Almost every men’s basketball finals in the UAAP over the last decade has been close. However, the showdown between the Ateneo Blue Eagles and UP Fighting Maroons might not be.
According to local bookmakers, the Blue Eagles are heavy favorites heading into their showdown against the Fighting Maroons. The defending champions are a minus-10.5 in Game One of the UAAP Season 81 Men’s Basketball Finals.
“Hindi pa kami nakakakita ng ganyan in a UAAP Finals game,” said one local bookie, who requested anonymity. “For the last ten years siguro, naglalaro lang yan from a pick to at most a minus-5.5.”
Heading into the highly-anticipated Finals series, Ateneo are armed with an eight-game winning streak. On the other hand, UP have remained unbeaten in their last five games.
The Blue Eagles swept their elimination round encounters against the Fighting Maroons, winning by an average margin of 12.5 points.
