Sports games in general are always more exciting when no one knows the final outcome. Basketball is not an exception. While dominance is an art worth its glory, parity is pure entertainment.  Both UAAP Season 89 and NCAA Season 102 are exciting and unpredictable. No team can claim to be the clear favorites, since some of the preseason dominators have faltered. It’s more evident in the UAAP as title favorites have both stumbled out of the gate. UAAP Perennial Finalists fold The last three UAAP Finals became the new rivalry of the UP Fighting Maroons and La Salle Green Archers. UP was involved in the last five Finals, six of the last seven.  These two schools have dominated by stockpiling talent, any which way possible. Rules on eligibility have been modified to derail these two raging locomotives, but they were hardly hampered. After taking transferees from FEU, UE, and even Ateneo, and even each other. They also acquired players from the NCAA. This is why they remained favorites despite bucking huge losses from last season’s finals runs.  Apparently, more is not always better. After initial victories, they fell to teams with more cohesive units - FEU beat them in succession, and NU broke UP’s short streak.  Band of Brothers The FEU Tamaraws and NU Bulldogs have a solid core of players that have played together through the years, and bucked graduations by quietly adding prime recruits. The big story of FEU vs UP is the first game of the prodigal son, Veejay Pre, former Rookie of the Year, against his former team. The face-off against his former teammate and mentor, Kirby Mongcopa, was in the spotlight.  Mongcopa is a year older than Pre, but he suffered a motorcycle accident, derailing his first two seasons. That paved the path for Pre, and the lights shone too brightly, leading to a publicized bidding war for his services.  The brothers turned rivals show was entertaining, and both showed a plethora of skills. Mongcopa reigned supreme, and there are already talks of possible MVP consideration. (FEU has the reigning MVP, Janrey Pasaol).  The Tamaraws also have two rookies to watch. Cabs Cabonilas is a real blue-chip recruit, Juniors MVP and Finals MVP of the champion Baby Tams. Also, the 6’7 Elias Gish, a notable star of Gilas U18.  However, the Rookie of the Year award seems reserved for someone else.  First Rookie-MVP? The Ateneo Blue Eagles stand to have a tumultuous season for the worst possible reason. The Katipunan squad probably did not expect this in their wildest imaginations. Facing two deaths and a resulting national controversy, the ironclad throne of Tab Baldwin was vacated.  What was not derailed is Kieffer Alas’ success. Despite other offers abroad, Alas chose to return and join Ateneo. Now, he will play under his father. Also, he has the keys to the team since Ateneo does not have a clear go-to-guy. Alas is more than capable, and much willing.  With a heavy usage rate, and Ateneo’s unexpected success, Kiefer could buck the odds and become the first ever UAAP Rookie-MVP. But aside from Mongcopa, an unexpected name stands in his way. Falcons’ Surprise A common mistake in UAAP circles for the past decade is underestimating Nash Racela teams. Adamson has always been a dark horse, but they surprise and overachieve (considering the stacked opposition) whenever they have a good coach.  During the Leo Austria phase, the Falcons produced players like Don Trollano, Rodney Brondial, and Jericho Cruz. These players followed their coach to San Miguel in the PBA. Now, with Racela, Adamson has developed a distinct style called “Haramball” and they took down FEU and UST in convincing fashion. Matthew Montebon, the Fil-Am point guard is now the leader of this team, and the leading MVP candidate right now. As it stands, there is no clear Final Four as only the UE Red Warriors look out of the fight. I think it would be UP, La Salle, FEU, and UST, but not at all definitive.