Week 5 Top 10: Mid-term Grades

Or as I call it, prelims since we didn't call them as mid-terms. So whatever.

Wait, most NCAA teams still have 2 more games left before they end their first round. The UAAP teams, who started 2 weeks later, are already finished. Perhaps the NCAA guys want to extend their season so that they can play their playoffs on weekends... at sembreak, when everyone is too drunk to watch games.


1. FEU Tamaraws (7-0, defeated UST 65-57)
If the Tams are so good, they have a choice: sweep the eliminations and wait for a month before playing in the virtual best-of-5 finals with them up 1-0, or lose so thay they won't be rusty but still pulverize the #4 team. That is, if they're that good.

2. San Beda Red Lions (6-0, defeated Arellano 92-57)
One way to train in a run-and-gun game is to practice those circus shots once the transition defense catches up. The Lions have mastered this perfectly and there is no stopping them, even if you make the shot.

3. San Sebastian Stags (6-0, defeated CSB 75-74)
The Stags almost had it coming. This sets up for an exciting 1st round finale vs. San Beda if they both continue undefeated.

4. Ateneo Blue Eagles (5-2, defeated UP 78-53 and UE 80-73)
Ateneo ended the 1st round with a bang. As expected since they're up against the two tailenders. The next games against Adamson and La Salle are virtual playoffs for #2. The Eagles must know their go-to guy in close situations to prevent what happened in the first La Salle game.

5. Adamson Falcons (5-2, defeated UE 69-56 and La Salle 70-68)
Finally, a breakthrough for Adamson as they had finally found ways to win close games. Now if they can do it again, and defeat Ateneo, they'll be in their first twice-to-beat advantage in history. The weakest link: the point guard position.

6. Mapua Cardinals (5-2, defeated EAC 82-68)
The Cardinals' two losses came from San Beda and Baste. Like Adamson, they'd have to beat the top 2 teams in their league to have a fighting chance of securing their first twice to beat advantage. Their next game vs. JRU will be the measuring stick if they can beat the other teams.

7. La Salle Green Archers (4-3, defeated by Adamson 70-68)
La Salle's MVPs: Ferdinand and Joshua "The Special One" Webb. The haterz love you lots.

8. Letran Knights (2-4, defeated CSB 70-54)
Aside from Letran winning, the other important thing that happened during their game was the Studio 23 debut of courtside reporter Myka Basco. ABS-CBN sure knows how to please their core audience. Now Letran has to devise ways of scoring to please their own core audience, since offense sells tickets.

9. NU Bulldogs (3-4, defeated UP 70-66)
Either the Bulldogs are a super awesome team, or UP is extremely crappy that's why they lost that 20-point plus lead. And I said UP would win.

By the way, Mike Silungan used to play for the interbarangay in our place as an import. My uncle's scouting report: loves to shoot, hates everything else. Yeah, instead of NU I discussed about UP.

10. EAC Generals (2-4, defeated by UPHSD 78-66)
The Generals seem to have found their shooting touch, beating Perps and CSB a week ago. Now if they manage to beat the likes of Arellano and Letran they can have a respectable finish.