MANILA – More than just the UAAP championship, lots of things with far greater significance are at stake in the coming Finals series between the University of the East and defending champion Ateneo.

The UE Warriors will be trying to hit not only two but three birds with one stone beginning Thursday.

First, the Warriors are just two games away from winning a championship. A UAAP title for UE this season means the end to an almost 24-year title drought.

Second, a championship for UE would mean their 19th title which will tie them with their Final Four victim Far Eastern University Tamaraws for the most number of men’s basketball crowns.

Third, this year’s Finals series is UE’s chance to erase the bitter memories of past Ateneo victories against them.

Heart breaking 2002
Who could forget Gec Chia’s famous buzzer beater in the 2002 Final Four?

It was the shot that immortalized Chia in Ateneo’s basketball lore and added luster to the 2002 Blue Eagles’ victorious championship run.

It was also the same shot that broke the hearts of UE fans who saw the defeat of one of the most talented casts ever assembled by the Recto-based school.

That 2002 team boasted present PBA superstars James Yap, Ronald Tubid, Paul Artadi and a supporting cast led by KG Canaleta, Paolo Hubalde and Ollan Omiping. They were coached by Boysie Zamar.

Former league MVP Yap, Tubid, Artadi and Zamar were among those who celebrated UE’s sweet victory over FEU from the gallery last Thursday.

They were there to witness what they could have accomplished if not for Chia's shot seven seasons ago.

But the connection between the Warriors and the Eagles runs deeper beyond that memorable 2002 Final Four face-off.

’10 minute miracle’
In 1987, when the league was still played in the smaller Rizal Memorial Coliseum and games can only be seen on TV after a week, the Eagles dealt the Warriors on of their most bitter Finals’ defeat.

As vividly recalled by former UAAP TV anchor Mico Halili, Ateneo went on to stage the “10-minute miracle” that launched the school’s back-to-back titles in 1987 and 1988.

Halili was just a high school freshman back when the historic game happened. He kept a VHS tape copy of that game in his video collection and even has a framed article on that magical comeback by the Eagles in the 1987 finals.

“UE had star players like Jerry Codiñera, Wilmer Banares, Vernie Villarias, Boysie Zamar and George Ella. Allan Caidic played until 1986 only,” shared Halili to uaapsports.com.

Villarias went on to play in the PBA for the now-defunct Pepsi team PBA while Codiñera went on to join Caidic in the pro league’s 25 greatest players of all time.

Halili recounted that Ateneo had Nonoy Chuatico playing his last year as a Blue Eagles.

Other members of the fabled Ateneo squad were team captain Joseph Canlas, Jet Nieto, Albert Mendoza, Jay Morales, Rico Santiago, Danny Francisco and future PBA players Olsen Racela, Jun Reyes, Jayvee Gayoso, Eric Reyes and Alex Araneta.

Back then, the league was still using two 20-minute halves. With 10:03 left in that game, the Warriors were well ahead and seemed to have the championship at grasp, 83-63.

The Warriors badly wanted to reclaim the title they have lost to University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, who were bannered by Benjie Paras and Ronnie Magsanoc in 1986.

Then the unthinkable happened.

At the 3:25 mark of the payoff period, Nieto gave Ateneo the lead, 87-86, and the ’87 Eagles staged what could be the greatest comeback in UAAP Finals history. The game ended, 94-92, to the jubilation of Ateneo fans and to the consternation of UE fans.

The Warriors’ dream ride back to the pantheon of greatness turned to a nightmare that sent them into years of oblivion.

In the coming Finals, the Warriors will finally get the chance for a sweet vengeance.

For the Eagles, it will be a rare chance to revisit a glorious past.

Will history finally be kinder to UE this time? Or will history repeat itself? -- Alder T. Almo

For more UAAP, visit www.uaapsports.com