How to Build a UAAP Championship Team

     As Ateneo celebrates its fourth straight championship with dreams of more entirely possible, big words like "destiny" and "dynasty" are going to be thrown around.  Before everyone begins to believe that there's nothing stopping Ateneo in the future, other schools should take note that stopping the Blue Eagles takes only 2 steps.


Step # 1 Yo Teach!!!

     As the UAAP gained popularity, big-name coaches have arrived to ply their wares, and Ateneo snagged one in Norman Black.  The thing is, though, it's not Black's PBA and NBA experience that's made him an incredibly successful UAAP coach. It's the fact that he is a teaching coach that's separated him (and his team) from the rest of the pack.  When commentators talk about how Black doesn't play rookies often, it's not just a coach "thing." Black teaches players skills and waits for their skill to develop before placing them in deep water situations.  All players in the Ateneo program get better as they get older.  Everyone from Chris Tiu (ball handling) to Rabeh Al-Hussaini (defense)  to Kirk Long (outside shooting) to Nico Salva (decision making) have all shown improvements and became stars only in their 3rd or 4th years.  The way people view the UAAP sometimes skews the fact that the players are young and their skills have not fully matured.  Coaches that remember that and take time to develop skills instead of worrying about wins will be rewarded handsomely.



Step # 2 Deeeelicious!!!

     Other schools (like Adamson and UST) have also been relatively successful, as long as their team is anchored on a philosophy, but only Ateneo has been steadfast in anchoring everything on their defense.  While it's too hokey to say "Defense wins Championships," it's especially true in the UAAP.  College players (in any country) traditionally do not shoot high percentages and commit turnovers and harrassing them with pesky defense enhances that.  It's another cliche to say that "defense doesn't have off days," but it's true.  Especially with young players still learning, it's a lot easier to count on them to play defense since the most important thing you need to play defense is energy, which college ballers have plenty of.  College players all have one thing in common and that is the passion to play, and harnessing that to make them play defense is a more than sensible idea.


    There it is. Two simple steps to create your very own UAAP Championship Team.  The question is, as simple as the two steps are, they are both not easy.  It takes a commitment from the coaching staffs, the players and especially the schools to make these happen.  They have enough motivation to do it, I mean, how many of them can stand yet another Ateneo celebration?


photos courtesy of juice.ph and sports.inquirer.net