By R. Vincent Tupaz
For Variety

AND then there were four! Of course everyone knows that by now. But which teams are favored to make it to “The Show?”
Variety asked a couple of island residents for their thoughts on which teams they thought would a make it to the championships. The Final Four, which is the NCAA Division I College Hoop semifinals will feature the UCLA Bruins versus defending champions Florida State Gators in a rematch of sorts and the Ohio State Buckeyes will take on the Georgetown Hoyas.
These fans queried were so enthusiastic that they went ahead and predicted who’ll blow by their opponents in the weekend show and make it straight into the College Hoops history books as the 2007 NCAA Division I champs. The games will be played in Atlanta on Saturday, March 31. The championship match takes place on Tuesday, April 2.
“Aw, for sure it’ll be Florida by six. It’ll be a close game, but Florida is just too deep on the bench, plus they’re the defending champs,” predicted Sinajana resident Ben Lizama. Lizama, the former vice mayor of Sinajana was a member of the historic 1975 Basketball Team that represented the island in the South Pacific Games in 1975. The SPG team of ‘75 earned the island’s first Gold medal in hoops and went on to defend the Gold in 1979. Lizama played for the ‘71, ‘75 and was on the ‘79 team.
Lizama added that the Buckeyes should sweep the Hoyas in that playoff game and would then face the Gators in the ultimate show which the Gators would win and enjoy a second year atop the NCAA Division I basketball league.
1997 Pulitzer Prize Nominee Ed Siguenza, a longtime professional photographer and resident of Hagatna added his two cents and offered that Variety keep the change. “UCLA will win it all. They’ve been there before. They are a powerhouse and the most consistent of champion caliber teams,” stated Siguenza. He added, “That’s the score - enough said - UCLA all the way!”
Mike “Malojloj Madness” Meno, a football legend on Guam told the Variety that he didn’t keep up all that much with college hoops but would prognosticate anyway in favor of the perceived underdogs. “I don’t personally care for any of them, so I’ll go with the blue team, those Hoyas from Georgetown,” said Meno. He explained, “Because I’m tired of all those powerhouse teams like Florida and UCLA taking the top spot - same ole same ole. It’ll be refreshing to see a new team at the top, especially Georgetown, just when you thought - forget about it - they come through and finally have a chance after all these years.”
A member of the younger generation offered his spill as well. Father Duenas Junior Varsity basketball standout Kevin Scott Alegre said the Bucks will face the Bruins in the finals and the Buckeyes will take the win. “Ohio state and UCLA - they’re just two good teams,” offered Alegre. “Florida may be the Champs but they’re cocky and it’s hard to win back to back championships unless you’re the Chicago Bulls and have a player like Michael Jordan,” added Alegre. “Defending champions have everything to lose.”