THE “in” word these days in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) is the “F” word. Or the “Double F word,” to be exact. Final Four.
Season 81 has ripened and come this far. The hunt for the Final Four is in its closing seconds, and the road to the Finals beckons. In a few days, the complete Final Four cast will be known. And in a matter of weeks, a new UAAP basketball champion will be hailed. That’s the way the ball bounces out there. The Final Four is the collegiate league’s version of the post season.
But did you know that prior to 1994, the UAAP did not have a Final Four at all? If a UAAP team wins 14 games straight in the eliminations, that team’s school would be declared the champion, outright. That’s exactly what happened in 1993 when the University of Santo Tomas (UST) won 14 straight and ended the season abruptly with its acceptance of the championship trophy.
It was only after the UAAP had its first taste of a marketing strategy in the early-1990s, thanks to Silverstar Communications—its first media coveror, did the UAAP change its rules to incorporate a more exciting way for all eight teams to vie for a finals seat.
Thus, the era of the Final Four started in 1994, Season 57. In those early days, De La Salle University (DLSU), Far Eastern University (FEU), University of the East (UE) and UST dominated the Final Four, with current powerhouse Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) showing up only in 1994. Surprisingly, the UP Fighting Maroons were able to crash into the magic circle twice, first in 1995 under then-Coach Eric Altamirano, then again in 1996 under Coach Nic Jorge. The 1995 team placed third, the 1996 team, fourth.
By the start of the millennium, Ateneo had begun to steadily place itself in all the Final Fours—a never-failing presence in all Final Fours
from 1999 to 2018, except for 2013 (Season 76). Its main rival, DLSU, has also dominated Final Fours season after season since 1994. Where Ateneo has missed out on six Final Fours since the era began, La Salle has been out of just four. All told, all eight UAAP teams—including Adamson University (ADU) and National University (NU)—have all had Final Four stints, but some teams have been more dominant than others.
For the record, here’s what the Final Four cast looked like from 1994 to 2017. This season’s cast, of course, is still to be completed.
- 1994: DLSU vs. FEU/UE vs. UST (Champion: UST)
- 1995: UST vs. FEU/DLSU vs. UE (Champion: UST)
- 1996: DLSU vs. UE/UST vs. UP (Champion: UST)
- 1997: FEU vs. UP/UST vs. DLSU (Champion: FEU)
- 1998: DLSU vs. UST/FEU vs. UE (Champion: DLSU)
- 1999: DLSU vs. FEU/UST vs. ADMU (Champion: DLSU)
- 2000: DLSU vs. UST/ADMU vs. FEU (Champion: DLSU)
- 2001: DLSU vs. NU/ADMU vs. FEU (Champion: DLSU)
- 2002: DLSU vs.UST/UE vs. ADMU (Champion: ADMU)
- 2003: ADMU vs. DLSU/FEU vs. UE (Champion: FEU)
- 2004: FEU vs. UE/DLSU vs. ADMU (Champion: FEU)
- 2005: FEU vs. UE/DLSU vs. ADMU (Champion: FEU)
- 2006: ADMU vs. ADU/UE vs. UST (Champion: UST)
- 2007: DLSU vs. ADMU/UE vs. UST (Champion: DLSU)
- 2008: ADMU vs. UE/DLSU vs. FEU (Champion: ADMU)
- 2009: ADMU vs. UST/FEU vs. UE (Champion: ADMU)
- 2010: FEU vs. DLSU/ADMU vs. ADU (Champion: ADMU)
- 2011: ADMU vs. UST/ADU vs. FEU (Champion: ADMU)
- 2012: ADMU vs. DLSU/UST vs. NU (Champion: ADMU)
- 2013: NU vs. UST/DLSU vs. FEU (Champion: DLSU)
- 2014: ADMU vs. NU/FEU vs. DLSU (Champion: NU)
- 2015: UST vs. NU/FEU vs. ADMU (Champion: FEU)
- 2016: DLSU vs. ADU/ADMU vs. FEU (Champion: DLSU)
- 2017: ADMU vs. FEU/DLSU vs. ADU (Champion: ADMU)
To summarize, the De La Salle Green Archers have the most Final Four appearances in the UAAP (19), followed by the Ateneo Blue Eagles (16), UST Growling Tigers (15), FEU Tamaraws (10), UE Red Warriors (10), Adamson Soaring Falcons (four), NU Bulldogs (three) and UP Fighting Maroons (two).
As far as championships are concerned, La Salle has the most basketball titles in the Final Four era (seven), followed by Ateneo (six), UST and FEU (four each). NU (one) has been able to snag one UAAP crown during the Eric Altamirano era. UE, UP and Adamson still have to win championships in this time stretch.
In Season 81, the Final Four race is all set to go, but it is still missing its fourth and last member. At the time of writing, the Fighting Maroons and the Tamaraws are jockeying for position to get the final slot.
The veritable newcomer is UP, who has not had a taste of this rarefied air since the 1996 and 1997 teams led by Paolo Mendoza, Ogie Gumatay and the late Bryan Gahol. The 2004 team—a wonder team that had Marvin Cruz playing the yeoman role for teammates Josant Cervantes, Nestor David and Toti Almeda, among others—almost did it too. They started the season 0-6, then went on a 6-0 tear but succumbed to the De La Salle Green Archers in the elims to miss the Final Four by just the skin of their teeth. What followed was a reign of the doldrums for the Diliman squad.
This batch of Fighting Maroons led by Bright Akhuetie and Juan Gomez de Liaño has perhaps the strongest lineup it has had in years. It has left behind the depths and lows they have wallowed in for so many seasons past. They have climbed so hard and are now so close, they can almost see the sunrise at the top of the mountain.
Will they finally get to the Promised Land of the Final Four this time around? The FEU Tamaraws hope not. But destiny will decide.