UAAP Season 72_2009

College Basketball Archives - UAAP 2009| 2

LEAGUE NEWS

UAAP mulls expansion may tap two new teams By: Joey Villar

July 8, 2009

Lifted from: ngetstudio.com

Like its counterpart, the UAAP is also entertaining plans of expanding in the future.

UAAP president Anton Montinola of Season 72 host Far Eastern University yesterday said

the league is open to the idea of accepting a ninth or a 10th member, possibly next

year, in a bid to generate more interest and excitement and attracting more fans.

"I t's possible, maybe we'll go nine teams or maybe 10," said Montinola during the signing

of memorandum of agreement between the Tams and The Old Spaghetti House in

Libis, Quezon City.

The 85-year-old NCAA is set to accept three regular members next year, which may not

necessarily be the same guest teams currently playing this season.

Montinola, meanwhile, pointed to San Beda as a primary candidate for regular

membership in the UAAP.

"If there's a university that brings to the table something that's difficult to refuse, then

why not. What I mean is a very strong sports program in all sports not only in basketball

with alumni supporting a team win or lose and a school management that is serious

about competing consistently in all sports," said Montinola.

"Apparently, the school that comes to mind without alienating the other schools

interested would be San Beda," he added.

Montinola said San Beda, which has 14 NCAA titles, including a three-peat, will be a

strong candidate if it applies.

"They're strong in all sports, their alumni are always behind them, they have a serious

basketball program that would enhance the popularity of the UAAP," said Montinola.

UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES SEASON 72

“One Color, One Goal”


"With them around, we would have old rivalries that would be rekindled and create

new ones like UST-San Beda, FEU-San Beda, La Salle-San Beda, things like that," he said.

He, however, said San Beda must pass all the requirements for it to be accepted as a

regular member.

"First, they must be a university and they're in the process of becoming one. They should

write a letter of application and they probably have to pay a fee because the UAAP is

quite a valuable product that if they want to join the party, they have to open their

checkbook.

UAAP okays rules on tiebreak, instant replay By: Joey Villar

June 13, 2009


The University Athletic Association of the Philippines will apply new rules in resolving ties

in Season 72, which unfolds on July 11 at the Araneta Coliseum.

League president Anton Montinola of host Far Eastern U yesterday told The STAR they

are instituting changes in breaking ties by eliminating unnecessary matches that

prolonged the event in past years.

"This year, we will be using common sense to break ties," said Montinola a few days after

he presided over a meeting that discussed the technical matters of the tournament.

"In the past, the practice was No. 2 plays No. 3 with the winner playing No. 1 for the top

seed. That is senseless when you can break the ties faster," he said.

The rest of the rules, like giv ing incentive to a school that could pull off a rare sweep, will

remain as implemented last season.

This means the team that will score a sweep will gain a twice-to-beat advantage in the

finals compared to two years ago when University of the East accomplished the feat

but got ambushed by La Salle with a sweep in the best-of-three finals.

The league will also implement rules that give teams a chance to challenge a three-

point conversion at any point of the game v ia instant replay and suspend the

possession arrow rule in the last two minutes of the match.

Pro-grip, an adhesive used by players to enable to handle the ball better, is still

prohibited while schools will still be limited to two foreign players each with one allowed

to play at a time.

UAAP basketball tournament director Mark Molina said the opening day games pit

Univ . of Santo Tomas against Adamson at 2 p.m. and last year's losing finalist La Salle

versus UE at 4 p.m. on July 11.


The next day, Univ. of the Philippines squares off with National U at 2 p.m. and

defending champion Ateneo tackles a Mark Barroca-led FEU side at 4 p.m.

Commissioner Joe Lipa said the league will be tapping a combination of pro, semi-pro

and amateur referees from the PBA, PBL and the BRAASCU.

Only the best referees for UAAP says Lipa By: Jasmine Payo

June 21, 2009


Commissioner Joe Lipa has gathered the country's finest referees in a bid to improve

officiating in the UAAP basketball tournament this season.

Lipa, a unanimous pick by the board to run the league's premier cage event for the

third time, formed a new pool of game officials by hiring the top professional and

amateur referees.

"We'd like to give the UAAP the best group of referees," said Lipa. "We made sure they

are very familiar with the rules and the mechanics of three-man officiating. But most

importantly, they must have the integrity."

Lipa has selected game officials from the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), the

Philippine Basketball League (PBL) and Braascu.

"Any association for that matter can give us a list of referees," said Lipa, a many-time

national coach. "The SBP (Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas) also has its own pool of

referees and we're waiting for their list."

The diverse backgrounds of the referees shouldn't be a drawback, according to Lipa.

"There should be no confusion," he said. "They may have been trained differently, but

the Fiba rules are well crafted. All referees must understand the spirit of the rules and

carefully study them."

"I have long been an advocate of this," added Lipa. "All stakeholders in basketball must

be given a pool of referees instead of having the attitude of being parochial."

The league unfolds on July 11 with University of Santo Tomas battling Adamson at 2 p.m.

and last year's runner-up La Salle taking on University of the East at 4 p.m. at the

Araneta Coliseum.

Ateneo will open its bid for a second straight championship the next day against

preseason favorite Far Eastern University at 4 p.m.


PRE-SEASON ARTICLES

10 reasons to watch the UAAP opening weekend By Patrick Leonard M. Mayo

Philippine Daily Inquirer - 4 July 2009

This week, 2bU gives you 10 good reasons

why you should watch the opening

weekend of the University Athletic

Association of the Philippines (UAAP) on

July 11-12, as they usher in the 72nd

season of the country‘s premier collegiate

basketball league.

Opening ceremonies

Much is expected from this year‘s host

school, Far Eastern University, so they will

be going full-force not only in the games

but also in the opening ceremonies.

They will be tapping their homegrown

talents from the FEU Dance Club, Bamboo

Squad, Chorale, Theater Guild, Drum and

Bugle Corps and Pep Squad to deliver a

rousing opening presentation.

Rookies

Some of the names to watch out for this

season are former Xavier School main

man Jeric Teng of the University of Santo

Tomas Growling Tigers; preseason MVP RR

Garcia of FEU; and prized rookie Arvie

Bringas of the De La Salle Green Archers,

who is arguably the most sought-after

player coming out of the highschool

ranks this year.

Leaders

A new batch of leaders will emerge as

they take the leadership role for their respective teams. Dylan Ababou of UST,

Michael Luy of the National University

Bulldogs, and Paul Lee of University of the

East are some of the players expected to

become go-to-guys this year.

Courtside reporters

Every year, beautiful faces grace the

UAAP as courtside reporters representing

the member schools. They keep your eyes

glued on your TV sets even during

timeouts and lulls, and this year will be no

exception, of course.

Finals preview?

It may be too early to tell, but with all due

respect to the other teams, the Ateneo

Blue Eagles and FEU Tamaraws are the

early favorites this season.

Despite losing team captain Chris Tiu, the

Blue Eagles still has a solid core in veteran

guard Jai Reyes; reigning Defensive Player

of the Year Nonoy Baclao and MVP

Rabeh Al-Hussaini.

The Tams will be led by RP Team members

JR Cawaling and Mark Barocca.

Expect a slam-bang affair between these

two teams.

Halftime

Halftime performances from the pep

squads are always a sight to behold.

Stunts of reigning champs UP Pep Squad

and the synchronized moves of the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe always keep

the crowd on their seats.


Basketball hangover

Whether you are a basketball geek

reeling from the NBA Finals fever or just a

die-hard fan of the game, UAAP

basketball will give you a different kind of

hangover. Fast-paced, run-and-gun

basketball with age-old rivalries to boot.

School spirit

If you are a freshman and you want to

â€œlegitimizeâ€• your entry to college

life, you better include watching the

UAAP games live on your â€œto-doâ€•

list. There is a certain kind of high you get

from cheering and supporting your alma

mater in the middle of a jam-packed

arena. Go! Go! Go!

Celebs in the crowd

Celebrities, even politicians and the

Whoâ€™s Who of society troop to watch

the games live, and you just might bump

into one of them if you are lucky.

Cheers

Animo! Go fight! Fight! Fight! What better

way to harness your cheering prowess

than to support your team, live! A word of

caution, though: You may very well lose

your voice after cheering your heart out.

UAAP: The Enigmatic Eight

By Adrian Dy


As the start of the University Athletic

Association of the Philippines (UAAP)

season looms, another cycle of

graduation and recruitment has been

completed. The big names have moved

on, the Chris Tius, the JV Casios, the Jervy

Cruzes. I t‘s now time for other, less familiar

players to become household names.

These eight players will have to take on

bigger roles, and their success as key

contributors may decide whether or not

their teams book a spot on the Final Four.

Watch out (and cheer) for them this

season.

Eric Salamat: “The Man of Steal”

Ateneo Blue Eagles

2008 Season: 20.2 minutes, 8.9 points, 2.2

rebounds, 1.8 assists, 2.1 steals (17 games)

If there‘s a single mental image that can

capture the essence of Eric Salamat, it

would be of this pesky defender, cleanly

ripping the ball off his opponent and

zooming down the lane for an open lay-

up. As the first guard off the Ateneo

bench, Salamat was instant offense,

usually in transition, where he was a one-

man fastbreak. But he faded down the

stretch, and was limited to being a minor

contributor during the two-game set that

ended with an Ateneo championship. As

the incumbent starting shooting guard for

the Blue Eagles, he‘ll be asked to do

much more then just steal the ball every

now and then.

2009 Outlook: For Salamat, it‘s all about

putting everything together. He can torch

you from outside sometimes (4/5 from

long distance in the second round versus

FEU). He can slash inside and give you

three-point play after three-point play

occasionally. He‘ll make nifty passes

every now and then. This lack of consistency can be maddening for the

coach, the team, and the fans. Toss in the

fact that the new referees might be more


inclined to call more reach-in fouls, and it

becomes clear that in order to repeat,

Salamat will need to open up and

diversify his game.

James Mangahas: “The Last Old Gun”

De La Salle Green Archers


rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.3 blocks, 0.4 steals

(18 games)

Gone are the days when James

Mangahas was the third, or even lower

option. Gone are the days when he could

sit patiently in the corner, waiting for the

kick-out, watching as JV Casio and Rico

Maierhofer put the team on their backs.

Now it‘s up to him to lead a, well, green

team, full of rookies, possibly back to the

finals. He scored in double digits eight

times last season, and had seven games

with more than five rebounds, but

heâ€™ll have to average at least that,

while still shooting daggers from afar.

Sounds tough? Maybe, but it‘s his time

now.

2009 Outlook: The onus is on Mangahas to score, but he can‘t rely on his jumper

alone, not when each team‘s best

defender will be gunning for him.

Mangahas will need to learn how to put

the ball on the floor and drive to the

basket. Also, as one of the few veterans

left, he‘ll need to lead this Green Archers

team, both on the court, by upping his

assists, and by example, hustling for

rebounds and loose balls. If his team can

feed off his energy, then it‘s back to the

Final Four for these guys.

Leo Canuday: “The Prodigal Son”

Adamson Soaring Falcons



After missing the entire 2008 season with a

shoulder injury, Leo Canuday returns, only

to find himself as the oldest tenured

Falcon on the squad. He also finds himself

as the walking solution to the Falcons‘ ills

last season: Their outside shooting, or lack

thereof. Despite playing on a team that

starred the never-shy-to-shoot Patrick

Cabahug, Canuday still got a lot of

touches from beyond the arc, and he

converted on more than 30 percent of

them, a high percentage, given how the

shooting guard corps of last season barely

reached that mark, shooting only in the

high 20s.

2009 Outlook: Canuday can play both

guard positions, which will be a great

boon to their coach, Leo Austria.

Canuday will make the wide-open threes,

courtesy of Jerick Canada drives that

Paul Gonzalgo missed. Also, he‘s a more

natural back-up to Canada, which was

something Gonzalgo did horribly last

season when he had to go out of position

and run the team. I f the Falcons are to

soar, Canuday will definitely need to

provide some lift.

Riel Cervantes: “The Forgotten One”

Far Eastern University Tamaraws



(16 games)

When Macmac Baracael had to miss

games recovering from his gunshot

wound, Riel Cervantes slipped into the

power forward position at FEU and it fit

him like a glove, perhaps, even better

than the aforementioned Baracael. And

during summer league play, when three

of his teammates, JR Cawaling, Aldrech

Ramos and Mark Barroca spent most of

their time with the RP Youth Team, it was

Cervantes again to the rescue.

Combining a ferocious desire to scoop up


rebounds and a smooth mid-range

jumper, Cervantes may be flying under

the radar for now, but if pundit

predictions come true and FEU does in

fact go the distance, he‘ll be a big

reason why it was possible.

2009 Outlook: While opponents map out

strategies on how to contain his three

more famous teammates, Cervantes will

quietly make the most of his opportunities.

It‘s his small forward-like athleticism that

makes him such a difficult power forward

to guard, and if he extends his range

further out to the three-point line, then the

Tams can be considered a lock to go to

the Championship round.

Jewel Ponferrada: “The Diamond in the

Rough”

National University Bulldogs

2008 Season: 17.7 minutes, six points, 5.4


(14 games)

How much of a big deal can be made of

one game? If you‘re Jewel Ponferrada,

one game last season against FEU might be enough to give NU fans even just a

slight glimmer of hope. In their last

assignment in the first round, Ponferrada

had 16 points on six of seven shooting, six

rebounds and a whopping four blocks in

a career-high 29 minutes. Now with Edwin

Asoro and Raymond Aguilar gone, the

minutes and touches are there for

Ponferrada. Will that one game be a big

deal, a sign of things to come, or no big

deal at all?

2009 Outlook: NU is more well-known for

taking ill-advised triples despite having

some behemoths patrolling the painted

area, and so step one for the Bulldogs

ought to be looking for Ponferrada

underneath the basket first, before

spotting up for a forced trey. Then, w ith

the ball in his hands, it‘s just a matter of

aggressiveness. Ponferrada had a grand

total of 21 free throw attempts last season

despite appearing in all of their games,

and that has got to change.

Magi Sison: “The Gentle Giant”

University of the Philippines Fighting

Maroons


rebounds, one assist, 0.7 blocks, 0.3 steals

(14 games)

Can you be big during one half of the

game and small during the other half? It‘s

reality for UP center Magi Sison, who

routinely notches more rebounds than

scores points, despite his giant-like stature.

He‘s not afraid to bully his way into the

middle and sky for a rebound, but on the

other end, he‘s timid, and overly reliant

on a jump shot, not a post move. Toss in

the fact that he‘s more likely to be called

for a foul than to draw a foul, and you

have a unique problem for the Maroons.

2009 Outlook: Sison has a lot in common

with Ponferrada of NU. Like Ponferrada, Sison had one game last season that got

everyone talking: A 20-point, 13-rebound

performance against UST. After that, he

only had two other games where he

scored in double digits, both 10-point

games. I f Sison can put together some

semblance of a post-game, or adjust to

having UP point guards throw him lob

passes for lay-ins, then opponents of the

Maroons will definitely have a fight on

their hands. Otherwise, there‘s no

incentive for opposing teams to have

someone guard him.


Khasim Mirza: “The Man Without Aim”

University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers



(12 games)

In 2007, Khasim Mirza joined a storied line

of multi-positional, long-armed UST

marksmen, the type that, along with Jervy

Cruz, shot their way to a 2006 UAAP

Championship. In 2008, Mirza could play

multiple positions and had the long-arms,

but couldn‘t make a shot to save his life

(29 percent from the field and from

three). His minutes were wildly

inconsistent, and he even sat during two

games in the first round. But now, with the

graduation of not only Cruz, but of almost

all the other UST forwards, he‘ll really need

to make a shot, not just to save his life or

career, but the basketball life of his team

as well.

2009 Outlook: True, it‘ll be much tougher

for UST players to get wide-open looks

now that there‘s no threat in the post for

defenses to double team, but that just

means that several players, including Mirza, will have to adjust their style of play.

With the Tigers looking to run, Mirza will

need to work on his athleticism and his

ability to finish at the rim.

Paul Lee: “The Lone Gun”

University of the East Red Warriors



Like Eric Salamat, Paul Lee will be making

the transition from sixth man to starting

shooting guard. Unlike Salamat though,

Lee will be in a worse position. The Red

Warriors lost their most productive big

man in Hans Thiele, as well as veteran

Marcy Arellano. To make matters worse,

starting point guard James Martinez could

be out for the season thanks to an ACL-

injury. An offense that used to be

balanced, is now Lee-centric, and

although Lee had some success with the

ball in his hands all the time in the PBL,

there‘s no way of knowing whether or not

such an offense would work in the UAAP.

2009 Outlook: I t‘ll be tempting for Lee to

fully embrace his role as the first and best

offensive option for the Red Warriors, but

a look at his own team will show that he

still has quite a few weapons at his

disposal, including big men Elmer Espiritu

and Pari Llagas, and sophomore Paul Zamar. I f Lee can embrace more of a

facilitator or decoy role to get his

teammates shots, then UE might be able

to scrape together a Final Four

appearance.


Rookies galore in 72nd UAAP By Jasmine W. Payo


Former Philippine Youth Team members and high school stars lead over 40 rookies set to

debut in the 72nd UAAP men‘s basketball tournament starting Saturday.

Preseason favorite Far Eastern U will field eight rookies headed by former national youth ace Ryan Roose Garcia and Hippolyte Noundou, a 6-foot-4 forward from Cameroon.

Just like the Tamaraws, half of the University of Santo Tomas‘ 16-man roster will be

composed of freshmen, including prolific scorer Jeric Teng, the son of ex-pro Alvin Teng

who averaged over 30 points for Xavier.

But La Salle boasts the strongest rookie class with six new recruits led by last year‘s

NCAA juniors Finals MVP Arvie Bringas and four national youth team members.

The 6-foot-5 Bringas will be joined by former San Sebastian teammate Yutien Andrada

and national players Joseph Tolentino, Jed Manguera, former UAAP juniors MVP Tata

Marata, the nephew of ex-pro Ric-ric Marata, and Gabriel Banal, son of former Ateneo

champion coach Joel Banal.

―We‘re a very young team right now, it reminds me of our 2003 team,‖ said Archers

coach Franz Pumaren.

―Some of our rookies played well in the preseason, but the UAAP is a different level, so

let‘s see how they‘ll do in a few games,‖ said Tamaraws coach Glenn Capacio.

Barely tinkering with its lineup, defending champion Ateneo only has former Eaglets

Juami Tiongon and Frank Golla, also a national youth team member, and Benedictine‘s

Christian De Chavez as the new faces.

―Four of our five starters are back,‖ Ateneo coach Norman Black said.

