FEU. The Tamaraws will still have Romeo as their number one option but the Bulldogs will lose Mbe and are still 50/50 on Parks' status. It would be hard to imagine who steps up as National U's first option if the two-time MVP decides to forego the remainder of his UAAP eligibility and test the waters in the professional level, whether locally or abroad.

 
 

 
 

5. Is a change of head coach needed for either team?

Carlo - No for both teams. Both are tremendous coaches who have proven they know how to coach in the collegiate ranks. Changing coaches won't solve anything for both squads.

Polo - Nash Racela is an intelligent young coach who took an unheralded team into the playoffs. Eric Altamirano is the man who gave NU a system. Racela will need to instill his system more, while Altamirano might need to tweak a system catered to the unique talents of Parks, but both coaches aren't going anywhere.

Job - It's clear that Nash Racela has been nothing but a positive influence for FEU, and I'd like to see what he can do with more time. On the other hand I don't know what to feel about Eric Altamirano. The players speak highly of him, but when NU's backs are against the wall in big games (you can even look at the FilOil Finals where they lost to UE) they just let things slip away. But changing the head coach now might do more harm than good. I've put a lot of faith in Garcia and Parks above, I think Altamirano deserves the same benefit of the doubt.

Aaron - Remember when the Lakers had a truckload of talent last season, but failed to win a championship? Mike Brown and Mike D'Antoni were under fire, and one gets the sense that Coach E is going down that road. If ever he gets axed, I hope he realizes there's a vacancy in Diliman.

Favian - Neither team needs it. Racela is a consummate professional who sees the bigger picture and wants to change the culture of his team. It is not an easy task and it would be surprising if he were actually able to achieve it this year. For NU, the last thing that the Bulldogs need is an overhaul in the coaching personnel. With the exodus of not one but possibly its two best players, National U's Altamirano and the rest of the Bulldogs' current coaching line-up must be retained to provide direction and stability in a pivotal offseason.

- AMD, GMA News