It's down to blue green and red.

Originally posted here http://hoops.blink.ph/2007/09/24/its-down-to-blue-green-and-red/

Hold on tight UAAP fans, we're now approaching the final chapter of the league. After 14 grueling games in the eliminations.. a couple of classification and knock out games, we're now down to three teams. Ateneo, La Salle and UE.

How it came to be

The elimination round ended with UE sweeping all of their games.. thus gaining an automatic spot in the Championship. Adamson and UP were eliminated early, ending their season with 2-12 and 0-14 records respectively. The initial reaction of UP's winless season was Coach Joe Lipa's departure.

Next up the NU Bulldogs. They showed signs of breaking into the top four early in the season but eventually got booted out of contention with three straight loses to UE, UST and La Salle. However, they ended their season strong with a win against Ateneo, leaving every Atenean wanting to commit Azucena because that win should've given the eagles an automatic twice to beat advantage in the step ladder format.

Of course, FEU did the unthinkable this year. Coming off a team disbandment, who would've ever expected that the young team led by Glenn Capacio would even tie for the fourth best record this year? They forced a knockout game by beating the defending champions UST in their last game of the eliminations only to lose against the same team in the knock out game.

La Salle lost their last two assignments against UE and Ateneo, a win against one of those teams would've guaranteed the archers an automatic twice to beat advantage slot but that did not happen. However, thanks to NU's win against Ateneo, they had one more chance to win the coveted twice to beat advantage and eventually, they had it won. Leading to The Ateneo-UST knock out game to formally open the step ladder round.

Ateneo dethroned UST in that game, leading to the fourth DLSU-ADMU game this season.

Forecast

(Now, I'll write my forecast the way I see it)

DLSU will eventually beat Ateneo in two games. La Salle's twice to beat advantage is just too much for the Eagles. Yes, they do have La Salle's number but take note, La Salle is an experienced team with an experienced coach. Talent wise, they're arguably the most talented team in the league right now behind UE. So once again, I'm putting my money against the Eagles.

However the championship series would be different. I see UE stopping La Salle in a tightly contested three game series. The Depth of The Warriors would play a big role in all of their games. And I just can't see UE losing the championship after rampaging against everyone in the eliminations.

So that's it, UAAP season 70 in one single article.