Nearly half of National University‘s roster is new, including former San Beda player Ajeet

Singh and Joseph Terso, another national youth ace.

―We lost the whole core; this is a brand new team,‖ said Bulldogs mentor Manny

Dandan.

Last year‘s UAAP juniors MVP Mark Juruena of Adamson and La Salle Green Hills‘ Mikee

Reyes head University of the Philippines‘ five newcomers.

University of the East‘s three rookies includes Iloilo‘s Jhon Rey Sumido, while Adamson

recruited only the pair of Roider Ross Cabrera and Eric James Camson.


UAAP 'pushover' teams seek change in basketball fortunes in Season 2009 Krista Angela M. Montealegre

July 9, 2009

Lifted from: The Manila Times

Considered as pushovers in the previous seasons, Adamson University, University of the

Philippines (UP) and National University are all set to change their mark in the upcoming

Season 72 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).

For Adamson Coach Leo Austria, this season may be the breakout year for the Falcons

who are eager to improve on their 3-11 record last year.

Adamson boasts of a solid core with Jerick Cañada, Jan Colina and Michael Galinato

returning to the fold. After missing the entire 2008 season because of a shoulder injury,

Leo Canuday is also back for the Falcons and this will mean more trouble for other

teams.

The UP Fighting Maroons surely recovered from their winless Season 70, posting three

wins last season including an impressive opening-day win against the Bulldogs under

new Coach Aboy Castro.

Without Jay Agbayani, the team's leading scorer, Martin Reyes, Magi Sison and Woody

Co are expected to lead the assault of the Fighting Maroons who have already missed

the Final Four for 11 consecutive years.

"We're still a young team and what we want to do is just compete every game," said

Castro, who has recruited last year's UAAP Most Valuable Player Mark Juruena.

With the exit of reliable veterans Edwin Asoro, Jay Jahnke, Raymond Aguilar and Jewel

Ponferrada, the National University Bulldogs have set modest goals for this season.

"We are still rebuilding and we just want to be there every game," said Coach Manny

Dandan, who wants to erase the memories of a forgettable 2-12 slate last year.


PRE-SEASON PREVIEWS

ATENEO DE MANILA BLUE EAGLES

By: Christian Soler

July 6, 2009

Lifted from: inboundpass.com

2008 record: 13-1 (first place, won UAAP Season 71 championship)

Head coach: Norman Black (fifth season)

Key additions: Chris de Chavez, Frank Golla, Emman Monfort, Juami Tiongson

Key losses: Mike Baldos, Yuri Escueta, Jobe Nkemakolam, Chris Tiu

Holdovers: Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Bacon Austria, Nonoy Baclao, Ryan Buenafe, Vince Burke,

Justin Chua, Tonino Gonzaga, Kirk Long, Jai Reyes, Eric Salamat, Nico Salva, Chris

Sumalinog

Background: Ateneo de Manila broke a six-year title drought in style, losing a solitary

game en route to its fourth UAAP men‘s title. Al-Hussaini capped off an MVP year by

more than tripling his scoring average, while Reyes developed into the solid backcourt

stopper that the Blue Eagles have sorely needed since LA Tenorio. And of course, the

ever-talked about, shooter-slash-leader-slash celebrity Tiu proved he was 1) the squad‘s

anchor; and 2) the capable leader the Katipunan unit might sorely miss this season and

beyond. And let‘s not forget that Ateneo did not lose a single game to archrival De La

Salle University.

Key changes: While Tiu wasn‘t and won‘t be regarded as the greatest player ever to

don an Ateneo jersey, his absence will surely reverberate around Loyola Heights. His

basketball IQ, poise under pressure and capacity to hold the team together are as

valuable as the points he scored, and well, autographs he signed. Baldos was a solid

defender and above-average rebounder. Don‘t expect any of the newbies to make a

huge splash this year, although de Chavez is versatile, and Golla quite experienced for

a rookie thanks to his stint with the National Youth Team.

Outlook: Al-Hussaini transformed himself from a so-so slotman into the league‘s best big

man in 2008. In Season 72, Baclao should take on that mantle. Although he never was

so-so, and won‘t be the scoring machine Al-Hussaini is, he‘s bulked up over the summer

and should be college hoops‘ premier rebounder and defensive player. Ateneo still has

the tourney‘s best frontcourt [although FEU might have something to say about that],

but it‘s the backcourt that needs to step up especially with Tiu gone. The San Sebastian High combo of Buenafe and Salamat is as good as it gets. But is it as smart as it comes?

Tiu‘s absence also implies more ball-handling chores for Reyes. Balancing point guard

duties with scoring will be his greatest challenge since he‘s already developed into an


excellent defender. Off the bench, there is immense depth, with Austria, Long and

Salva and Sumalinog holding fort.

Prognosis: The Blue Eagles are clearly on a high, and rightfully so. Championships aren‘t

as common along Katipunan/C-5 as they are in the Taft area. But the euphoria

shouldn‘t blind the Ateneo faithful. This season will be tougher than the last, and going

on an almost-perfect run will be as difficult to attain as a 4.0-semestral QPI . Nonetheless,

the Blue Eagles will be up there come late September, and Al-Hussaini, Baclao and

Reyes will have the opportunities they need and want to exit with a bang.

Blue Eagles in search of a new leader By Izah Morales

7 July 2009

Lifted from: INQUIRER.net

A few days before beginning their title defense, the Ateneo Blue Eagles are in search of

somebody to step and fill in the shoes of former team captain Chris Tiu.

―We‘re trying to find a leader since Chris left,‖ said point guard Eric Salamat.

Tiu, playing in his final season, helped steer Ateneo against fierce rival De La Salle in a 2-

0 sweep of last year‘s finals.

Forward Luis Lorenzo Gonzaga agrees, saying no one is leading the team yet and that

this is something he and his teammates need to work on.

―We have to work hard on our communication. Sometimes we‘re not on the same

page,‖ added shooting guard Kirk Long.

But the Blue Eagles still boast of having one of the most intact lineups with last year‘s

MVP Rabeh Al-Husaini, Finals MVP Nonoy Baclao and Rookie of the Year Ryan Buenafe.

Sweet-shooting point guard Jai Reyes will also be playing in his final season.

―We‘re one of the few teams that are intact. The core players are still here like Rabeh

and (Ryan) Buenafe,‖ said Reyes.

However, Reyes said that they need to overcome too much confidence when playing.

―We could be our own biggest enemy because we can be overconfident,‖ he said.

Al-Hussaini said they always keep in mind coach Norman Black‘s most important lesson.

―He always tells us defense means championship. So I have to do the same thing I did

last season,‖• he said.


Eagles focused on title repeat By Jasmine W. Payo

11 July 2009

Lifted from: Philippine Daily Inquirer

A CHAMPIONSHIP HANGOVER IS THE least of Ateneo‘s worries.

With a lineup still loaded in all positions and a coach proud of his team‘s focus, the Blue Eagles remain formidable in their bid for a second straight UAAP championship.

―We have the nucleus of the team last year,‖ said Ateneo coach Norman Black. ―The

main thing for us is just to maintain our focus and concentration and not to live in the

past.‖

The confidence stems from the return of reigning MVP Rabeh Al-Hussaini, top defensive

player Nonoy Baclao and last season‘s Rookie of the Year Ryan Buenafe.

Wily guards Eric Salamat, Jai Reyes and American Kirk Long are also returning for the

Eagles, one of the few teams spared from the mass departure of veteran players this

season.

And by the looks of it, the Eagles just might replicate the dominance and chemistry that

helped them win all but one elimination game before sweeping fierce rival La Salle in

the best-of-three Finals last year.

There‘s hardly a leadership void even with the graduation of Chris Tiu as Black points to

the improved skills and maturity of his wards.

―Hopefully we can make up for the difference [Tiu and Yuri Escueta] made last year,‖

said Black, who can also count on former Eaglets Juami Tiongon and Frank Golla, a

national youth team member, and Benedictine International School‘s Christian De

Chavez.

―I‘ve always said that the team that can improve over the course of the league is the

team that will probably win the championship,‖ said Black, now on his fifth year with the

Eagles.


DE LA SALLE GREEN ARCHERS

A Conversation with Coach Franz Pumaren

By: Tony Atayde

July 6, 2009

Lifted from: Inboundpass.com

For the last 4 years, I get to sit down with Coach Franz Pumaren for a 1 on 1 interv iew. At the wake of Br. Ceci Hojilla FSC, I asked Coach Franz if I could interview him the

succeeding week and he obliged my request right away.

I got to the La Salle Sports Complex while the team was having a practice game

against the UP Fighting Maroons. One week before the start of the UAAP season and I

could see that the team was not yet complete.

Simon Atkins was not in uniform, Bringas did not play and Malabes kept his ankle on ice

every time he stepped off the court.

I really wanted to air the interview as a podcast but the area was just too noisy to do so.

Still, I always enjoy sitting down with Coach Franz. There are those who think he is aloof

but in reality, he is a very approachable guy. He is candid and will not hesitate to

speak his mind. Yet it is still collegiate basketball that flows through his veins and he is

undoubtedly the coach that all other teams eagerly watch for. Players come and go

but Coach Franz and his proven system just keeps coming back and the Lasallians are

glad he does.

On this year‘s team: ―We‘ll be alright. It will be a different team compared to teams of

the past but that‘s what college basketball is all about. Every year, you have to adapt

not just to the players you have but also to the league as a whole‖.

On this year‘s rookie class: ―This year is the 2nd highest number of rookies I have had. In

2003 we had 8 rookies but we also had a very talented core of veterans then. This year

we have 6 rookies. Some have surprised me with their talent. Again, that‘s what makes

the UAAP so much fun. You have to work with the material that is given to you.‖

On injuries and other matters that depleted the line-up: ―We have not been able to

practice with a complete line-up all year. We have been hit by injuries and other

unforeseen events that have made it very difficult to practice with a set rotation. On

the bright side, it has also given other players the opportunity to show what they can

do. Injuries are a part of the game and we all have to play through it.‖

On the officiating this season: ―All a coach can ask for is consistency. I hope that if the

plan to bring in different referee associations to officiate materializes, they are able to

establish standards that we as coaches can adjust to. ―

On leadership: ―Someone will definitely step up. When the season starts, it is inevitable

that the leader emerges. Some leaders are born while others rise out of necessity. ―


On Arvie Bringas: ―He is fine. He is, like all the other rookies, excited for the start of the

season.‖

On the aborted trip to Sebia: (Just smiles.)

On Coach Dindo Pumaren: I t was logical move. When Tyrone (Bautista) was asked to

coach the women‘s team, I could not think of a better replacement than Dindo. I t

would have been very hard for me to have 6 rookies and then have to train a new

assistant coach. He knows the system and most of all he is a Lasallian.‖

On the return of the Smart Gilas players: ―Of course their indiv idual teams will greatly

benefit from their exposure. It‘s good for the league.‖

On the competition: ―Well, there are teams that are coming back almost intact.

However the only predictable thing about the UAAP is its unpredictability.‖

On his personal preparation for the season: ―I have been doing this for quite some time

but I have to admit that when the adrenalin starts to build, one can‘t help but be

excited. You leave the past season at the door and you start a brand new one.‖

On wearing an ID: (Wide grin)

La Salle's Revilla sidelined due to illness By: Jasmine W. Payo

July 6, 2009


A lingering illness has sidelined a young La Salle cager even before the start of the

UAAP season.

LA Revilla, the Green Archers' flashy sophomore guard, is out of the men's basketball

competition following a recent diagnosis of diabetes and hyperthyroidism coupled with

a bout with dengue.

"My doctor didn't allow me to play and do any strenuous activities because any time I

might collapse," Revilla told the Inquirer.

The 19-year-old Revilla, who played quality minutes in his rookie season as a backup

point guard, lost almost 30 pounds in the last three months.

"I 'm now taking medication," he said. "I inject myself with insulin every day. Every pre-

meal, I check my blood. I'm taking medication for my thyroid. I also have a special

diet."

Revilla, named in the All-Rookie Team last year, admits that a year off the hardcourt

may lead to a dip in his performance.


"Of course I'm worried," the 5-foot-7 cager said. "I can't join our practice. I can't do

weights. But I'm going to ask my doctors if I can go swimming, so at least I can have

some form of exercise."

Despite his illness, Revilla said he makes sure to keep the La Salle game in his system.

"I watch the team's practice, I still attend team functions and I still try to do my normal

activities," he said. "I've accepted it. I 'm a strong believer that God has a plan and a

purpose."

Revilla said he intends to watch the Green Archers' games, including their opener

against the University of the East Warriors on July 11 at 4 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Green Archers will also miss the 6-foot-6 Marko Batricevic due to a leg injury. Last

season, the Serbian center played only five games due to a recurring injury on his

anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

But the Warriors will also play minus the veteran James Martinez, the starting point guard

who also sustained an ACL injury during a preseason game last month.

Before the La Salle-UE showdown, Season 72 officially kicks off with a 1 p.m. opening

ceremony, followed by the 2 p.m. match between University of Santo Tomas and

Adamson.

Ateneo takes on Far Eastern University in the 4 p.m. main game the next day also at the

Big Dome, right after the 2 p.m. duel between the University of the Philippines and

National University.

Archers appoint Dindo as Franz’s assistant

By Jasmine W. Payo

17 March 2009


From adversaries to allies.

De La Salle University reunited the Pumaren brothers by tapping former University of the

East mentor Dindo Pumaren to assist his older brother and Green Archers head coach

Franz in the next UAAP basketball season.

―He is replacing coach Tyrone (Bautista), who is now the head coach of the women‘s

team,‖ Br. Bernie Oca, FSC, La Salle‘s representative to the UAAP board, said Monday.

Dindo, who resigned from UE last December, will officially join the Green Archers‘ team practice on Tuesday.

The brothers hold an even head-to-head record of 5-5 in the last five years.


Two seasons ago, the sibling rivalry reached its height when Dindo steered the UE

Warriors to the UAAP Finals for the first time in two decades after a 14-0 sweep of the

elimination round.

But Franz and his seasoned Archers pulled off an upset in the Finals for the 2007 crown.

Franz guided the Archers to five championships in the past decade, while Dindo

consistently led the Warriors to the Final Four.

Dindo holds a personal 45-24 win-loss record in five seasons with the Warriors, who

recently hired Lawrence Chongson as their new mentor.

Franz and Dindo played together for La Salle in the mid-‗80s, before the younger

Pumaren took charge as King Archer in 1987 and 1988.

With several new recruits, the Archers will again enter the season as among the

favorites after settling for a runner-up finish against fierce rival Ateneo de Manila

University in last year‘s Finals.

Green Archers mentored by Jordan’s trainer By Izah Morales

18 June 2009


Notwithstanding the lack of big men this coming season, the De La Salle Green Archers

are hoping to apply indiv idual skills learned from someone who trained one of the

greatest NBA players.

The Archers trained under Tim Grover, a former personal trainer of NBA legend Michael

Jordan, for two weeks in Chicago.

―I t was really tiring. We practiced twice a day, a total of six hours, everyday,‖ said

rookie point guard Joe Tolentino, who was recruited from Reedley International School.

Grover taught them individual skills including movements in the court, shooting form,

and decision-making in certain situations, added rookie forward Martin John Reyes, a

graduate of La Salle Greenhills.

In Grover, the Archers had a taste of collegiate mentoring in the US. ―Iba ung coaching

nila dun. Tutok na tutok (Coaching there is different and very focused on players),‖

noted power forward Jojo Mendoza.

Rookie forward Gabriel Banal, meanwhile, said their bonding as a team heightened

while training in the US.


Team official Dendu Anareta said about six rookies and nine veterans would be playing

this coming season although the official line-up is yet to be released.

Forward James Mangahas expects this coming season to be a tough one for the

Archers, who lost to rival Ateneo in the finals last season.

―We‘re not as strong because we lost JV (Casio) and Rico (Maierhofer),‖ he said.

Maierhofer is joining the PBA draft this August. As one of the more veteran players,

Mangahas said he will need to guide his teammates.

Archers’ crack rookie class comes off wraps By Jasmine W. Payo

11 July 2009

Philippine Daily Inquirer

A COMBINED AVERAGE OF 30.1 points, 14.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.2 steals and 1.3

blocks.

Those are the statistics the La Salle Green Archers are going to miss with the departure

of veteran guard JV Casio and athletic big man Rico Maierhofer from the UAAP men‘s

basketball competition this season.

―We‘re in the process of rebuilding,‖ admitted La Salle coach Franz Pumaren. ―If you

lose your best scorer and you lose your best defensive player and rebounder, it‘s going

to be hard.‖

With Casio using up his playing years and Maierhofer foregoing his final year of eligibility

to join the PBA draft, the Archers are in for a tougher road back to the Finals, a season

after securing a runner-up finish against fierce rival Ateneo.

―We still have talented veterans,‖ said Pumaren. ―But that‘s the beauty of college

basketball. Players come and go and coaches just have to maximize the talent that

they have.‖

Expected to take charge are seniors James Mangahas and Peejay Barua.

By assembling the best freshman class this season, however, the Archers remain a

favorite to reach the Final Four.

―Hopefully the younger guys and the rookies will be able to adjust right away to the

college play,‖ said Pumaren.

Arvie Bringas, the 6-foot-5 center who helped San Sebastian clinch four straight NCAA

juniors titles, leads the rookie cast that includes four national youth team players.


―He will bring in size, at least we have an option inside the paint,‖ said Pumaren of

Bringas, last year‘s NCAA juniors Finals MVP. ―Arvie is a power-forward type. I think he

can help us a lot.‖

FEU TAMARAWS

By: Christian Soler July 6, 2009


2008 record: 10-4 (tied for second place, lost in the Final Four)

Head coach: Glenn Capacio (third season)

Key additions: Casey Caluag, Jaymo Eguilos, Chris Exciminiano, Ryan Roose Garcia,

Jolas Guerrero, Christian Manalo, Pipo Noundou, Marty Pearce, McJan Vinluan

Key losses: Marlon Adolfo, Jon Alisbo, Mac Baracael, Ron Cabagnot, Benedict

Fernandez, Robert Kave, Gian Macazo, Mark Romero

Holdovers: Andy Mark Barroca, JR Cawaling, Reil Cervantes, Jens Knuttel, Aldrech

Ramos, Paul Sanga, Edgar Tanuan

Background: 2008 was a tumultuous year for FEU, both on and off the court.

Inconsistency plagued the Tamaraws all year, as signified by a win against Ateneo

(which was its only loss in Season 71) and a defeat at the hands of the then-winless

National University. Off the floor, star forward Baracael was shot by a still unidentified

assailant near the FEU Gym, an incident that opened the eyes of the hoops community

to the darker side of basketball. After being touted as favorites to take home the title,

FEU was beaten by De La Salle in its semifinal tilt.

