Who Won UAAP Basketball 2017?
The 81st season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament held from September to December 2017 was won by the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles. Ateneo de Manila, who finished the elimination round with a 12-2 standing, was able to show off their never-say-die attitude and win the championship against the defending champions, the De La Salle Green Archers.
History of the UAAP
The UAAP was established in 1938 by the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, University of Santo Tomas, Far Eastern University, and the National University. The five original schools were later joined by Adamson University in 1941, and by the University of the East, University of the Philippines Diliman, and De La Salle University in 1978.
The UAAP is the most popular collegiate sports league in the Philippines, and the men’s basketball tournament is one of the most anticipated events of the year. Every year, eight universities/colleges compete for the championship, and the tournament usually starts in September and ends in December.
The Teams
The eight teams that competed in the 2017 UAAP men’s basketball tournament were the following:
- Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles
- Adamson University Soaring Falcons
- De La Salle Green Archers
- Far Eastern University Tamaraws
- National University Bulldogs
- University of the East Red Warriors
- University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons
- University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers
The 2017 Season
The 2017 season was an exciting one for the teams and their fans. The tournament saw a lot of surprises, including De La Salle winning the first round and Ateneo dominating the elimination round.
The elimination round of the tournament saw some close matches, including the highly anticipated De La Salle-Ateneo match on October 5, 2017, which Ateneo won 77-75. In the end, Ateneo finished with a 12-2 standing, while De La Salle and Far Eastern University followed with 11-3 and 10-4 standings, respectively.
The Finals
The 2017 UAAP men’s basketball tournament came down to the final match between Ateneo and De La Salle. De La Salle, the defending champions, were determined to defend their title, while Ateneo was determined to end their five-year title drought.
The match, which was held at the Mall of Asia Arena on December 3, 2017, was a close one. Both teams fought hard and gave it their all, but in the end, it was Ateneo who emerged as the champion, winning the match 67-65.
The Champions
The Ateneo Blue Eagles were crowned the 2017 UAAP men’s basketball champions, ending their five-year title drought. It was an emotional victory for the team and their fans, as they celebrated the school’s 11th championship title.
The Ateneo Blue Eagles were led by Thirdy Ravena, who was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament, as well as the Mythical Five, which comprised of Ravena, Matt Nieto, Isaac Go, Aaron Black, and Anton Asistio.
The Final Standings
The final standings for the 2017 UAAP men’s basketball tournament were as follows:
- Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles – 12-2
- De La Salle Green Archers – 11-3
- Far Eastern University Tamaraws – 10-4
- Adamson University Soaring Falcons – 8-6
- University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers – 6-8
- University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons – 5-9
- National University Bulldogs – 5-9
- University of the East Red Warriors – 2-12
The Players
Aside from Thirdy Ravena, the 2017 UAAP men’s basketball tournament also saw some outstanding performances from the following players:
- Paul Desiderio – UP Fighting Maroons
- Prince Rivero – La Salle Green Archers
- Alvin Pasaol – UE Red Warriors
- Kib Montalbo – DLSU Green Archers
- Juan Gomez de Liano – UP Fighting Maroons
- Arvin Tolentino – ADMU Blue Eagles
- Jeron Teng – DLSU Green Archers
- Ricci Rivero – ADMU Blue Eagles
- Jollo Go – ADMU Blue Eagles
Conclusion
The 2017 UAAP men’s basketball tournament was definitely an exciting one for the teams and their fans. It was a battle between the defending champions De La Salle and the never-say-die attitude of the Ateneo Blue Eagles, but in the end, it was Ateneo who emerged as the victor and brought home the championship title.
The 2017 season also saw some outstanding performances from the players, including Thirdy Ravena, Paul Desiderio, Prince Rivero, Alvin Pasaol, Kib Montalbo, Juan Gomez de Liano, Arvin Tolentino, Jeron Teng, Ricci Rivero, and Jollo Go.
References
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_Athletic_Association_of_the_Philippines#Men’s_Basketball
- uaapsports.com/basketball/champions/mb
- sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/news/2017/12/03/uaap-81-mens-basketball-finals-ateneo-de-manila-blue-eagles-1747
- rappler.com/sports/by-sport/basketball/uaap/186037-uaap-season-81-mens-basketball-finals-ateneo-de-manila-blue-eagles-champions