To win one championship is impressive but to do it over and over again is beyond legendary. With that, let’s look back and identify the best dynasties of UAAP Men’s Basketball.
If we were to talk about the best dynasties in UAAP Men’s Basketball, let’s stick to the modern era starting in the 90’s. If we were to include the olden days, the UE Red Warriors would easily take the cake having won 7 straight crowns from 1965 to 1971. Those were different times and they’re in a different class. So, let’s keep things simple, shall we?
1993-96 UST Growling Tigers
No.of titles: 4
Notable Players: Dennis Espino, Rey Evangelista, Bal David, Patrick Fran, Chris Cantonjos, Estong Ballesteros, Dale Singson, Emerson Oreta
Head Coach: Aric Del Rosario
There’s no question that the top dynasty in the UAAP during the 1990’s was built by the UST Growling Tigers. They won 4 straight titles and you can also call them game-changers for what they accomplished in 1993. Finishing with a 14-0 record, they outright won the championship, sparking a rule change that says teams with a perfect slate in the eliminations will just be rewarded with an automatic finals berth.
During this entire run, the Tigers were able to show that they can win in dominant fashion as well as when their backs are against the wall. In 1994, behind their MVP Dennis Espino and future Ginebra superstar Bal David, UST weathered a twice-to-beat disadvantage in the Final Four and eked out a one-point win against DLSU in the third and deciding game of the finals. In the next two years the España excellence would be sustained with the help of players such as 1995 MVP Chris Cantonjos while still under the guidance of their legendary coach Aric Del Rosario.
1998-2001 DLSU Green Archers
No.of titles: 4
Notable Players: Renren Ritualo, Don Allado, Mike Cortez, Dino Aldeguer, BJ Manalo, Joseph Yeo, Mac Cardona, Mon Jose, Willy Wilson, Adonis Sta Maria
Head Coach: Franz Pumaren
Aside from winning 4 consecutive chips, these Green Archers are a special group because they were responsible for two of the most iconic images in UAAP basketball history - the dreaded De La Salle Press and Renren Ritualo with all the freedom in the world to shoot the basketball.
Engineered by Coach Franz Pumaren, the La Salle press was a nightmare defensive scheme for the opposing players. A swarm of green jerseys just made them forget everything they knew about basic dribbling and passing, committing a litany of turnovers. As for Ritualo, his number four remains as the only jersey retired by DLSU.
But arguably, the best play in this dynastic run came from La Salle point guard Dino Aldeguer. His three-pointer in Game Three of the 1999 Finals to force OT did not just lead to the Archers’ second straight title, but it goes down in the history books as one of the most celebrated shots in UAAP lore.
2008-12 Ateneo Blue Eagles
No. of titles: 5
Notable Players: Chris Tiu, Rabeh Al-Hessaini, Nonoy Baclao, Eric Salamat, Emman Monfort, Ryan Buenafe, Kiefer Ravena, Greg Slaughter, Nico Salva
Head Coach: Norman Black
Coach Norman Black and his Blue Eagles did something that not even the great UST teams of the mid 90’s and the talented DLSU squads of the early 2000s were able to achieve. And that is to clinch five straight UAAP crowns. Undoubtedly, the decorated tactician did a great job managing different personalities and adjusting to several lineup changes that came along with a five-year title run.
A major sports accomplishment like a five-peat though, won’t be possible without those legendary player moments. One of which came in UAAP 73 wherein enigmatic Blue Eagle Ryan Buenafe secured the Finals MVP trophy with a clutch 23-point outing in a tight Game Two victory over FEU.
Capping off this demi-decade of dominance were Kiefer Ravena, Greg Slaughter and Nico Salva as they all played a pivotal role in bagging the final two chips of ADMU’s historic campaign.