Key changes: While Baracael didn‘t see a whole lot of playing time due to that horrific

episode, he, along with Barroca, was still the Tamaraws‘ heart and soul. Fernandez,

meanwhile, was big game at times, and that could prove to be quite a loss, too.

However, FEU‘s additions make the squad an even far more talented unit than last

year. Garcia is ROY-quality, while Noundou is a versatile forward who can score,

rebound and defend. Eguilos will be the Tamaraws‘ next star center, and Caluag is an

athletic combo guard. Despite the lost talent, the Tams are retooled and reloaded.

Outlook: FEU 2K9 will be Barroca‘s team. That is, if you stop after reading his name on

the alphabetically arranged roster. What makes the boys from Morayta the best team

on paper is, aside from the aforementioned additions, the rise of Barroca‘s other

teammates. Cawaling and Ramos have gotten better thanks to Rajko Toroman and the

RP Developmental Team, while Cervantes has a more polished inside game to

complement his physicality. This ―Fantastic Four‖ is ―Four-midable‖ in itself. What sets the


Tams apart from the rest of the league even further is their depth. Garcia‘s skill at the

one can free up Barroca off the ball, while Sanga can draw other fours away from the

basket with his shooting ability. Noundou, a better Tanuan, Caluag, Eguilos, Exciminiano

and Knuttel round out a scary 12-man rotation.

Prognosis: Anything less than a finals appearance for Capacio‘s troops would be

disastrous. It‘s not often that you end up having a team as locked and talented as this.

An Ateneo-FEU finals showdown isn‘t far-fetched at all. While DLSU may have something

to say about that, FEU should at least exact revenge over its conquerors from last

season and square itself for a title run.

Winning time for Tamaraws By Cedelf P. Tupas

11 July 2009


I T‘S EASY TO UNDERSTAND WHY FAR Eastern U coach Glenn Capacio moved ace Mark

Barroca from the point to shooting guard this season as the Tamaraws vie for the

championship in the 72nd UAAP season.

Showing remarkable improvement, Barroca has morphed into a scoring machine,

significantly extending his perimeter game while sharpening his skills in creating off the

dribble.

The other reason: The potential shown by rookie playmaker Ryan Roose Garcia.

Capacio has anointed Garcia as his starting point guard, forming an explosive

combination with Barroca, who is expected to score more rather than become a

feeder. This has been his primary role in his first two years with the Tamaraws.

―He‘s good and he‘s very experienced for a rookie,‘ Capacio said of the fleet-footed

Garcia, who spent his first two years with the Tamaraws‘ B squad.

The Zamboanga native, who had a stint with the RP Youth team and was named Most

Valuable Player of the FilOil Flying V Pre-season MVP Cup ruled by the Tamaraws, adds

depth to an already formidable FEU roster, which boasts of three members of the

national developmental pool‖ Barroca, JR Cawaling and Aldrech Ramos.

―We have a balanced team,‖ said Capacio. ―I‘m happy with the composition of the

team. We are more mature and more prepared for battle. We may be the favorites but

we have to show that on the court.‖

The Tamaraws have eight rookies, including Cameroonian Hippolyte Noundou, and

they will look to newly installed skipper Cawaling and 6-foot-6 Ramos for leadership in

their bid to unseat defending champion Ateneo.


―They showed big improvement,‖ said Capacio of the national pool players. ―I ‘m

hoping their experience with the national team will make them better team leaders in

FEU.‖

Noundou, Capacio said, is ―a steady and a good reliever for Ramos.‖

Capacio feels FEU is ripe to win this season.

―I t‘s harvest time,‖ he said. ―This is already the third year of our rebuilding program.‖

Half-German Knuttle stays loyal to FEU By Marjorie Gorospe

7 July 2009

INQUIRER.net

Jens Knuttle could've been playing in the NCAA instead or for Ateneo de Manila but

he chose to stay loyal and spend his collegiate basketball stint with the Far Eastern U

Tamaraws.

The half-German Knuttle starred for Ateneo de Zamboanga back in high school and

was being recruited by San Beda College. But he turned the offer down and instead

chose to transfer to FEU FERN then looking forward to play in the UAAP.

―After highschool, I opted to stay in FEU even if Ateneo de Manila wanted me to play

for them because I owe to FEU whatever improvements in my game right now,‖ said

Knuttle, who plays point guard for the Tamaraws.

FEU is touted as a title contender in the fortcoming UAAP season 72 after winning the

FilOil Flying V pre-season tournament, beating defending champ University of the East.

Knuttle agrees on this forecast but believes the UAAP is yet another challenge for the

Tamaraws, who will be bannered by Smart-Gilas national team mainstays Marc

Barocca and JR Cawaling.

―We have affirmed our capability (in the FilOil Cup) but we still have to win UAAP to

prove that we really are strong,‖ he said. Last season, he said, was an emotional

struggle for the Tamaraws after Mac Baracael was shot late in the tournament, an

incident rumored to be linked to game-fixing.

As a point guard, Knuttle considers himself not a scorer but more of a leader,

orchestrating plays inside the court.

Now on his third year as Sports Science student, Knuttle says he is preparing for another

season of basketball action by working out, eating right and taking enough rest.

The former FEU high school star says college basketball is definitely a lot different.


―In college, you will feel that there are lots of players better than you that‘s why the

challenge stays and it motivates me to strike harder in every game," said Knuttle.

"Whatever happens, we will never give until the final buzzer sounds in every game."

UE RED WARRIORS

By: Mike Abasolo July 5, 2009


2008 Record: 9-5, Fourth Place; Final Four

Head Coach: Lawrence Chongson (First Year)

Holdovers: Toto Bandaying, Paul Zamar, Lucas Tagarda, Elmer Espiritu, Rudy Lingganay,

JM Noble, Erwin Duran, Raphy Reyes, Pari Llagas, John Ray Alabanza, Paul Lee, Val

Acuna

Key Losses: Marcy Arellano, Gino Etrone, Hans ThieleKey Additions: Garrick Ayala,

Kenneth Dale Acibar, Jai Flores, Jhon Sumido

Background: Coach Chongson has some big shoes to fill as he enters the collegiate

basketball limelight this Season 72. Under Coach Dindo Pumaren, the UE Red Warriors

has not missed a beat, whatever the available material, Coach Pumaren had

maximized what he had. With a veteran line up intact that has seen and fought many

wars, Coach Chongson has the instant pieces to go deep into the Season.

Key Changes: There are no tenderfoots in this team, even without Marcy Arellano and

Hans Thiele, the Red Warriors are still a capable bunch of warhorses that can do a lot of

damage. Even with their lack of size, they can still manage to pull it off with their speed

and quickness on both ends especially with a lot of weapons at the backcourt despite

the season fatality of James Martinez who suffered an ACL injury during the FilOil

preseason finals against FEU.

Outlook: With an intact line up, Coach Chongson has no excuses not to perform well

this season. Coach Chongson has a hardened line up that has grown and fought

together as a team. This is still an athletic and quick squad that loves the open floor

game and willing to play defense.

Prognosis: At the minimum, the Red Warriors are a cinch to barge into the playoffs and

might pull off some upsets along the way. They have been together a long time and

they have the right stuff to win in crucial situations.


Dindo Pumaren leaves UE Warriors By: Jasmine W. Payo

December 02, 2008


He bowed out just as his squad made its exit.

The University of the East Warriors came out of their dugout in tears Sunday not because of their narrow loss to the De La Salle University Green Archers in the Philippine

Collegiate Champions League's Filoil-Flying V "Sweet 16" Final Challenge.

The Warriors mourned the shock departure of coach Dindo Pumaren.

"I already resigned two days after our UAAP Final Four game, but [UE's representative to

the UAAP board Carmelita] Mateo requested that I continue coaching the team in the

PCCL," Pumaren told the Philippine Daily Inquirer (parent company of INQUIRER.net).

"I decided to stay on, but I now have (to pursue) other personal plans."

Pumaren's announcement came minutes after his older brother Franz's Green Archers

pulled off a 75-72 escape over the Warriors in the PCCL quarterfinals, Eliminating UE

from the tournament.

Under Dindo, the Warriors reached the UAAP finals for the first time in two decades

following a phenomenal 14-0 sweep of the elimination round last year.

But Franz and his multi-titled crew wound up stunning them for the 2007 men's

basketball title.

Pumaren, a former star Purefoods point guard in the PBA, debuted as collegiate coach

in 2004, taking over a UE squad reeling from the departure of standouts James Yap and

Paul Artadi.

The 43-year-old mentor still managed to steer the ragtag squad to a Final Four stint and

led the Warriors to the semifinals in the next four years.

The Warriors finished fourth this season. "We had good runs and of course heartaches,

but overall, it was a good learning experience," said Pumaren.

No less than a title for Lee, Warriors By Cedelf P. Tupas

11 July 2009


HARD AS IT IS TO IMAGINE NOW, Paul Lee was once a gun-shy rookie who opted to get

his teammates more involved rather than take the big shots.


That‘s not going to be the case this season when the Warriors try to discard their tag as

underachievers.

A sensational rookie season in the PBL, where he displayed his deft outside shooting and

drives, makes Lee a player to watch.

Lee epitomizes the mental toughness that coach Lawrence Chongson said his team

needs to win a record 19th cage crown.

―If we don‘t win the championship, I‘ll be very disappointed,‖ said coach Lawrence

Chongson whose confident demeanor belied his status as the only greenhorn in the

group of coaches this year.

Lee will team up with Rudy Lingganay in the backcourt, while veterans Elmer Espiritu

and Pari Llagas form one of the league‘s most experienced frontcourt pairs.

For the first time, the Warriors joined the Joe Abunassar Impact Basketball Camp in

California, where the Ateneo Eagles have also trained the past few years.

The core of the UE squad saw action for the Cobra Energy Warriors in the PBL after their

campaign in the Ming Dao Cup tournament in Taipei, where they placed second last

February.

But the Warriors‘ biggest achievement came in April when they ruled the Las Vegas

Easter Showcase, where reed-thin forward Val Acuña was named MVP.

UST GROWLING TIGERS

By: Mike Abasolo

July 5, 2009


2008 Record: 6-8, Fifth Place

Head Coach: Pido Jarencio (4th Year with UAAP Season 69 Championship on his rookie

year)

Key Additions: Eddie Aytona, Marco Cam, former multi-awarded Letran Squires Darrel

Green, Andrew Felix, Rushdy Hadi, Jerick Teng, Aljon Mariano, Aljohn Ungria.

Holdovers: Carmelo Afuang, Jeric Fortuna, Dylan Ababou, Clark Bautista, Chris Camus,

Allen Maliksi, Khasim Mirza

Key Losses: Francis Allera, Jervy Cruz, Japs Cuan, Mark Canlas, Mel Gile, Carlos

Fenequito, Jackson Wong, Chester Taylor.


Background: I t will be a Renaissance year for Coach Pido Jarencio as he enters the

season minus Jervy Cruz, a vital piece in their title run in Season 69. More than half his

roster will be composed of rookies, a change, and welcome or not, he has not

experienced since he took over as coach of the Growling Tigers. He will have the

benefit of finally putting his stamp on a team that is already an ideal destination for

players demanding for a lot of playing mileage.

Key Changes: Coach Jarencio will be without a player that has dominated the slot in

the middle throughout his collegiate coaching career. He will also be surrounded with

sophomore court generals that have tasted his wrath during their freshman year.

Remember, he has posted a post game comment during the course of Season 71

painting Jeric Fortuna as the pont guard of the future for the Growling Tigers. The

chance to prove that declaration for both ward and coach will be put to the test this

season.

Outlook: 6′3 Dylan Ababou, 6′4 Khasim Mirza and 6′3 Allen Maliksi form the most veteran

front court trio in the UAAP. They have the size and skill to create, single coverage and

rotate with anybody in the league. They are wingmen in a power forwards body that

can space the floor, run on the open court, penetrate and rebound on occasion to

counter their lack of bulk in the shaded lane. Wide bodied rookie Darrel Green,

talented fresh from the block, Jeric Teng and the rest of the colt pack will have to earn

their minutes with the vast amounts of playing time that Coach Jarencio is willing to spill

this Season 72 for these young hopefuls.

Prognosis: Coach Jarencio loves surprises. I t‘s been his calling card since Season 69. He

loves playing the low-key and would like to maintain that status quo and it might just

work this Season 72 to his advantage.

Ababou new Tigers main man By Cedelf P. Tupas

11 July 2009


FOR A CHANGE, UNIVERSITY OF SANTO Tomas‘ offense will not revolve inside the paint

this season.

Such is life without banger Jervy Cruz, the MVP two years ago, who spearheaded the

Tigers‘ improbable title run in 2006.

But the Tigers remain a darkhorse, thanks in large part to versatile Dylan Ababou, tipped

as one of the finest amateur swingmen today.

―Dylan will be the cornerstone of the team,‖ Coach Pido Jarencio said of Ababou, who

played for the national developmental pool in the Fiba-Asia Champions Cup in the

summer.

―We will be more of a running team this year. We played a more deliberate style the

past two years because of Jervy.‖


Jarencio infused eight rookies into the lineup with former Xavier School star Jeric Teng

and former Letran Squire Darrel Green as the most notable prospects.

―He‘s really a big help for us,‖ Jarencio said of the 6-foot-1 Teng, whose father, Alvin,

was a PBA star in the 1990s. ―He‘s a physical player and I think that‘s what our team

needs.‖

Though the Tigers boast one of the tallest swingmen combinations in the league in 6--4

Khasim Mirza and the 6-3 Ababou, their lack of ceiling in the frontline seems to be a

concern for Jarencio, who is expected to make the burly 6-3 Green his starting center.

But Jarencio said his team‘s deficiencies have given the Tigers more reason to embrace

his tested ―3Ps‖ formula ―pride, puso, palaban (heart, fighting spirit).‖

Ababou gets his final shot at MVP glory By Marjorie Gorospe

3 July 2009

INQUIRER.net

University Santo Tomas star cager Dylan Ababou admits he dreams of becoming MVP.

He gets one last shot at making that dream a reality in his final season with the Tigers.

―I have always dreamed of being MVP and I am now at that stage where I don‘t know

what to do anymore,‖ the six-foot-three forward revealed in an interview.

Ababou acknowledged the fact that the Tigers are currently in a ―rebuilding‖ phase

and not as strong three seasons ago when he and teammate Jervy Cruz led UST to an

inspired championship versus Ateneo de Manila University.

Incidentally, he was awarded the Sixth Man award that season for his contributions to

the Tigers‘ cause off the bench.

He isn‘t counting much on nailing that coveted prize but he opens his final season

carrying with him a ton of experience, thanks to his stint with Smart Gilas national squad.

Ababou is part of the three-year Smart-Gilas developmental program along with other

collegiate standouts in a bid to reclaim basketball glory for the country in international

tournaments.

The senior Behavioral Science, though, said he likewise depends on his teammates as

much as they depend on him

―My strength always comes from the team and I don‘t feel so much pressure since

people know that we‘re in the process of rebuilding our team,‖ said Ababou.

He added: ―Coach (Jarencio) always tells us to just do what he thinks is right and take

our proper places inside the court.‖


Ababou was part of the RP Youth Team when he was still in high school studying at

Sienna College in Quezon City. Distance-wise, it wasn‘t that far from where he would be

playing ball in college, encouraged by a former teammate to try out for UST.

On playing for Smart-Gilas, he considers himself privileged to be part of the program

earning him exposure in international play. He said he has learned to be flexible playing

different positions on-court

After UAAP, Ababou plans to finish his contract with Smart Gilas and then pursue a

professional basketball career in the PBA.

―But for now, I want to help my team. If other teams say ―one game at a time‖, we say

―one quarter at a time,‖ he said.

ADAMSON SOARING FALCONS

By: Christian Soler

July 6, 2009


2008 record: 3-11 (tied for sixth place)

Head coach: Leo Austria (second straight season, third overall)

Key additions: Arnold Basilio, Roider Cabrera, Eric Camson, Leo Canuday, Cris Sandoval

Key losses: Marc Agustin, Paul Gonzalgo, Rey Gorospe, Jeff Olalia, Junard Yambot

Holdovers: Lester Alvarez, Arnold Basilio, Jerick Cañada, Jan Colina, Michael Galinato,

Chesmar Lapitan, Janus Lozada, Aldrin Margallo, Alex Nuyles, Raymond Peñalosa, Ryan

Ruiz, Allan Santos

Background: After going 2-12 in 2007, the Falcons did ―better‖ a year after, winning one

more game. Adamson was expected to be, at the very least, more competitive last

season, especially after defeating University of the East in the first round of the

eliminations. Things fell apart, though, as coach Leo Austria‘s wards suffered setback

after setback, save of course from the infamous suspensions to Agustin and Gonzalgo in

the University of the Philippines game, one they lost by 31.

Key changes: All for the good, as they say. Young guns Cañada, Colina and Nuyles

return to the fold, while the old guard of Agustin, Gonzalgo and Yambot exit the fray.

The veteran spunk will be missed, but given the fact that the struggling University of Sto.

Tomas Growling Tigers won more games last season than Adamson the past two years

combined, it‘s high-time changes be made. Canuday‘s return is a double-edged

sword, and may prove to be this year‘s x-factor. I f the stubborn and erratic Bacolod

native comes out to play, Austria will have problems. However, if the poised and


versatile slasher returns, Adamson will be in good shape. Rookies Cabrera and Camson

are the most underrated in the league. Expect instant production from the duo.

Outlook: Austria is quite confident about his chances this year. ―The boys did well in the

summer leagues, and that‘s given them the extra boost they need coming into Season

72,‖ he says. At one point, the Falcons won eight straight games spread over two

summer leagues, taking apart De La Salle University, Far Eastern University and San Beda

College along the way. While summer isn‘t the UAAP, the likes of Galinato and Alvarez

upped their game further, and will complement Cañada and Colina. I f ever there‘s a

point of concern in San Marcelino, it‘s depth. Allen Etrone, King Importante and

Yambot would‘ve addressed this department but were ruled out for various reasons.

Prognosis: Adamson will be Season 72‘s surprise package. Austria had a weaker team in

2006 when he took the school to its first-ever Final Four. The Falcons should be up there

with UE and UST in the battle for the number four spot. And most likely, they‘ll emerge

victorious.

Falcons ready for Final 4 again By Cedelf P. Tupas

11 July 2009


THE CONFIDENT ADAMSON swagger, missing for the better part of last season, is back.

And Coach Leo Austria said his Falcons will have difficulty finding excuses if they fail to

barge into the Final Four for the first time since 2006 this season.

