FOR only the third time in the Final Four era, Ateneo and University of Santo Tomas meet in the UAAP Finals,.
The number three has some significance as the Eagles and Tigers dispute the Season 82 basketball title.
The Growling Tigers led by Jervy Cruz and Jojo Duncil took Season 69 in three games against the Blue Eagles of Doug Kramer and JC Intal in 2006.
Ateneo got its revenge six years later when Greg Slaughter, Kiefer Ravena and Nico Salva won Season 75 and swept UST, then led by Jeric Teng, Karim Abdul, and Jeric Fortuna in 2012.
This year, with the Blue Eagles running roughshod on their way to a 14-game elimination sweep while the Growling Tigers climbing up the stepladder as the four-seed, will serve as the tiebreaker for the count.
It would also be the third meeting in the championship round between two of the best minds in college basketball as Tab Baldwin and Aldin Ayo meet anew.
The two mentors split their duels, with Ayo, still coaching La Salle then, winning in 2016, and Baldwin exacting revenge the season after.
Not only would a victory break the deadlock, but a Baldwin victory would lead Ateneo completing a three-peat.
Three was also the number of wins UST needed, first getting through FEU before overhauling a twice-to-beat disadvantage against UP to be the last team standing in the stepladder semis, the last of which a 68-65 victory last Wednesday.
But that's all history.
The Growling Tigers are heading in razor-sharp behind MVP Soulemane Chabi Yo of Benin, Rookie of the Year Mark Nonoy, high-leaping forward Rhenz Abando, and senior guard Renzo Subido, whose three lifted his side over the Fighting Maroons just three days prior.
Well-rested, meanwhile, are the Blue Eagles who are coming off a 16-day layoff but are heading in motivated to finish the job behind Thirdy Ravena, Ange Kouame of Ivory Coast, and brothers Matt and Mike Nieto.
UST held the lowest losing average points against Ateneo at 7.5, and the Growling Tigers got to as close as a possession versus the Blue Eagles, losing, 71-70, in the first round on Sept. 11.
Game One is set at 4 p.m. at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Since the first time the two proud schools met, winner of the series opener have gone on to win the championship 10 times out of 12.
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