―This is a good opportunity for us to make it to the Final Four simply because many

teams lost their top players,‖ said Austria.

The return of veteran point guard and former juniors‘ MVP Leo Canuday has Austria

excited.

Canuday, sidelined by an elbow injury last season, returns to the roster initially as

backup for point guard Jerick Cañada.

Austria said he expects improved performances from Jan Colina and Michael Galinato,

who both saw action in the PBL as the Falcons try to fill the gaps left by Paul Gonzalgo

and Marc Agustin.

―I t‘s basically the same lineup as last season,‖ said Austria, who noted that rookies Ross

Cabrera and James Canson are taller than Gonzalgo and Agustin.


UP FIGHTING MAROONS

By: Sid Ventura

July 5, 2009


2008 Record: 3-11 (6th)

Additions: Gingerich, Moriah; Gomez, Carlo; Juruena, Mark; Padilla, Alvin; Reyes, Mikee

Subtractions: Agbayani, Jayfelson; Dela Victoria, Czarlo; Fortu, Don Carlo; Pajela,

Ronald; Sorongon, Paul

Holdovers: Astorga, Kevin; Braganza, Arvin; Co, Woodward; De Asis, Miguel; Gamboa,

Michael; Hipolito, Dionisio; Lopez, Mark; Maniego, Francis Miguel; Marfori, Santos

Andrew; Reyes, Martin John; Sison, Magi King

Background: After a rousing opening-day victory over NU, the Maroons‘ first in the UAAP

since September 2006, everyone got all giddy and hopeful for a decent showing in UP‘s

centennial year. Then reality set in and the team went on to lose 11 of its last 13 games.

The areas for improvement are obvious. The Maroons were the league‘s worst defensive

team last season, giving up 77.5 points per game. Not surprisingly, they were also last in

two key defensive statistics: steals and blocked shots. They also gave up the most points

off turnovers per game (18.9).

On offense, the statistics weren‘t any better. UP shot the worst from the field, hitting only

36.1% of field goal attempts, and had the fewest fastbreak points per game at 5.7

despite playing with three guards most of the time. The Maroons also didn‘t take care

of the ball, giving up 19.9 turnovers per contest. Only NU had a higher average.

But it wasn‘t all bad news. The Diliman dribblers were third overall in assists per game

(15.1), behind only UE (15.5) and eventual champion Ateneo (15.4), with Braggy

Braganza registering the highest individual assist-per-game average (4.1) league-wide.

And despite having a small line-up, UP was also third in rebounds per game (43.6). With

a team filled with shooters, it also wasn‘t a surprise that the Maroons averaged the most

perimeter points per game (29.6).

Jay Agbayani was the team‘s leading scorer, averaging 11.7 ppg. While this was more

or less a result of his being the most veteran player, it also spoke to U P‘s lack of reliable

scorers, since Agbayani is clearly not a very skilled offensive player. The next two top

scorers were shooter Martin Reyes (11.4) and forward Woody Co (9.1), both of whom

were wildly inconsistent and shot only 52% and 57% respectively from the free throw line.

Key Changes: With only Agbayani graduating and a host of recruits coming in, Coach

Aboy Castro cleared up roster space by cutting Ron Pajela, Czarlo Dela Victoria, and


Paul Sorongon. Additionally, shooter Don Fortu suffered an ACL injury last year and has

yet to fully recover, so he‘s sitting out this season as well. But it‘s not like any of these

guys will be terribly missed. For one thing, none of them is over six-two, and on a height-

challenged team like UP, they were natural choices to get pink-slipped. For another,

well, they weren‘t exactly lighting it up. Pajela (2.4ppg) became expendable after

Mikee Reyes came onboard. Dela Victoria (1.1 ppg) could shoot threes all right, he just

couldn‘t do it often enough. Sorongon (6.5 ppg) hit a couple of big shots to seal a win

over Adamson, but other than that, he was plain inconsistent.

Taking their places are guard-forward Moriah Gingerich, power forward Carlo Gomez,

forward Mark Juruena, guard Alvin Padilla, and point guard Mikee Reyes. Gingerich

stands around six feet and hails from Faith Academy. He can play the two and three

spots and is a pretty good defender. Gomez was elevated from Team B and should

provide help underneath, although he‘s not exactly the second coming of Nestor

David. Padilla is a transferee from San Beda who can play both guard positions, while

Reyes is a blue chip recruit out of La Salle Greenhills who impressed during the summer

leagues. Personally, though, I think Juruena was the biggest catch. This kid stands

around six-three and was the UAAP juniors MVP last year, and he can flat out play. I

expect him to be among the top five rookies in the entire league this coming season.

Outlook: Castro moved a step in the right direction by shoring up UP‘s frontline w ith the

addition of Gomez and Juruena. The three-guard lineup that was just abused on

defense last year should be a thing of the past, with Juruena capable of playing the

three spot and Gomez joining a rotation that includes veterans Magi Sison, Andrew

Marfori and Kevin Astorga at the four and five spots. Additionally, Woody Co and Diony

Hipolito can play both forward spots depending on the match ups.

Martin Reyes, Alvin Padilla, Migs De Asis, Miggy Maniego and Mark Lopez form a

decent rotation at the wings, while the point guard position will be manned by Mikee Reyes, Braganza and Mike Gamboa.

The key here will be Sison. For so long now, he has tantalized his coaches with what he

coould become, but he just hasn‘t been able to put it all together. Hopefully, his stint

with the Smart Gilas developmental team will have boosted his confidence. If the big

guy can deliver equally big numbers, and the outside shooting of the guards stabilizes,

UP could pull a few surprises.

Overall, though, the Maroons aren‘t quite there yet. Too many of the rookies will be

relied upon to produce major minutes, and the talent just isn‘t deep enough to

compete with the elite teams. There‘s also the question of chemistry. UP gambled by

using Mike Silungan heavily in the summer leagues, even though his stint this year was

still up in the air. As of this writing, the eligibility committee has already ruled against

Silungan, but university officials are preparing to launch a last-ditch appeal. Personally,

though, I think it‘s a lost cause, which means the Maroons will be entering the UAAP

wars without their go-to guy and leading scorer of the past several months. It will be

interesting to see how the team will adjust.


Forecast (Chances): Every year I get the same question from UP peeps: will we make it

to the Final Four? And every year I give them the same answer: if you honestly believe

that UP is better than at least four other teams, then yes.

This year? Not likely. I ‘d have to put Ateneo, FEU, and UE clearly ahead of UP. La Salle,

Adamson and UST won‘t be easy pickings either. The Maroons are good enough to

perhaps – and I really mean perhaps - win half their matches against the Archers,

Falcons and Tigers, and they‘re virtually a lock to sweep NU, but against the top three

teams it will be an uphill battle. I see UP finishing this season with a 6-8 record.

Maroons tougher this time By Jasmine W. Payo

11 July 2009


UNIVERSITY OF THE Philippines coach Aboy Castro has remained realistic of his team‘s

goals.

After chalking up three victories last year following a winless previous season, the

Maroons are out to put up a better fight with the acquisition of ace rookies Mark

Juruena and Mikee Reyes and the return of Martin Reyes, Woody Co, Mark Lopez and

Magi Sison.

―We want to be more competitive,‖ said Castro, who is mentoring the Maroons for the

second straight season. ―We mostly had double-digit losses last year, so we want to be

in closer games.‖

Juruena, the former Adamson Baby Falcons forward who bagged the juniors MVP last

year, shores up the Maroons frontline together with new recruit Carlo Gomez.

Also adding depth to the Maroons‘ backcourt are Mikee Reyes, a standout point guard

from La Salle Green Hills, Moriah Joel Gingerich from Faith Academy and San Beda‘s

Alv in Padilla.

―They give a bit more of height and quickness,‖ said Castro.

And with this season‘s fourth spot shaping up to be a wide open race, the Maroons vie

to pull off some upsets.


NU BULLDOGS

By: Sid Ventura

July 5, 2009


2008 Record: 2-12 (8th)

Additions: Cabaluna, Denmark; Donahue, Francis; Hermosisima, Kokoy; Malanday,

Larry; Roy, Ronald; Singh, Ajeet; Terso, Joseph

Subtractions: Aguilar, Raymond; Asoro, Edwin; Berry, Mark; Catamora, Chris; Dela Cruz,

Christopher; Galapon, Aaron; Garcia, Jessey; Jahnke, Jonathan

Holdovers: Jerome Tungcul; Kevin Batac; Michael Luy; Elmer Fabula; Mervin Baloran;

Jewel Ponferrada; Marion Magat; Mark Manito

Background: After a promising Season 70 campaign that saw the NU Bulldogs finish with

an impressive 6-8 record (including a key victory over Ateneo that helped pave the

way for La Salle‘s title run), Season 71 was supposed to be another step towards

respectability for the Sampaloc-based cagers. Yet despite a virtually intact core that

featured Edwin Asoro, Jay Jahnke, Raymond Aguilar and Jewel Ponferrada, the

Bulldogs instead regressed badly and finished dead last with only two wins to show. But

as is the norm for NU, one of those wins was over a contender, in this case eventual

third placer FEU, a result that eventually impacted the Final Four match-ups.

Asoro capped his brilliant UAAP career by leading his team in scoring (13.5),

rebounding (9.2), steals (1.1) and blocks (2.0). He also achieved the rare distinction of

not missing a single game in his five UAAP seasons. The downside is he will go down as

one of the most talented players to never have played in the Final Four.

Overall, the Bulldogs were second-to-last in point production with 64.6ppg, ahead only

of Adamson‘s 64.6. On defense, they gave up 10 more points (74.6), sixth-best in the

league. The gap could have been narrower – and the losses fewer – if only they had

shot better from the free throw line. While they ranked third overall in free throw

attempts (322, or 23 attempts per game), the Bulldogs were the worst free throw-

shooting team, hitting only 58.7% of their freebies.

The problem for NU was confidence and consistency, epitomized by a bench that at

times appeared overwhelmed. A number of their losses were by double digits, and in

many of them, the players simply imploded. And for all his wondrous talents, Asoro was

error-prone (he actually led the league in turnovers per game) and never really

developed into a go-to guy who could pull his team together at crunch time.


Key Changes: Asoro will be missed, no doubt. Aguilar (9.7ppg), Jahnke (8.7), and Jessey

Garcia (6.8) rounded out NU‘s top four scorers, and since none of them will be back this

year, Coach Manny Dandan will be basically overhauling his starting five.

New faces include guards Ajeet Singh, a transferee from San Beda, and ex-Bullpup

Joseph Terso plus big men Denmark Cabaluna and Francis Donahue. Ronald Roy,

Kokoy Hermosisima and Larry Malanday round up the list of rookies. With the loss of

Jahnke and Chris Catamora in the backcourt, Singh and Terso will probably see the

most minutes.

But the biggest change for this team came off the court. The SM Group bought a

majority stake in NU and poured serious money into the school‘s sports program. And

almost overnight, NU suddenly became a major force in the recruiting wars. Last

October, over 300 hopefuls showed up for a series of tryouts. In previous years, the

coaching staff was lucky if a fourth of that number tried out. The team now also tools

around in a brand-new air-conditioned bus, and their practice facility in the Mall of Asia

complex is a major, major upgrade over their old, well-worn gym. Clearly, better times

are just around the corner.

Outlook: All told, this is a very young and inexperienced team. With three playing years

under his belt, guard Michael Luy is already the most veteran player. Yes, they‘re that

young. The major prizes nabbed in those series of tryouts are still serving residency, so it

looks like another year of taking lumps, rolling with the punches and gaining

experience.

Dandan will be the first to admit he doesn‘t exactly have a powerhouse lineup. But he

actually likens this team to the one he had in 1998, when he had a bunch of young

players named Froilan Baguion, Jeff Napa and Gilbert Neo who would form the core of

the team that would go on to the Final Four three years later. And with funding no longer a problem, the school hopes it won‘t take three years this time around to make it

back to the post-season. At least that‘s the plan.

Forecast (Chances): I see the Bulldogs occupying the cellar again this year, and truth

be told, a 0-14 season isn‘t too farfetched. But I think they‘re good for a couple of wins,

and I ‘m betting one will once again come against a contender that will once again

shake up the Final Four seedings.


Bulldogs rebuilding underway By Jasmine W. Payo

11 July 2009


WITH THE DEPARTURE OF ITS TOP FOUR Scorers, National University tries to count on the

eagerness and energy of new talents this season.

―We lost the whole core, so this is a brand new team, a new breed,‖ said coach Manny

Dandan of the Bulldogs, who lost graduation main man Edwin Asoro and veterans

Raymond Aguilar, Jonathan Jahnke and Jessey Garcia.

Team captain Mervin Baloran, guard Michael Luy and big man Jewel Ponferrada hope

to fill in and lift the Bulldogs from their cellar position last year.

Also hoping to add spark to the Bulldogs‘ bid are seven rookies led by former national

youth team member Joseph Terso, Davao recruit Joseph Hermosisima and fomer San

Beda player Ajeet Singh.

―I ‘m sure everybody would like to step up,‖ said Dandan. ―The problem is how

consistent we‘ll be.‖

Dandan said the Bulldogs‘ rebuilding period is just starting after the family of mall

magnate Henry Sy bought the majority shares of NU.

Everything new for NU Bulldogs June 24, 2009


The National University Bulldogs always dwindled at the bottom of team standings in the

UAAP in recent years. This coming season, coach Manny Dandan isn't offering promises

from his rookie-laden squad.

Nonetheless, Dandan said it's always hard to predict the outcome come October since

all eight schools train hard and have their eyes set on winning the championship, or at

least making it to the Final Four.

"I consider all the team as heavy rivals since everything is new for us," said the long-time

NU coach.

The Bulldogs last won a championship in 1954 during the tournament's first expansion

with addition of Adamson, University of the East, Manila Central University and University

of Manila.

It has been a long title drought since for the Bulldogs, which produced PBA standouts

Danny I ldefonso and Lordy Tugade who played for NU in the 1990s.


According to Dandan, the Bulldogs have been training for eight months now, playing

tune up games and joining pre-season tournaments while undergoing extensive training

in Tagaytay Highlands the entire summer.

"We focused on rebuilding and conditioning the team, being the youngest team

perhaps (in the UAAP) as we are composed of rookies," Dandan said, adding NU will

primarily depend on their quickness in pushing the ball from the other end of the court.

He acknowledged, though, that a liability for the team is his players' lack of experience

playing against more veteran UAAP teams. But Dandan is optimistic of long-term

positive results from his current crew.

"There is no instant result but we hope that within four years we can be one of the

strongest teams in the UAAP," he said.

ON-SEASON ISSUES AND ARTICLES

Unity in diversity marks UAAP Season 72 By Izah Morales

12 July 2009


In yesterday‘s UAAP opening ceremonies, a mythical creature

became a unifying symbol for alumni and students who flocked to the Araneta

Coliseum adorned in their respective school colors.

The Big Dome was teeming with different hues of gold and black, yellow and green,

green and white, maroon and green, blue and white, red and white, navy blue and

yellow â€― representing eight member UAAP schools

But unity in diversity marked the opening ceremonies of UAAP Season 72.

Host school Far Eastern U gave a dashing performance as students, dressed in white

fitting garments, swayed to rhythm of the UAAP hymn.

―FEU is honored to host the UAAP, the birth place of good athletes. UAAP is an effective

way to solidify school spirit,‖ said Dr. Lydia Echauz, president of FEU, during her opening

address.

A student dressed as a ―sarimanok‖, bearing the colors of the eight member universities,

got the audience cheering as it hovered above during the ongoing performance.

―A sarimanok is a Filipino mythical animal. I t is a good symbol because all the colors

come together, which represents our one color, one goal theme,‖ said UAAP president

Anton Montinola.


Montinola and US ambassador Kristie Kenney did the ceremonial toss prior to the first

game between University of Santo Tomas and Adamson Falcons.

―I just enjoy sports. I t‘s always fun to watch and even better, it represents great school

spirit and friendship,‖ said Kenney, who admitted to being a basketball fan. ―Collegiate

sports in the US are very similar with the Philippines.‖

UST was also given recognition as last year‘s overall champion in both senior and junior

div isions.

Montinola, meanwhile, touched on the issue of game-fixing.

―I t‘s sad because we are in a collegiate basketball. We have to educate our players.

We won‘t tolerate any misbehavior and we‘re providing them enough security as we

can,‖ said Montinola.

Part of the UAAP‘s efforts to curb game-fixing is acquiring the best referees from

professional and amateur leagues.

―For the first time in history of UAAP, we have chosen the best referees from the PBL and

the PBA. The whole point here is that these referees officiate for a living. So if they

misbehave, their mother leagues, the PBA and the PBL will sanction them, and they risk

losing their career,‖ said Montinola.

Moreover, Montinola is hoping the other sports get more exposure aside from basketball

being the centerpiece event.

―We have moved volleyball to the second semester. Cheering competition is a big

event in itself. We hope to be able to develop other sports in the same way,‖ said Montinola.

―We will keep trying to improve the UAAP and cater to a wider set of sports,‖ he added.

Established in 1938, UAAP member schools are Adamson University, Ateneo de Manila

University, De la Salle University, University of the Philippines, National University, Far

Eastern University, University of the East, and University of Santo Tomas.


Tams ready to crash Eagles-Archers party By Jasmine W. Payo

7 July 2009


Last year's finalists and fierce rivals Ateneo and La Salle see a tough challenger in Far

Eastern University this time, making Season 72 of the men‘s basketball tournament a

three-way fight.

―We‘re a balanced team this year,‖ said FEU coach Glenn Capacio, who has already

won two pre-season championships for the Tamaraws after guiding Oracle Residences

to v ictory in the last PBL series.

While the defending champion Blue Eagles boasts a solid core, the Green Archers have

assembled this year‘s strongest rookie class.

―We have pretty much the same lineup coming back from last year, so there hasn‘t

been much problem as far as continuity is concerned,‖ said Ateneo coach Norman

Black, who can still count on reigning MVP Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Nonoy Baclao and Ryan

Buenafe.

―We‘re in the process of rebuilding for this coming season,‖ said La Salle mentor Franz

Pumaren, whose six freshmen include the highly touted Arvie Bringas.

―Hopefully the younger guys will be able to adjust right away to the collegiate brand of

basketball.‖

But University of the East, Adamson, University of Santo Tomas, National University and

University of the Philippines also look primed to challenge the three favorites.

―I think this season is a good opportunity for us to make it to the Final Four simply

because many teams lost their marquee players,‖ said Adamson coach Leo Austria.

―Let‘s see where we‘ll go…ingat na lang kayo sa amin (just beware),‖ said UST coach

Pido Jarencio.


Will blue -- or green -- be the dominant color for UAAP Season 72? July 11, 2009

Lifted from: GMANews.TV

Though defending champion Ateneo

and perennial powerhouse La Salle are

prohibitive title favorites, host Far Eastern

University looms as one of the tournament's darkhorse based on an

already solid line-up boosted by RP

youth mainstay RR Garcia and foreign

player Hippolyte Noundou.

Talent-wise, the Tams are a solid bunch

with its starting unit led by PBL veterans

and Smart-Gilas Pilipinas members Mark

Barroca, Aldrech Ramos and JR

Cawaling, Reil Cervantes and Jens

Knuttel.

Add a supporting cast that includes

Garcia, Noundou and Paul Sanga to

the mix and you got a championship

contender in the making.

Over at La Salle, Green Archers mentor

Franz Pumaren went into recruitment

mode and snared one of the most

sought-after high school standouts in

Arvie Bringas, the former San Sebastian

Staglet and 2008 NCAA Finals MVP.

Focus should also be given to the five

other schools after most of them

overhauled their team personnel hoping

to squeeze their way in for a Final Four

spot. This season is expected to be one

of the toughest semis races in recent

years.

Continuity

Despite losing guards Chris Tiu and Yuri

Escueta, and big men Mike Baldos and

Jobe Nkemakolam to graduation,

Ateneo coach Norman Black believes

the Blue Eagles can end Season 72 as

back-to-back champions.

Only Tiu will be missing from Black's starting unit last season with Season 71

Finals MVP Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Nonoy

Baclao, Jai Reyes and Ryan Buenafe

back for another tour of duty for the

blue crew.

"The core of the team is still intact and

I'm hoping that Eric (Salamat) will step

up on his game this year to fill in the void

left by Chris (Tiu)," said Black.

Black said that although Tiu may not

necessarily be the best player he had

last year, the veteran guard's

leadership, poise and basketball IQ

helped the team win the crown.

Black's bench will also be tested this

season with holdovers Bacon Austria,

Kirk Long, Tonino Gonzaga, Chris

Sumalinog and Nico Salva expected to

fill in the shoes vacated by Tiu and

company.

From scratch

La Salle would have to contend with the

absence of a legitimate big man to

patrol the lanes especially after the

sudden change of mind of veteran

forward Rico Maierhofer to join the PBA

draft next month.

Ditto the scoring prowess of JV Casio.

"I t's still the big problem of the team: We

don't have a legitimate center. Then we

lose Rico and JV so we're not really that


strong compared to our previous team,"

said Pumaren, who

Six new faces will be seeing action for

the Archers this year. Aside from Bringas,

the greenhorns are last year's UAAP

juniors MVP Sam Marata, former NCAA

Mythical Team member Martin John

Reyes, youth standout Jovet Mendoza,

Gabriel Banal, son of former Ateneo

mentor Joel Banal, and Joel Tolentino

from Reedley International School.

They will join hands with last year's

holdovers Simon Atkins, Peejay Barua,

Indonesian cager Ferdinand, Bader

Malabes, James Mangahas, Joshua

Webb, Maui Villanueva and Kish Co.

To prepare their rookie-laden crew for

the hostilities, Pumaren sent the Green

Archers to a two-week training camp

under Tim Grover, former personal

trainer to NBA legend Michael Jordan,

last April.

Pumaren, who will be assisted at the

bench by his younger brother and

former UE coach Dindo, said this training helped his players improve on their

indiv idual skills in shooting, decision

making in certain situations and

movements inside the court.

Rising star

Mark Barroca's sudden rise as probably

the country's top playmaker in the

amateur ranks has made the Tamaraws

of coach Glen Capacio one of the title

favorites this season.

But Capacio was quick to downplay the

Tams' chances, stressing that the

presence of Barroca alone is no

guarantee they will go all the way to

Promised Land.

"We have eight rookies and eight

veterans, balanse lang. Pero para

sabihin na ang lakas namin dahil

andiyan si Mark (Barroca) palagay ko

hindi naman talaga ganun kalakas,"

said Capacio, counting Ateneo and La

Salle as the teams to beat this year.

"Siyempre hindi naman kaya ni Barroca

na maipanalo ang laro mag-isa. Yes, no

doubt about it, he can lead this team

but still he needs the help of his

teammates," added Capacio.

As if heralding their readiness to bring

the championship back to their Morayta

campus, the Barroca-led Tams

captured the seniors' plum of the 2009

Nike Summer League in the pre-season.

Getting over the hump

Will the University of the East Red

Warriors finally get over the hump this

year after their recent heartbreaks?

It certainly looks promising, basing on

their successful campaign in the

Abunnasar Impact Basketball (AIB)-arranged tournament featuring

American junior colleges in Las Vegas

and the Ming Dao Cup International

Tournament in Taipei.

Also take into consideration the

experience gained by Paui Lee, Parri

Llagas, Rudy Lingganay, Ralph

Reyes,Val Acuna, Elmer Espiritu and

Hans Thiele in the Cobra team which

reached the finals of the Philippine

Basketball League's season-ending

conference.

These have made new coach

Lawrence Chongson upbeat despite

the graduation of James Martinez.


"Malaking kawalan talaga si James,

pero sa mga naging experience ng

mga players ko sa off-season, kayang

mapunan yung pagkawala n'ya," said

Chongson, citing Red Warriors

playmakers Lingganay, Lee, Paul Zamar

and Reyes as the players he expects to

step up their games this year.

The Warriors' training stint at the AIB in

Reseda, California - the same camp

that produced the likes of NBA stars

Jermaine O'Neal, Vince Carter and

Kevin Garnett - also helps mold the

team into winners, said Chongson.

"Napakalaking tulong nun para sa team

dahil bukod sa na-boost ng husto ang

morale ng mga bata dahil kami lang

ang Filipino team na nanalo sa

tournament na yun, na-appply pa nila

sa laro yung natutunan nila sa AIB," he

said.

Big shoes to fill

The departure of their prized slotman

Jervy Cruz created a big hole in the

roster of University of Santo Tomas, which aims to bounce back from their

dismal dip from champions in 2007 to

fifth place last year.

And after failing to find an able

replacement for their former MVP, the

Tigers of Coach Pido Jarencio focused

their training and preparation for the

coming UAAP wars on their running

game.

"Malaki na ang inimprove ng team mula

nang mag-umpisa kaming mag-training

last January. Yung butas sa gitna,

sisikapin na lang naming punan sa

pamamagitan ng bilis," said Jarencio.

Smart Gilas Team member Dylan

Ababou is expected to lead the Tigers

together with fellow holdovers Jeric

Fortuna, Chris Camus, Clark Bautista,

Khasim Mirza and Carlos Fenequito.

"S'ya (Ababou) yung magiging bagong

lider ng team. And hopefully, pagdating

ng UAAP hindi mawala yung shooting

n'ya at lalo pang mag-improve," said

Jarencio.

But aside from their run-and-gun game,

Jarencio said his three P's - "Puso, Pride

and Palaban" - will still be at work for the

team.

Fighting chance

Despite having seven new players in

their roster, the University of the

Philippines Fighting Maroons promised to

be competitive this season.

"We have seven new players but UP will

still compete and fight for our school

come UAAP," said second year coach

Aboy Castro.

For this year's hostilities, Castro is banking

on veterans Woodward Co, Martin Reyes, and Magi King Sison, who just

came back from a stint with the

national developmental team, to lead

the Fighting Maroons.

Reyes was the team's second-leading

scorer last year with an average of 11.4

points per game next to Jayfle

Agbayani, who already finished his

playing years with the Maroons. Co and

Sison had norms of 9.1 and 6.6 points,

respectively.

Backstopping the trio are point guard

Mike Gamboa, Arv in Braganza, Mark

Lopez and former juniors MVP Andrew

Marfori, as well as news recruits Moriah

Gingerich, Mikee Reyes, John Lao, Alvin


Padilla, Mark Juruena, Carlo Gomez

and Dodoy Equiplog.

Can this be the year?

After finishing at the tailend last season,

Adamson University Coach Leo Austria is

optimistic about his team's chances to

make it back to the Final Four.

"Apat na players lang ang nawala sa

amin from last year (Marc Agustin, Paul

Gonzalgo Rey Gorospe and Junard

Yambot), kaya sa tingin ko, this is a

great opportunity for Adamson to enter

the Final Four this year," said Austria.

Giv ing Austria the confidence is his

wards' performance in the pre-season

leagues as well as the return of veteran

playmaker Leo Canuday, who missed

the previous year due to a recurring

elbow injury.

"Sa nakita kong laro nila last year at

nitong nakaraang pre-season, talagang

naniniwala ako na kaya namin

makipag-agawan dun sa no. 4 slot,"

said Austria, who installed defending champion Ateneo, runner-up De La

Salle University and host Far Eastern

University as the teams that will possibly

occupy the first three slots in the

semifinals.

"Yung pang-apat, may laban kami

dun."

Austria will be relying on holdovers Jan

Colina, Lester Advarez Jerick Canada,

Michael Galinato, Allan Santos,

Alexander Nuyles and Chris Sandoval.

Laying the foundation

With a loads of newcomers in its line-up,

National U coach Manny Dandan

admits his Bulldogs' fangs won't be sharp

enough to bring down the top dogs this

year.

"We're not hoping nor aiming for an

instant result but as I can see it, we can

be one of the strongest team in the

league in the next two to three years,"

said Dandan.

For Dandan, lack of experience will be

their biggest drawback this year.

To try to offset this, he sent the team to

an eight-month training session in

Tagaytay and had them play tune-up

matches and compete in the summer

leagues.

"We just focused on conditioning the

team since we are perhaps the

youngest team in the league," said Dandan.

The Bulldogs will parade seven rookies,

led by Kokoy Hermosisima, a prized find

from Davao whom Dandan considers

the rookie to watch for his team.

The greenhorns are expected to be

guided by returning players Michael Luy,

Jerome Tungcul, Mervin Baloran, Joseph

Terso and Jewel Ponferrada.


What Will Happen To Andy Barroca? By Tony L. Atayde

Sep 18, 2009


For the last 3 years Far Eastern University has been plagued by doubtful events involving

key players. First it was Gerilla, who was unceremoniously cut from the team after

suspicions of unscrupulous behavior were discovered.

Last year, it was the unfortunate and dastardly shooting of Mac Baracael that shocked

the entire league. Up to today, nothing and no one has been even slightly uncovered

anything regarding this criminal act.

Now the case of Andy Barroca, a player who was expected to tear up the league

especially after his tremendous showing during the Smart Gilas games, is the talk of the

the Final Four. As of today, Barroca is not even sure if he will suit up for the Tamaraws for

their Final Four game against UE.

Allegedly, there were very strong suspicions that Barroca was deliberately playing

below his usual level in the last FEU game against Ateneo. FEU needed to win by 5

points to secure the no. 1 slot in the standings. After 3 and 1/3 quarters, FEU was up by

18 but collapsed and saw Ateneo steal the game and the no. 1 spot from them.

Apparently, the play of Barroca elicited suspicion from the FEU Management and

Coaching Staff. He scored only 8 points and his lackluster performance; especially in

the 4th quarter was not something that the coaching staff felt was something that was

normal behavior for Barrroca.

Is the suspicion justified? Is Barroca getting the short end of the stick here? Did he really

tone down his game and allow Ateneo to catch up and eventually win the game?

In all this, I believe that Barroca is being treated unfairly. If there is no solid proof of the

allegations, then the suspicion is not enough. All players have bad games and this

could have just been the case with him. He has steered the Tamaraws to the longest

winning streak of the season and I don‘t think one game can change that.

Besides, Barroca was not alone on the team. Cawaling, Ramos, Cervantes and Garcia

were also responsible for letting that 18 point lead slip away. Why put the blame solely

of Andy Barroca?

If the allegations are true, then it is the responsibility of the FEU management and

coaching staff to obtain undeniable proof and if that is obtained, then he should be

punished to the full extent of the law. I t is sad to note that FEU has not even had the

slightest progress in the Baracael incident, which almost cost him his life.

However, if these are all just suspicions, FEU will be destroying the future of this young

man. Barroca has a bright basketball future ahead of him. He showed his ability to play


international competition with Smart Gilas. Even foreign coaches and players were

extremely impressed with him. He has a definite lucrative PBA spot awaiting him.

However, all this could be lost if FEU decides to take him out of the team based on

suspicions alone.

In fairness to FEU, they still have not made a decision on the matter and there are

heavy deliberations on the actions to be taken. This situation is not easy for FEU and

they have to do this in a fair and sober manner. I am sure Mr. Anton Montinola will

decide in a fair manner regading Andy Barroca.

If these are all suspicions, his reputation will be forever tarnished and will always bring

doubts to any team that may want his services. His whole basketball career is now in

the balance. I t is common knowledge that players suit up for the UAAP and the NCAA

with the goal of making basketball their career. They don‘t go to school to be engineers

or accountants but rather go to school to show their wares and eventually end up in

the PBA.

If the allegations against Barroca are true then it stands to logic that the gambling

syndicate would be behind it. If this is true, then Barroca is more a victim than a culprit.

After what happened to Baracael last year, who allegedly did not want any part of the

gambling syndicate, Barroca may have feared for his life too. I f the gambling

syndicates were behind it, then Barroca is not the problem but the entire league is to

blame for allowing this open secret to keep thriv ing.

I have always liked Barroca and I honestly do not believe that he would involve himself

in game fixing. I hope that the FEU Management and Coaching Staff handle this matter

fairly, after all, the future of a young man with so much potential is at stake.

Coach heads Barroca ‘rescue’ By Beth Celis

September 20, 2009


LET‘S CALL him the inquisitor, this veteran colleague who has been asking me why

Cuban boxing coach Dagoberto Rojas was dropped by the Abap after the training of

the five Filipino boxers in Havana, Cuba, and just before the World Championship in

Milan, I taly.

He just couldn‘t see the logic. He strongly feels the presence of Rojas in Milan was vital.

It could have made the difference, he said, between a medal and an empty

campaign.

I finally got some answers for the Inquisitor regarding the Cuban coach. However, when

he called Saturday, the scribe was no longer interested in boxing. His attention had

turned to basketball – to be specific, the UAAP.


This time he wanted to know where beleaguered FEU cager Mark Barroca might be

holed up, after disappearing from the living quarters inside the FEU campus where he

was moved. Previous to this, Barroca was lodged with his other teammates at the

second floor quarters of the FEU gym.

Whether he was moved out of the campus for security reasons or to be isolated, no one

can tell for sure. But witnesses are now talking of what they perceived to be a rescue

mission successfully implemented last Thursday night with only a few students left inside

the campus and only some late classes ongoing.

The leader of the mission was a coach, described as tall and fair-skinned, based on the

investigation conducted by the Inquisitor, who said that the rescuers could have acted

with the blessings of Tamaraws team manager Anton Montinola, although this seemed

unlikely.

―I t could be that he was just ―escorted‖ to a safer place. Maybe they don‘t want a

repeat of what happened to Tamaraw Macmac Baracael last year,‖ said the Inquisitor.

As every UAAP follower now knows, Barroca was suspected of being involved in game-

fixing after his numbers plummeted in a number of crucial games.

―But we‘re only talking of one game here, minsan lang sumama ang kanyang laro

against Ateneo. I sn‘t Mark entitled to an offnight?‖ asked the Tamaraw‘s manager Ed

Ponceja.

―Mark has been severely distraught because of the allegations. He has been crying like

a child. He wanted to go home to Zamboanga, but I advised him against it. I offered

my home to him, but he said Las Piñas is too far.‖

Ed said Mark was temporarily staying with a mutual friend somewhere in Quezon City. He did not reveal who had fetched the cager from the FEU campus last Thursday night.

By Friday, the cager had reported back to the regular workout of the Smart Gilas

developmental national pool.

―What happened to him is psychologically traumatic, and being in FEU surroundings

only aggravates his emotional condition, that‘s why we decided to move him out

temporarily,‖ Ed said. Hours before the game against UE, he knew that Mark was not

going to play. Or was not going to be asked to play.

The Inquisitor said Barroca leads FEU in scoring, assists and steals.

According to Ed, his ward is working for a degree in sports education and needs only 30

more units to graduate.

HOOPVINE: Meanwhile, an Ateneo alumnus from a giant television network is

concerned about the one-game suspension slapped on Nico Salva who, he said, only

retaliated after being provoked by an FEU cager. ―Paano ba naman, nangungurot,

nairita si Nico,‖ he said… The UAAP board was supposed to meet on an appeal filed by

Ateneo three days ago.


Barroca breaks silence, denies charges By Joey Villar

September 21, 2009

Lifted from: The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - Mark Barroca, dropped from the FEU roster in the face of game-

fixing allegations, finally came out in the open to clear his name.

―Nais ko pong malaman ng lahat na malinis po ang konsensya ko, at wala po akong

alam na maling ginawa (I want everyone to know that my conscience is clean and I

did nothing wrong),‖ said Barroca in a text message from agent Ed Ponceja.

The 23-year-old Barroca, also a mainstay of the Smart Gilas Pilipinas team seeking a

berth in the 2012 London Olympics, was recently removed from the Tams lineup for the

rest of the 72nd UAAP basketball season. The school said the move is a disciplinary

action for his alleged involvement in point-shaving or game-fixing activities.

Without him, FEU dropped a 74-84 setback to University of the East, enabling the

Warriors to force a do-or-die match for the second finals berth on Thursday.

Defending champion Ateneo made a return trip to the finals with an 81-64 rout of UST in

the other Final Four match yesterday.

Barroca, who averaged a team-high 12.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.6 steals

a game, also apologized to the team even as he thanked everyone who supported

him during his playing years with the Tamaraws.

―Sa aking mahal na coach at minamahal na teammates, kung di ko na-abot ang

inaasahan nyo sa akin (To my beloved coach and teammates, for my failure to meet

what you expect me to do),‖ said Barroca.

―Wala pong Mark Barroca kung walang pagkakataon na ibinigay sa akin ang FEU na

makapaglaro sa UAAP (There would be no Mark Barroca if FEU didn‘t give me the

chance to play in the UAAP).

―Good luck at prayers po sa FEU sa Final Four (Good luck and my prayers are for FEU in

the Final Four),‖ he added.

Barroca said he would concentrate on his stint in the Smart Gilas Pilipinas team, which is

coached by Serbian Rajko Toroman.

―Sa SBP, bigyan nyo po ako ng pagkakataon na maglaro sa Smart Gilas Pilipinas para

makapagsilbi sa bayan. Ito lang po ang aking ninanais ngayon at sana wag naman

ako pigilan nino man (To SBP, please give me an opportunity to play for Smart Gilas

Pilipinas so that I can serve the country, this is what I want and I hope no one would

stop me),‖ he said.


Barroca also said he respects FEU‘s decision to sack him.

―Ako po ay lubos na nalulungkot sapagkat hindi na ako makakapaglaro sa FEU at sa

UAAP. Pero nirerespeto ko po ang desisiyon ng FEU para sa sabi po nilang kapakanan

ng team at ng unibersidad (I ‘m deeply saddened knowing I would no longer play for

FEU and in the UAAP. Nevertheless, I respect the decision of FEU for what it said was for

the sake of the team and the university),‖ he said.

Barroca also asked FEU to allow him to finish his studies using his athletic scholarship,

which was already granted the day before.

―Kay sir Anton (Montinola) at sa FEU, bigyan nyo po ako ng pagkakataon tapusin ang

aking pag-aaral sa FEU bilang skolar dahil ito po ang aking banal na pangako sa aking

ina nung ako po ay umalis sa Zamboanga para makipagsapalaran sa Maynila (To sir

Anton and FEU, please give me a chance to finish my studies as a scholar because this

was my promise to my mother when I left Zamboanga to go to Manila),‖ he said.

―Matatag naman ang aking kalooban ngayon, at naniniwala ako sa pagsubok na ito

ay magiging mas mabuti akong player. Hindi po ako aayaw, hindo po ako titigil

magsumikap (I know I‘m strong inside and I believe that this obstacle will make me a

better player. I will not back down, I will not stop working hard),‖ said Barroca.

Ex-Tam playmaker to graduate from FEU September 20, 2009


The warning signs were there before the start of the season.

Now, the UAAP is confronted by the demons of game fixing as allegations swirled that

the illegal trade was all over the controversy surrounding guard Mark Barroca, who,

according to Far Eastern Saturday, had played his last game as a Tamaraw.

"He will still be a student scheduled to graduate [on] October 2010 [but] he has played

his last game for FEU," said athletic director Mark Molina.

FEU's postgame announcement came a day after the player's agent, Ed Ponceja, told

the Philippine Daily Inquirer that Barroca was still very much willing to suit up for the

school because he was still "a Tamaraw by blood."

The statement also came on the heels of an 84-74 defeat to University of the East

Saturday that forced a sudden-death showdown between the two traditional college

basketball powerhouses for a UAAP championship slot.

While no exact reason was given out, the school officials were hinting at game fixing

when they confirmed an Inquirer report that the Tamaraws had decided they were

better off continuing their quest in Season '72 without the Smart Gilas RP developmental

pool standout.


"Members of the team expressed dissatisfaction with his play [and] we spoke to

everyone in the team indiv idually," Molina said. "The decision was made that the best

thing to do for FEU is to play without Mark."

When asked if that meant the team was alleging that Barroca fixed games, Montinola

said: "What was discussed was the statistics [of Barroca], and statistics don't lie. We

have all the statistics and you're welcome to review it. We're not talking about one

game."

Last Friday, the Inquirer -- citing a source who was immediately informed by a team

member of the result of an informal straw vote -- came out with a story that the Tams

had decided to play without Barroca, citing the dip in his performance in recent

games.

Barroca is currently staying at the home of his agent, who said they would release a

statement on Monday.

For the meantime, Barroca will focus on his studies, his agent said, and his stint with the

Smart Gilas five. Barroca has started practicing with the Smart Gilas team.

"We have been in close communication with Smart Gilas the whole week to make sure

that Mark is well taken care of," said Molina

The Inquirer came out with a four-part series before the start of the UAAP season about

game fixing and several officials, including a former player, explained that the illegal

trade had gone big in the college ranks and needed to be dealt with immediately.

But the lack of a firm UAAP response gave rise to speculations early in the season that something big would explode during the tournament.

"We have to deal with that accordingly," said Montinola. "The UAAP is very popular.

There are a lot of temptations. We just have to keep advising our players. But there's no

guarantee that it won't happen again."


FINAL FOUR PLAY-OFFS

UAAP Final Four survival guide By: Christian Soler

September 14, 2009


FOUR down, four to go. Collegiate hoops reaches fever pitch when the calendar strikes

September, thanks to the UAAP Final Four. Since its inception in 1994, the country‘s

abridged version of March Madness has arguably become the most exciting of sporting

spectacles.

This year promises to be just as compelling. Just what will it take for the remaining four

teams to take that extra step towards the summit of Season 72?

(1) Ateneo de Manila University [13-1] vs. (4) University of Santo Tomas [6-8]

The lowdown: Ateneo is the first team in league history to follow up a 13-1 slate with yet

another 13-1 record. The Blue Eagles are on a school-best 10-game win run, and have

repulsed almost all challengers [see University of the Philippines] both with their inside

play and outside proficiency. While reigning Most Valuable Player Rabeh Al-Hussaini is

putting up slightly lower numbers from last season, it hasn‘t been a concern at all,

simply because he‘s gotten even more support from the likes of Eric Salamat, who‘s

stepped up big in the second round, Nico Salva and Emman Monfort off the bench.

UST, meanwhile, makes its way back to the semis after a yearlong hiatus. Its recent run

of form, though, is poor, at best. Losing three straight – two by double-figures – isn‘t how

anyone would want to perform heading into the playoffs. This isn‘t to take away the

stellar play of that terrific Tiger troika of Dylan Ababou, Khasim Mirza and Jeric Teng,

who account for 55 percent of UST‘s total offense.

Ateneo will win if it shackles the Growling Tigers‘ fastbreak attack. Coach Norman Black

is known more for his defense, and it‘s been on display all year. The Katipunan quintet

holds opponents to a league-best 34.7 percent shooting from the field. The Tigers will

most likely run on Sunday as any shot put up with less than 12 seconds on the clock

comes off as a mortal sin. To add to that, UST has been uncomfortable on the half-court

set for much of the year. Stopping that fastbreak is an automatic ticket to the finals and

a bit of payback for 2006.

UST will win if Ababou, Mirza and Teng all click offensively. Since other offensive options

[most notably Clark Bautista] haven‘t seen that much action this year, the offense really

has revolved around these three weapons. If one of them has an off day [i.e. 30

percent shooting from the field], UST will be in for a long summer, which surely won‘t

include stints in preseason tournaments if Pido Jarencio sticks to his summer habit of

skipping them.

The x-factor: Rabeh Al-Hussaini. He lives for the big moments, and there‘s no bigger

stage than the postseason. Going to Al-Hussaini early in the game is of paramount


importance for two reasons: 1) UST loves to employ a zone defense, so going inside will

force that D to cave in, which will most likely free up Salamat, Jai Reyes and all those

outside backbreakers, and 2) the Tigers‘ bigs aren‘t really big. In that zone, the primary

guy who‘ll bang bodies with Al-Hussaini is Chris Camus, who gives up three inches and

tons of experience. The Growling Tigers have placed Mirza at the post several times, but

that would be suicidal.

Denying that entry pass to the post thus becomes crucial. Mirza leads a cast of ―plastic

men‖ who are long and lanky. They‘ll need to do the little things, like raise the ir arms

while sitting on that zone, to prevent the easy inside pass.

What will happen: It‘ll be shocking to see UST extend this series, and cardiac should

Ababou and friends dethrone the reigning champions. Ateneo in one.

(2) Far Eastern University [11-3] vs. (3) University of the East [10-4]

The lowdown: The Tamaraws were a quarter away from getting the opportunity to

avoid facing the league‘s second-hottest team in the Final Four, but imploded in the

final 10 minutes against Ateneo on the last day of elimination round action. But we all

know FEU can do better. Andy Barroca and RR Garcia form an explosive backcourt

tandem, while Aldrech Ramos [11.5 points, 11.6 rebounds a game] is the only certified

double-double asset in the league. They‘re also one of a few teams who can play both

man and zone defense effectively, and are tops in the UAAP in clamping down on

perimeter points, giving up just 21.7 a game.

As mentioned, UE is peaking at the right time. Its six-game win run is the longest since

2007. Paul Lee, Elmer Espiritu, Pari Llagas and Val Acuña have given the Red Warriors

that scoring punch they lacked last season, when not a single player averaged in

double-figures. These four veterans are thriving in coach Lawrence Chongson‘s ―free-

flowing offense,‖ which some pundits have simply referred to as a ―no system offense.‖ Whatever it is, it‘s working, as Recto‘s pride commit the least number of turnovers a

contest at 16.6.

FEU will win if it shoots the ball more accurately. The contrast is staggering. In the

Tamaraws‘ three defeats, they‘ve shot an average of 36.4 percent from the field [75-

for-206, to be exact]. In 11 wins, they‘ve hit 44.5 percent of their attempts. UE‘s defense

is stingy, though, so this won‘t be an easy task for coach Glenn Capacio‘s troops. On

the free throw line, meanwhile, FEU shoots a bastardly 61.8 percent – horrific for a team

that wants to go all the way [and for any team, for that matter].

UE will win if Llagas and the rest of the giants put up a fight on the boards. Most battles

that go the distance are separated by rebounding figures. UE gets outrebounded by

almost a full carom a game, and that doesn‘t bode well against an FEU five that allows

the least number of boards in the league [37.7]. The Red Warriors will prevail if they win

the ―war of the small stuff,‖ which means making second chance points, limiting

turnovers and rebounding well.

The x-factor: Depth. Let‘s pretend that Ramos gets to contain Llagas, Noundou shuts

down Espritu and Cawaling or Garcia shackles Lee. What happens to the UE offense? In


the same vein, what if Barroca and Ramos disappear? I t‘s make or break time for the

shock troopers of both units. FEU‘s bench has figured more prominently than UE‘s this

season, with Cervantes, Garcia and Paul Sanga all starting fewer than six games but

contributing substantially.

What will happen: FEU isn‘t a lock to beat the Warriors, and may have to do so on the

second try. Look for the game(s) to be tight, with the Tamaraws emerging from the

ruins.

As for a championship preview, let‘s wait. One step at a time, as that adage goes.

Keys to the Final Four By Patrick Leonard M. Mayo

September 18, 2009


AND NOW it‘s down to four. The time to separate the men from the boys.

The UAAP Final Four weekend kicks off Saturday afternoon and the four remaining

teams, all rich in basketball history, will be fighting for a ticket to the biggest stage the

finals.

The semis may look a bit different, with the absence of the De La Salle Green Archers,

but the intensity and excitement will surely not wane. What each team must do to be in

the championship:

Far Eastern University Tamaraws (2nd) vs University of the East Red Warriors (3rd)

In what is tagged as ―The Battle of the East,‖ these two are capable of battling it out for

the UAAP crown. They have always been in the Final Four the past several years, and

both are aching for that moment of glory.

FEU Tamaraws (Record: 11-3)

Keys to v ictory:

The ―Gilas‖ factor – boasting a line-up with three Smart-Gilas RP Team members – JR

Cawaling and Aldrech Ramos, the Tams need a solid game from these three to ward

off the UE Warriors.

Board domination – FEU‘s edge in rebounding, led by Ramos, the league‘s top

rebounder, will provide more scoring opportunities for the Tams.

Bench mob – Paul Sanga‘s three-point bombs and RR Garcia‘s instant offense must be

there if the Tams want to end the series quickly.

What‘s at stake?


The Tams have never been this realistically close to the championship since the Arwind

Santos era and anything less than a finals appearance would be a disaster.

UE Red Warriors (Record: 10-4)

Keys to v ictory:

Ride the momentum – The Red Warriors are among the hottest teams with their six-

game winning streak. They are peaking at the right time.

Big men play big – their solid frontcourt in Pari Llagas and Elmer Espiritu must show solid

numbers, as they are both playing in their final year. These two are capable of

challenging the Tams‘ rebounding.

Lee-Acuna Explosion – Paul Lee and Val Acuna should be able to give the Warriors a

boost. Lee‘s penetrations and Acuna‘s outside sniping should provide the inside-outside

threat they need to force a rubber-match on Thursday.

What‘s at stake?

The Red Warriors are looking for redemption. They nearly bagged the crown two years

ago after sweeping the eliminations but fell to the Green Archers. They have also lost

their twice-to-beat edge in the Final Four in the past. I t‘s been 24 long years since they

last tasted the championship and that was in the heyday of a young but already sharp-

shooting Allan Caidic.

Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles (1st) vs University of Santo Tomas Growling

Tigers (4th)

The finalists of Season 69 face off anew, this time in the Final Four. Ateneo-UST matches

have proven to be intense and exciting and memories of 2006 are still fresh in the minds of many.

Ateneo Blue Eagles (Record: 13-1)

Keys to v ictory:

Height advantage – Ateneo should use this advantage to pummel the Tigers inside.

They have the tallest player in the UAAP in Rabeh Al-Hussaini and the league‘s top

defender in Nonoy Baclao.

Slow win the game – They must control the pace and avoid playing the run-and-gun

game of UST.

Rabeh-lation – Losing one of the closest MVP races in history to Tiger Dylan Ababou,

Rabeh needs to show consistency and keep his cool especially with the referees.

What‘s at stake?

Among all, Ateneo has most to lose. They are gunning for back-to-back titles at a most

special occasion – their school‘s sesquicentennial (150th) anniversary.


UST Growling Tigers (Record 6-8)

Keys to v ictory:

―ATM‖ online: Dylan Ababou, Jeric Teng and Khasim Mirza should play a monster game

if they are to extend the series against the defending champs. Ababou may be the

MVP but one man can‘t do it alone.

Rain some 3‘s – The outside shooting of the Tigers must, and I mean must, click if they

want to have a chance. The backcourt tandem of Jeric Fortuna and Clark Bautista

should draw the defense outside with their three-point bombs.

Keep it close – The Tigers cannot afford to get blown out early in the game. They must

stay close to the Eagles as much as they can because in close, pressure-packed

games, anything can happen.

What‘s at stake?

Not only is it an MVP season for Ababou but also his last. There‘s no better way to end a

UAAP career than coming out as champion.

The Final Score: When 4th Means Everything By: Mico Halili

09/08/2009


If in place of basketball, Pido Jarencio‘s team played tennis, he would‘ve smashed a

racquet into pieces by now. How UST wasted two opportunities to clinch the fourth and

final semifinals berth is baffling. Two match points down the drain. Two match points the

Tigers wish they could have back. First, the Tigers lose to a La Salle team that hobbled

with a five-game losing skid. Then, the Tigers play as if blindfolded against Adamson

and lose by 19 points. So instead of nudging La Salle out of contention, UST commits

two unforced errors to give the Green Archers the lifeline they desperately need.

On Thursday, La Salle (5-8) meets NU (2-11) while UST (6-7) faces UE (9-4). The Archers

need to win over NU to remain in contention. All the Archers want is to reach the Final

Four. If DLSU makes it sliding face first and loses four front teeth in the process, so be it.

After a season characterized by lack of bankable experience and below-zero degree

shooting percentages, La Salle will feel blessed to make it that far. If reports are true

that this will be Franz Pumaren‘s last season as coach, since Pumaren is said to be

running for congress, then at least DLSU‘s string of Final Four appearances under him

remains intact.

The Tigers need to win over UE to evade the pressure of a knockout game. UST, after

losing to a skidding team and a team already out of the running, now faces the hottest

team in the UAAP not named Ateneo. If by chance NU beats La Salle, UST should offer

hospital services for free to all NU students and faculty. I ronically, I wouldn‘t be surprised

if neither Ateneo nor FEU are eager to face UST in the Final Four. Compared to the


Archers, the Tigers have dependable veterans (Ababou and Mirza), renegade

enforcers (Camus) and a consistent rookie (Teng).

If DLSU makes it sliding face first and loses four front teeth in the process, so be it.

After a season characterized by lack of bankable experience and below-zero

degree shooting percentages, La Salle will feel blessed to make it that far.

Yet, in their last two games, the Tigers played as if they dread playing in the Final Four.

Come Thursday, assuming DLSU defeats NU, UST chooses its destiny: either they join the

Final Four by beating UE or they drag a possible 3-game losing skid into a playoff

against DLSU.

UST and La Salle are forever connected in UAAP lore. The Tigers and Archers made the

UAAP Finals their annual tryst from 1994-1996. And every year, UST head coach Aric Del

Rosario sobbed unabashedly on the shoulders of his triumphant players in the end.

Since then, every UST-La Salle game has been played with distinct sense of history and

a different kind of fury.

Debts in the UAAP are never erased. Bragging rights are never kept in cold storage. Yet

again, the Tigers and the Archers duel for basketball credibility. Oh they‘re not fighting

for the championship. Not even a twice-to-beat bonus is at stake. They‘re battling to

stay in the hunt. They‘re scrambling to take number four because for most teams in the

UAAP fourth place is just as sweet as first.

Road to the UAAP Final By Joey Villar


September 19, 2009

Eagles’ claws are for offense, defense

MANILA, Philippines - They say offense wins games

but defense wins championships.

It should hold true for reigning UAAP champion

Ateneo, which topped the double-round elims

with a 13-1 (win-loss) record behind its no-

nonsense defense.

Based on the Smart Bro-powered stats provided for

by league statistician Imperium, the Eagles ranked

way ahead of the pack in terms of defensive

efficiency as they held their rivals to a league best

63.9 points a game.

Adamson and Far Eastern U were the only teams that came closest with norms of 67

and 67.4 points, respectively.


La Salle, last year‘s losing finalist but was booted out of the Final Four for the first time in

14 years, came in at fourth with 68.6 points.

So formidable were the Eagles‘ defensive fort that they often forced their opponents to

take poor shot selections.

In fact, Ateneo held its foes to norms of 34.7 percent from the field or just 327 shots of

the total 937. Three hundred fifty-two misses came from the two-point area with the rest

coming from behind the arc.

The Eagles‘ interior defense also proved intimidating, allowing just a league best 25.9

points, thanks mainly to the towering presence of last year‘s MVP Rabeh Al-Hussaini and

shot block artist Noy Baclao.

―Basically, in my years here, our strength has always been our defense,‖ said Ateneo

coach Norman Black.

Although the Eagles swept the Tigers in their two-game elimination round meetings this

year, it was the España-based squad that gave the defending champions the biggest

headache this season, next to University of the Philippines which inflicted the Eagles‘

only setback in the elims. UST not only scored the most points against Ateneo (77), it also

averaged the highest in terms of single game output (73.5).

But Ateneo found ways to outscore UST in both of their faceoffs though they‘re only No.

4 in scoring with a norm of 74.4 points, four below its rival‘s league best 78.8 average.

Despite its clear height and heft advantage, Ateneo has had mediocre numbers in

rebounding and inside scoring.

The Eagles averaged a seventh best 42.37 boards, trailing the Tigers who norm a fourth

best 45.04 rebounds and ahead only of the small National U side, which had 38.48.

Ateneo is also seventh in points in the paint with a 30.3-point norm, leading only arch

rival La Salle with 27.7 points and trailing No. 2 UST (33.4), No. 5 NU (31.1) and No. 6 State

U (30.7), all of which have smaller frontline compared to the defending champion.

The Eagles must also boost their bench scoring.

Ateneo is No. 4 in that department with an average of 27 points mainly because the

starters usually get the job done.

Ateneo also leads the league in assists with 15.8, second in perimeter points with 28.2

and free throw percentage with 69.9 percent behind UST‘s 28.7 points and 71.5

percent. The Eagles are also second in committing errors with only 16.9 next only to

University of the East‘s 16.6.


The Eagles are also impressive on number of block shots. They ended tied with the

Adamson Falcons, the Warriors and the Bulldogs in that department with 4.6 blocks an

outing.

Credit that to the defense-minded Baclao, last year‘s Finals MVP who is No. 2 in shot

blocks with an average of 2.5, just behind the high-leaping Elmer Espiritu of UE, who had

2.8.

Ateneo also has the league‘s best individual wing defender in Eric Salamat, who is tied

with UP‘s Alvin Padilla in steals with 2.1 an outing even though Ateneo is only No. 7 in

that department with a norm of 5.6.

The Eagles just couldn‘t wait to reassert their mastery over the Tigers and defend their

crown against the Tams or the Warriors.

New UE mentor starts from scratch

Coach Lawrence Chongson first act as coach of the University

of the East was to overhaul the system implemented by the

team‘s previous mentors that proved effective but wasn‘t

enough to bring the Warriors out of a 24-year UAAP limbo.

Chongson turned the Warriors from a defense-oriented squad

into a run-and-gun team with a free-flowing offense anchored

on the talented Paul Lee.

The system of former UE coach Dindo Pumaren nearly got the

job done as it led to six straight post-season appearances, including one highlighted by

a historic 14-game elimination round sweep two years ago.

But the hope of a breakthrough turned into despair and heartbreak as the Warriors

were swept by the La Salle Archers in the 2007 finals.

―In 24 years, we probably used every style in the book,‖ said Chongson, who had

coaching stints in the defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association and in the Philippine

Basketball League before calling the shots at the Recto-based school.

―So when I took over, I set them out to see the world, brought them to Disneyland in the

United States to have fun and see magic and maybe learn about it and use it to win a

championship in the UAAP,‖ he said.

The new-look Warriors made an impressive run and finished third overall after the

elimination round with a 10-4 mark they capped with an amazing six-game streak.

It included an emphatic rout of the Tamaraws in the second round last Aug. 23 when

Pari Llagas, Elmer Espiritu and Lee poured in 24, 20 and 18 points, respectively, to help

beat FEU, their Final Four foes.


UE would need the same efforts or maybe double it for it to pull the rug from under FEU,

which it needs to beat twice to advance to the best-of-three championship.

The Warriors have one of the league‘s most explosive offensive games built around Lee,

Espiritu, Llagas and Val Acuna as they averaged a third best 74.5 points an outing next

only to the Tigers 78.8 and the Tams‘ 74.5.

Lee, who is being strongly considered by Smart Gilas Pilipinas for inclusion to its

developmental team, led the squad in scoring (14.6 points), paced the league in assists

(4.9) and third in the team in rebounds (5.8 boards).

Llagas, for his part, is UE‘s third leading scorer (13.4) and leading rebounder and second

overall in the league (8.9) while Espiritu is its second best scorer (13.6), third best

rebounder (8.1) and the league‘s No. 1 shot-blocker (2.8).

Acuna, who was UE‘s best performer when it participated in a tough tournament in Las

Vegas early in the year, averaged 10.4 points and is the Warriors‘ leading three-point

shooter by making 26 conversions.

And true to his unique coaching style, Chongson brought the Warriors down south in

Mandaue City for team bonding and exhibition games during the weeklong break,

away from the pressures, distractions and excitement of a league in the grip of Final

Four.

Tamaraws’ triumvirate, backup crew up to the task

Far Eastern University‘s title bid would hinge mainly on how its

defense would hold and how its top players – Aldrech Ramos

and JR Cawaling – and the rest of the squad would respond in the absence of Mark Barroca.

The Tams‘ top playmaker has reportedly decided to leave the

team in the most crucial stretch of its campaign following

speculations that he allegedly held back his game towards

the end of the elims.

FEU finished second to Ateneo after the elimination round with

an 11-3 card on the strength of their fancied troika‘s (Barroca,

Ramos and Cawaling) tenacity and a defense that could rival that of Ateneo‘s, the

league‘s best defensive team.

The only problem FEU could face in the Final Four and in the finals, if it goes on to beat

UE, is where to go to at crunch time especially with Barroca out of the team.

Take for instance FEU‘s final elims match with Ateneo.


In that game, billed as a prev iew of this year‘s finale, the Tams built leads of as many as

17 points in the third quarter only to blow it after self-destructing in the last period for a

heartbreaking 73-74 defeat.

The setback also blew FEU‘s bid to snatch the top seeding in the post season although it

enjoy a twice-to-beat advantage against UE in the Final Four.

The reliable Barroca and the prolific Cawaling failed to dish out their usual best in that

crucial encounter with only the vastly improved Ramos showing up and coming

through with a double-double effort of 16 points and 16 rebounds.

Sources even said those solid numbers by Ramos were enough to net him the MVP

trophy had the Tams took that one.

Despite that loss, FEU coach Glenn Capacio remains confident that his veterans will

step up as they go up against the Warriors today.

―What can I say, they‘re my veterans and I will always have a faith in them,‖ said

Capacio, looking for his third Final Four appearance in as many seasons as coach,

referring to Ramos, Barroca and Cawaling.

Overall, the Tams remained formidable.

FEU‘s offense is one of the finest in the league with a norm of 74.9 points, second to

UST‘s 78.8.

It complemented the Tams‘ pressure defense, which is third best in the league when

they held down their foes to just 67.4 points a game, next to Ateneo‘s 63.9 and

Adamson‘s 67.

The Tams are at their best when they defend the wing, allowing only a second best 25.5

percent of their opponents‘ shots from the rainbow area, next to the Eagles (24.6

percent). The Morayta-based squad was also tops in limiting perimeter points with only

21.7 points.

―Of course, our defense is still our source of strength,‖ said Capacio, who has steered

FEU to a couple of pre-season titles but never on a stage as big as the UAAP.

However, the Tams would need to match or better these figures against the Warriors,

whom the former beat, 76-72, in their first round showdown last Aug. 9. But the Recto-

based team evened things up with an 87-72 rout in the second round last Aug. 23.

In that humiliating second round setback, FEU had no answer to the high-scoring trio of

Pari Llagas, Elmer Espiritu and Paul Lee, who erupted for 24, 20 and 18 points,

respectively.

But the Tams are expected to clamp down on UE‘s top gunners, clinch the win and

avoid going into a sudden death affair.


―We have to stop them, they‘re the ones who took charge when we lost to them,‖ said

Capacio referring to Llagas, Espiritu and Lee.

But if only Cawaling and Ramos could dish off the games expected of them and the

rest could step up at crunchtime, FEU will be hard to beat.

Tigers underdogs but can be ruthless

The Ateneo-UST Final Four match -up will be a clash of teams

with contrasting styles with the Eagles tipped to use their

dreaded defense against the Tigers‘ vaunted offense.

While Ateneo baffles its opponents with its league-best

defense, UST pounds its rivals with its free-wheeling offense that

is the best in this season.

In the Smart Bro-backed stats, the Tigers were clearly ahead in

points scored for by averaging 78.8 points, nearly full five points

ahead of the second running FEU Tams with 74.9 points.

Dylan Ababou, this year‘s MVP, proved to be the Tigers‘ chief gunner.

A mainstay of Smart Gilas Pilipinas, Ababou piled up stellar scoring norms of 18.9 points,

way ahead of last year‘s MVP Rabeh Al-Hussaini, who had 16.5.

The 6-4 Ababou is also the only player who churned out double-digit outputs in all 14

elimination round games.

His highest production was a 30-point explosion in a104-89 rout of National U in the first

round last July 16 while his lowest was a 10-point effort against FEU, 63-90, also in the first

round last Aug. 6.

Ababou also blossomed into all-around player, finishing joint eighth in rebounds with Al-

Hussaini with averages of 7.1 and has a 2.5-assist norm.

Khasim Mirza, who like Ababou is also playing his last season as a Tiger, is the other

reason UST‘s offense remains as fluid as ever with the 6-6 guard finishing sixth in the

league in scoring with an average of 13.5 points.

UST is also a force to reckon with in three-point shooting, draining the most triples by any

team this year with 102 conversions. Only Ateneo has a better percentage from long

range territory as it made 87 of 273 shots for 31.9 percent compared to UST‘s 102-of-344

clip for 29.7 percent.

The bulk of those triples came from UST‘s diminutive but sweet-shooting pair of Clark

Bautista and Jeric Fortuna, who buried 26 and 21, respectively.


Ababou, Mirza and rookie sensation Jeric Teng each hit 14 treys while injured Allein

Maliksi accounted for 10 triples.

But while UST frolics in offense, the same could not be said of its defense.

The Tigers allowed their rivals to score a season high 82.1 points a game and were even

beaten by weaker teams like the NU Bulldogs (75.3) and the UP Maroons (79.1).

While deadly from behind the arc, UST had a hard time neutralizing the opposing

teams‘ shooters, who had feasted on the team‘s defense with 108 triples and 31.6

perimeter points.

The Tigers also miserably failed in defending the lane, allowing an average of 33.3

points in a tie with the Warriors at No. 5.

But UST coach Pido Jarencio remains hopeful of the Tigers‘ chances against the Eagles,

citing their unforgettable title run in 2006 when they bucked overwhelming odds to

snatch the championship.

―We remained confident of our chances,‖ said Jarencio, whose team was swept by

Ateneo this year, 93-77 and 80-70.

―Remember 2006. We started with a 2-5 (win-loss) record but made it to the Final Four.

Needing two wins to advance to the Finals, we beat UE twice then we came back from

a Game One loss in the finals by winning Game Two and then Game Three in overtime.

―Now we‘re the No. 4 seed in the Final Four and back as underdogs. We‘re excited of

our chances again,‖ Jarencio said.

So are the Eagles.

ATENEO BLUE EAGLES – UST GROWLING TIGERS

SERIES

September 30, 2009

Araneta Coliseum

Ateneo Blue Eagles 81–64 UST Growling Tigers

Tigers eye survival against Salva-less Eagles By Alder T. Almo

20 September 2009

Lifted from: Inquirer.net

Manila – Overshadowed by the drama that surrounded the other Final Four pair, the

defending champion Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles and the University of Sto. Tomas

take the spotlight on sold out Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.


The second Final Four match pitting the title protagonists in 2006 is scheduled at 3:30

p.m.

Ateneo, which topped the eliminations with 13-1 record for the second straight year is

heavily favored despite the suspension on forward Nico Salva.

Salva was slapped with a one-game suspension after being caught punching Jens

Knuttel in their last game in the eliminations.

―Even without Nico (Salva), it doesn‘t really matter. We are still ready for them (UST). I t‘s

easier for me to motivate my players because they know the next game after this is

already the Finals,‖ Ateneo coach Norman Black told uaapsports.com in a phone

interview.

Salva averages a fourth-best 7.5 points and 3.8 rebounds on 17.2 minutes off the bench.

He was instrumental in slowing down this season‘s MVP Dylan Ababou in their first two

meetings.

The Tigers lost their first two meetings by an average of 11 points and barely made it to

the semis. These are the reasons why the odds are stacked against them.

Carrying the underdog tag, however, is no longer new for the Growling Tigers, who

once pulled the rug from under the Eagles back in the 2006 season Finals.

The wards of Coach Pido Jarencio have their heads shaven anew in a show of solidarity

heading to the Final Four. They have been living together in a room inside the UST Gym

since after the second round.

The Tigers would need a collective effort from the league‘s best individually gifted players. Ababou, Khasim Mirza and Rookie of the Year Jeric Teng must click all at the

same time to stand a chance at forcing a rubber match.

―Final year ko na ‗to kaya ibubuhos ko na lahat. Gusto kong umalis sa UST na may

magandang alaala,‖ Ababou said.

The key for the Tigers is to slow down Rabeh Al-Hussaini. They did this with a relative

success in their first two meetings but forgot about the Eagles‘ shooters.

Ateneo‘s second stringers Emman Monfort and Kirk Long torched them with career

games on both occasions, respectively.

In the event UST can pull an upset, the rubber match will also be played on Thursday in

the same venue together with the UE-FEU match.


Blue Eagles not haunted by 'Ghost of 2006' vs Tigers September 20, 2009


The Final Four matchup between top seed and defending champion Ateneo and

lower-ranked University of Sto. Tomas somehow brings back memories of their playoffs

showdown in 2006.

Back then, the Blue Eagles finished first at the end of eliminations and the Growling

Tigers third. They eventually met in the finals and the underdog squad from España Blvd.

stunned the favored Eagles, 2-1, after dropping the series opener.

To some, history could repeat itself, the "Ghost of 2006" could haunt the Katipunan-

based team yet again.

For the multi-titled mentor, it's all in the past, the circumstances and cast having

changed since.

"We could not really live in the past anymore," Black said. "It is irrelevant. They are

completely different teams (from 2006). Players present at that time are no longer in the

team and have moved on (with their careers)."

Since then, Ateneo has got the numbers of UST. They outclassed the Tigers in their one-

game playoff for a spot in the semis against eventual champion La Salle in 2007 (when

UE swept the elims for an outright finals berth). And over the past two years, the Eagles

swept their elimination encounters with the Tigers.

On Sunday at the Big Dome, Black intends to continue the trend.

"(Our) preparation (against the Tigers) is the same (as our last games)," said Black,

whose wards enjoy the win-once advantage in this semis pairing. "We are just going to

make sure we are prepared (for whatever defense they employ) and how we are

going to attack it."

He noted that the Tigers have been playing zone the last few games.

On their end, he said they intend to clamp down on the Tigers' aces, especially UST's

MVP Dylan Ababou, who has been, to borrow the words of coach Pido Jarencio,

"super" this year.

"He is definitely our concern," Black said. "We hope to limit him to his average and

prevent him from having a big game."

The champion mentor also took note of UST's other weapons such as Khasim Mirza, Jeric

Fortuna, and rookie of the year candidate Jeric Teng.


"They are not a one-man offensive team," Black pointed out. "But Dylan will be our

concern."

Despite being the best defensive team this season, the Eagles are also proficient on the

offensive end, having the best three-point percentage.

They could also match up with the España-based squad's running game, averaging

11.8 fastbreak points per game, just a shade shy of UST's 11.9.

"We will run with anybody," Black said. "We will run on every opportunity possible."

As the No. 1 team, the Eagles enjoy the twice-to-beat incentive in the Final Four,

meaning they can afford to drop the first game this Sunday at 3:30 pm. and still make it

to the best-of-three finals by winning the second game on Thursday.

But knowing Black and Co., the Eagles will definitely prefer to take the short route to the

finals. Unless the upset-conscious Tigers, coming off a three-game slump in the elims,

spoil their plans the way they did in 2006.

Eagles rout Tigers on way to final

By Joey Villar


September 21, 2009

MANILA, Philippines - Top seed defending champion

Ateneo put on a strong start and a stronger finish as it

outclassed University of Santo Tomas, 81-64, yesterday to

make a return trip to the finals of the 72nd UAAP seniors

basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.

Cheered on by the predominantly blue-clad supporters,

the Eagles jumped the gun on the fourth seeded Tigers

early and then unleashed a series of runs in the second

half to finish off their hapless rivals and roll to the best-of-

three finals starting on Sunday.

―Of course you never expect to win by a big margin but

you go into the game with the attitude to be the one to

jump at them,‖ said Ateneo coach Norman Black.

―We wanted to start it off with a good run because we didn‘t want to happen in this

game what happened the last time out against FEU,‖ he said, referring to their come-

from-behind win over the Tams that gave them the No. 1 spot in the Final Four.

This marked the seventh time Ateneo earned a trip to the championship round, winning

four titles along the way, including a sweep of arch rival La Salle last year.


Second seed FEU and No. 3 University of the East dispute the other final berth on

Thursday. The Warriors forced a sudden death for the other final berth by beating the

Mark Barroca-less Tams, 84-74, in their own side of the Final Four last Saturday.

Jai Reyes fired 17 points he spiked with three triples while Ryan Buenafe stepped up big

in the absence of Nico Salva, suspended for one-game suspension for punching FEU‘s

Jens Knuttel in their last game of the elimination round.

―Ryan (Buenafe) stepped up big time and we told him that he would have to do that

because Nico Salva is out,‖ said Black. ―Both he and Nico are normally the offensive

weapons and options for the second team so with Nico out, he became the No. 1

option. He really stepped up offensively, I think he also played pretty good defense for

the most part.

―I challenged Jai (Reyes) about four games ago and I told him that I hoped to see his

best at the end of the tournament. If you remember last year, he was really one of the

main reasons why we won the championship,‖ he said.

―I t‘s painful,‖ said UST mentor Pido Jarencio, who steered the España-based school to

the 2006 title on his rookie year as a coach. ―Probably the guys were pressured.‖

Smart Gilas Pilipinas standout Dylan Ababou carried the load for the Tigers again but

the Eagles‘ firepower proved too much for the Tigers.

The reigning MVP played his last UAAP game by pouring in 19 points and hauling down

eight rebounds with one assist.

UAAP Notes: Unlike the first Final Four match where there were empty seats, the

attendance for the Ateneo-UST duel drew a bigger crowd of 11,577 paying patrons...US Ambassador Kristie Kenney watched the game and brought along former Ateneo

captain Chris Tiu and fellow Smart Gilas Pilipinas player Japeth Aguilar...Alvin Teng,

called the Robocop during his PBA days, was in blazing yellow shirt to cheer for son

Jeric Teng, the talented rookie Tiger...Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny

V. Pangilinan was also in the crowd to support Ateneo.

The scores:

ATENEO 81—Reyes 17, Buenafe 15, Al-Hussaini 14, Baclao 13, Salamat 6, Long 6, Chua 6,

Sumalinog 2, Austria 2, Monfort 0, Gonzaga 0, Golla 0.

UST 64—Ababou 19, Mirza 14, Teng 10, Bautista 9, Fortuna 7, Afuang 4, Camus 1, Maliksi

0, Aytona 0.

Quarters: 22-16, 40-31, 63-44, 81-64


FEU TAMARAWS – UE RED WARRIORS

SERIES

September 30, 2009

Araneta Coliseum

FEU Tamaraws 74–84 UE Red Warriors

FEU Tamaraws 72–78 UE Red Warriors

Warriors ready for Tamaraws, with or without Barroca Lifted from: GMANews.TV

September 19, 2009

Whether or not controversial pointguard Andy Mark Barroca suits up for Far Eastern U in

the UAAP Final Four is the least of University of the East coach Lawrence Chongson's

concerns.

For Chongson, it would be the Red Warriors themselves who would make their destiny,

not Barroca and his reported falling out with the twice-to-beat Tamaraws.

"Irrelevant naman para sa amin kung maglalaro sa kanila si Barroca o hindi. Basta kami

we are fighting for our lives para makarating sa championship," said Chongson.

The Warriors would enter Saturday's Final Four hostility hot from a six-game winning

streak and their bond made stronger by a team-building session in Cebu over the

weekend.

For the host Tamaraws, the mission would still be the same with or without Barroca - nail

the first berth in the best-of-three championship series of Season 72 with one win over

the Warriors.

The Morayta-based squad posted an 11-3 mark in the two-round eliminations, yielding

the No. 1 position to Ateneo after their 73-74 heart-breaker to the Eagles. In that loss,

the Tams squandered an 18-point lead and Barroca struggled with a meager eight

points, all in the first canto, while committing four turnovers.

The 5-10 guard has since skipped the Tams' practices and on Thursday, his manager Ed

Ponceja announced that Barroca was leaving the squad. Ponceja said the

Zamboanga pride was disgruntled with what he felt were baseless accusations of

game-fixing from team officials.

FEU officials had kept mum about the matter and said they would issue their official

statement right before the 3:30 p.m. setto.

The two protagonists and U-Belt neighbors split their two meetings this season with the

Tamaraws prevailing in the first round, 76-72, and the Warriors hacking out vengeful 87-

72 rout last Aug. 23.


The winner of the FEU-UE Final Four pairing would meet the victor of the Ateneo-UST

semis match up. The Eagles, at No. 1, enjoy a win-once incentive against No. 4 UST

when they hit the court on Sunday.

Warriors force rubber match with Barroca-less Tamaraws September 20, 2009

Lifted from Ngetstudio.com

(GMANews.Tv)

University of the East rode on the hot shooting of guard Paul Lee to beat an Andy Mark

Barroca-less Far Eastern U side, 84-74, and force a rubber match in their Final Four

matchup Saturday in the UAAP Season 72 men's basketball tournament at the Araneta

Coliseum.

Lee fired four long triples in a telling 16-5 bomb that allowed the Red Warriors to

overturn a one-point deficit and erect an 84-74 cushion entering the final 1:21.

The veteran Lee, taking advantage of the absence

of the controversial Barroca and the inexperience of

FEU rookie guard Ryan Garcia, finished with a

career-high 26 points (six triples) along with eight

rebounds and seven assists.

"I 've been with him (Lee) for almost a year na. I've

seen those shots time and again from him. Siguro

ngayon it came at a very special time kasi our backs

are against the wall," said Chongson, whose No. 3

seeded Warriors would take on the No. 2 ranked

Tamaraws again on Thursday in a sudden death duel

to determine the qualifier to the best-of-three finals.

It was the seventh straight win dating back to the

eliminations for the Warriors, who also drew solid

games from veteran big man Narciso Llagas (19

points, 12 rebounds and one block) and Val Acuña

(17).

Aside from keeping their finals hopes alive, the Recto-based dribblers also made a

breakthrough in their otherwise fruitless Final Four stints the last 11 years.

"Coming in here, ngayon ko lang nalaman na first win pala ito ng UE sa Final Four since

1998," Chongson noted.

Barroca out of Tams' lineup


The Tams did not field in erstwhile team leader Barroca, who had a falling out with the

team over allegations of game-fixing, in their important showdown with their U-Belt

neighbors.

"With the objective of improving team chemistry, the FEU Tamaraws have decided to

play our Final Four game today without Mark Barroca," the team said in a press

statement issued before the game.

After the game, though, FEU athletic director Mark Molina said the Tamaraws had

altogether delisted Barroca from their roster for the remainder of the season and even

beyond.

"He won't play for the rest of the season, he probably won't play for the FEU Tamaraws

anymore," Molina said.

He stressed though that FEU is not kicking Barroca out of the school.

"The last time we talked with Mark, we told him that he'll still be a student. He's

scheduled to graduate October 2010 and his scholarship will remain until he finishes his

studies at FEU," said Molina.

Barroca had himself expressed his desire to leave the Tamaraws and instead

concentrate on his playing career with the Smart Gilas national team, according to his

manager Ed Ponceja.

But against the Warriors, it was apparent Barroca's leadership at the point was missed

by the Tams.

The player supposed to fill in for him, Garcia, was totally outplayed by Lee and his crucial error on an inbounds play and a missed a layup in the middle of the Warriors'

rampage proved costly for the Morayta-based crew.

The scores

UE (84) -- Lee 26, Llagas 19, Acuña 17, Espiritu 8, Reyes 6, Lingganay 4, Ayala 3, Tagarda

1, Zamar 0, Acibar 0.

FEU (74) -- Sanga 22, Garcia 16, Ramos 12, Cervantes 8, Cawaling 5, Noundou 5,

Manalo 4, Knuttel 2, Caluag 0, Eguilos 0.

Quarterscores: 25-18; 37-38; 62-55; 84-74.


UNBE-LEE-VABLE September 20, 2009

By: Joey Villar


University of the East leaned on a strong second-half effort by Paul Lee as it shocked a

Mark Barroca-less Far Eastern U, 84-74, yesterday and forced a winner-take-all match in their Final Four duel in the 72nd UAAP season at the Araneta Coliseum.

The winner between FEU, which carried a twice-to-beat advantage, and UE will

advance to the finals against either Ateneo, the No. 1 team in the elims, and UST. The

Eagles will go straight to the finals if they beat the Tigers today at the Big Dome.

Lee exploded with 22 of his career-high 26 points in the second half, unloading a

barrage of triples in the fourth quarter as the Warriors lived to face the Tamaraws anew

on Thursday and shoot for a slot in the best-of-three finals.

"Actually we've been doing these things since I took over, but people just always find

ways to frown on what we're doing when we were losing," said Chongson, whose

charges are now on a seven-game streak.

Chongson was all praises for his talented guard whom he assigned as the center of his

unconventional system.

"I 've been with him for almost a year and I 've seen those shots time and time again from

him. Maybe it came at a special time because our backs are against the wall, it's really

perfect timing," he added.

It also helped that Barroca was not allowed to play.

"Actually, I 've prepared for FEU. Remember we beat them by 15 points in the second

round with Barroca. I salute Barroca but then again I will not allow one player to beat

us," said Chongson.

It also didn't help that veteran guard Jens Knuttel pulled a hamstring during the game

and that Cameroonian rookie Pipo Noundou played with a hurting ankle.

"The team played well, our defense against Paul Lee in the first half was okay but we

couldn't stop him after that, he really hit many triples," said FEU mentor Glenn Capacio

in Filipino. "I'm satisfied with how we played. Defensively, we have to adjust.

"He (Barroca) is a big loss of course since he's really in our rotation plus the fact that we

lost Jens (Knuttel) -- that punched a bigger hole in our guard rotation and Pipo

(Noundou) played only 60-70 percent," he added.


At first, the game was a virtual shooting match between FEU's Paul Sanga and UE's Val

Acuña, who buried six and five triples, respectively.

That's when Lee, on his third season, decided to join the fun by torching the Warriors

with six triples in the second half including five in the pivotal fourth quarter.

The Tams seized a four-point lead twice early in the third period, the last at 50-46 when

Sanga buried a triple but Lee ignited a 16-5 blast with an eight-point splurge to go into

the final canto with a 62-55 advantage.

Sanga, who finished with his league best 22 points, wasn't finished as he lit another

blistering run that gave FEU a 72-71 upper hand with a little over five minutes remaining.

And then Lee found his rhythm again and unloaded eight of his team's last 10 points to

power the Warriors to the win.

"We practiced last night (Friday) and I really concentrated on my shooting, I 'm glad I

made the big shots in this game," said Lee, a former San Sebastian high school

standout.

Sanga finished with a team high 22 points while RR Garcia and Aldrech Ramos, a Smart

Gilas Pilipinas veteran like Barroca, had 16 and 12 points, respectively.

But with Barroca-who averaged a team-high 12.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and

1.6 steals--out, Knuttel sidelined and Noundou ailing, Capacio had to dig deep but just

came short.

Tams, Warriors clash for 2nd seat


September 24, 2009

MANILA, Philippines - University of the East and Far Eastern University clash today in

sudden death for the right to face Ateneo in this year‘s UAAP men‘s basketball finals

with the Warriors enjoying the momentum over the Tams still reeling from the ouster of

their top player.

Drawing a superb, all around game from Paul Lee and pouncing on the absence of

Mark Barroca, the third seeded Warriors tamed the No. 2 Tams, 84-74, in their Final Four

duel last Saturday to force a knockout for the second finals berth.

Gametime is at 3:30 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum.

The defending champion Eagles sealed the first championship berth by blasting the

University of Santo Tomas Tigers, 81-64, in the other Final Four pairing last Sunday.


With Lee churning out a career-best 26-point performance, the Warriors dominated the

Tams minus Barroca, who was dropped from the roster for good on game-fixing

allegations following a drop in his performance towards the end of the elims.

But UE coach Lawrence Chongson said the win would be meaningless if they couldn‘t

finish their rivals off with another victory today.

―Our win last Saturday would mean nothing if we can‘t pull it off again today,‖ said

Chongson, who moved the team closer to what could be the school‘s only second

finals stint in 23 seasons.

―FEU just struggled that day because it was their first game without Barroca,‖ said

Chongson.

FEU coach Glenn Capacio is expected to come up with key adjustments although the

Tams will be one less player more as veteran guard Jens Knuttel sustained a torn

meniscus and is out of the season.

―I‘m sure they have made the necessary adjustments. They simply have too many

options in their game,‖ Chongson said.

Barroca, currently with Smart Gilas Pilipinas playing the Singapore Slingers in Singapore,

was the Tams‘ top scorer with norm of 12.7 points he spiked with 5.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists

and 1.6 steals. Knuttel averaged only 1.3 points, 0.7 rebound and 0.6 assist but had

been one of the team‘s top playmakers the whole season.

But Chongson said the loss of the controversial Barroca and the sturdy Knuttel are only

two of the Warriors problems in their match against the Tamaraws.

―Knuttel is the least of my worries. It‘s (Paul) Sanga, (Aldrech) Ramos, (Reil) Cervantes,

(RR) Garcia, (JR) Cawaling and Noundou,‖ he said.

Focus will also be on Lee, who pumped 22 of his total output in the second half,

including 14 in the fourth quarter when he single-handedly buried the demoralized

Tams.

―We need to improve on our defense, that‘s the most important thing we need to do,‖

said Capacio.

FEU is gunning for a seventh finals appearance while UE its second since the Final Four

format was introduced 15 years ago.

Interestingly, FEU is the league‘s winningest team with 19 while UE and UST have 18

apiece. La Salle comes next with seven crowns while Ateneo has won four titles so far.


Warriors 'will' their way to Finals By: Alder T. Almo

24 September 2009

Lifted from: uaapsports.com

MANILA –The University of the East (UE) Red Warriors

willed their way to the Finals after hacking out a 78-72

win over second seed Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws on Thursday in the 72nd UAAP Final Four at

the Araneta Coliseum.

Trailing the Tamaraws for three-fourths of the game,

the Warriors tightened its defense in the final canto to

sweep the Tamaraws in their Final Four series.

The win also gave UE the right to challenge

defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles in the Finals.

FEU was enjoying a 68-63 lead in the final 8:10 of the

fourth period when UE‘s back-up guard Rudy

Lingganay suddenly sprang to action, scoring five

straight points. He also fed Pari Llagas for the go-

ahead lay-up to grab the lead, 70-68, for the first time

since the opening quarter.

Lingganay‘s charge led to a 15-4 finishing salvo that extended UE‘s winning run to eight

since the eliminations.

―I challenged my veterans especially the senior players at halftime and asked them, do

you want this to be your last game,‖ UE rookie coach Lawrence Chongson said. ―We

just showed the Warrior will‖

This is UE‘s fifth Finals appearance since winning the UAAP title in 1985 when the Warriors

were still bannered by Allan Caidic and Jerry Codiñera.

The Warriors‘ last fought in the Finals in 2007 when they posted a 14-0 record in the

eliminations to earn an automatic berth in the Finals. The De La Salle Green Archers,

however, swept them in the Finals.

The remnants of that fateful 2007 team scored all but two of UE‘s total points in this

game.

Lee and Val Acuna paced the Warriors with 17 points each while Llagas, Lingganay

and Espiritu combined for 37 points. Even seldom-used Toto Bandaying chipped in five

markers in a surprising starting role.


―Basta gusto naming makabawi sa mga masasakit na talo namin noon. Gusto naming

ibahin ang tingin nila sa UE at i-break ‗yong jinx,‖ an emotional Lee said afterwards.

Playing for the second straight time without Andy Mark Barroca, FEU apparently

headed to secure the game as it was ahead of UE during the first three quarters.

FEU, behind Ric Cawaling and Cameroonian rookie Pippo Noundou, opened the game

with a 12-point lead, 27-15, late in the first period. The Tamaraws were also leading at

the break, 51-45.

However, the Tamaraws collapsed in the second half, apparently missing a ―go-to-guy‖

down the stretch. FEU shot a woeful 29 percent from the field in the second half.

―Malaking bagay rin na wala si (Andy Mark) Barroca. Di mo matatawaran ang talent

'nung bata,‖ assessed Chongson.

The Tamaraws will now miss the Finals for the fourth straight season. The last time FEU

appeared in a Finals match was in 2005 when Arwind Santos led the Tams to win the

UAAP title.

―Masakit, kasi ang ganda naman ng ipinakita namin. We just fell short,‖ said FEU coach

Glenn Capacio, who took the reins in 2007.

Cawaling and Noundou led FEU with 19 and 16 points, respectively. They, however,

were held to just a basket each in the second half.

The Scores:

UE 78 –Lee 17, Acuna 17, Llagas 16, Lingganay 15, Espiritu 6, Bandaying 5, Acibar 2,

Zamar 0, Tagarda 0, Reyes 0, Ayala 0.

FEU 72 –Cawaling 19, Noundou 16, Garcia 13, Cervantes 12, Ramos 10, Sanga 2,

Tanuan 0, Manalo 0, Eguilos 0, Caluag 0.

Quarters: 19-27, 45-51, 61-64, 78-72.


THE FINALS: BLUE EAGLES VS RED WARRIORS

UAAP Finals: The Bucket List by Christian Soler


WHILE both Ateneo de Manila and University of

the East aren‘t going to literally die just yet, the

two protagonists for the UAAP Season 72

championship have to consider a few fine points

to escape a finals loss – and subsequently, fulfill the hunger and desire to get to the top.

The Blue Eagles are making a return trip to the finals after crushing University of Sto.

Tomas. The Red Warriors, meanwhile, have proven all the critics (myself, included)

wrong by pulling the double over Far Eastern University. It‘s only right, then, that the two

hottest teams in the league slug it out for one of the most sought-after plums in

Philippine sports.

In no particular order, and not on the big screen, here is your bucket list:

1. Do not be like FEU: For one, let‘s hope that both teams are intact heading into the

finals. To argue that axing Andy Barroca was done in the name of ―team chemistry‖ is

either of two things: a lie or the opposite of the truth. Go figure.

Now, on to the details [of FEU‘s play, not the Barroca incident]. FEU might have led early

but there were telltale signs in Game 2 that a parade wouldn‘t go through Morayta.

The Tams led by as many as 12 in that game because they shot the lights out early. So,

what‘s wrong with that? Most often than not, the hot hand will desert you, thus the

need to develop a second weapon. Ideally, that was to attack the UE defense, and

FEU, with the exception of Reil Cervantes and Pipo Noundou [for three quarters], did not

do that. In fact, even Noundou himself began to fall in love with the three-point shot –

clearly a match made in hell. Coach Glenn Capacio‘s unit settled for those long

jumpers down the stretch and failed to take advantage of a UE defense that had

EDSA-like potholes for gaps.

So both Ateneo and UE have to be more multi-dimensional. While you can ―drop it like

it‘s hot,‖ according to the great Snoop Dogg, you have to have more than one

deskarte, just like the typical Filipino politician.

And speaking of hot, I would not want to share a seat with Capacio right now, lest the

risk of burning my behind.

2. Defense still wins championships: In basketball, the team that scores more wins.

However, there is such a thing as an off night, when shots rim out or kill the proverbial

butiki. On the other side of the floor, however, there is no such thing. Defense

exemplifies the will to win and the lust to neutralize your opponent.


Since coach Norman Black took over the helm in 2005, the Blue and White has played

splendid defense that‘s gotten better every year. 2K9 is no exception as the Katipunan

quintet is tops in points allowed per game [63.9], opponents‘ field goal shooting [34.7

percent] and opponents‘ turnover points [13.6]. Against UST in the semis, the Blue Crew

held the trigger-happy Tigers to just 27.5 percent from the field. That‘s just one of the

reasons why a Rabeh Al-Hussaini or Ryan Buenafe can get away with a bad offensive

showing and still come out of the Big Dome a winner.

3. …but shooting still matters: Of course. And in the Finals, both squads will make sure

that horrific shooting is out of the equation. At the end of the elimination round, Ateneo

topped the league in field goal percentage at 42.7 percent, with UE a close third at

exactly 40 percent. In their Final Four game with UST, the Blue Eagles hit more than half

their attempts, while the Red Warriors outshot FEU in their back-to-back stabs at the

Tamaraws.

4. History and old scores to settle: Ateneo is 5-0 against UE after the red half of Recto

pulled off that elimination round sweep in 2007. Black has always had an answer to UE‘s

attack, from former coach Dindo Pumaren‘s pressure ―D‖ to Lawrence Chongson‘s

aggressive, ―take the ball strong to the hole‖ offensive scheme.

Seven of UE‘s 16 players in Season 72 were part of that 2007 team. Before the FEU series,

that was frowned upon. Today, it‘s become a rallying point as the Red Warriors showed

the world they were simply tired of being the team everyone beats en route to the

championship. This veteran-laden UE team has issues – issues with losing. And it‘s shown

the capacity to keep winning this year because of its cohesiveness.

5. Want that ball: Paul Lee, a more-than-deserv ing Mythical Five team member, and

Val Acuña looked like they wanted the leather in crunch time more than their girlfriends. When game commentators and even coaches say that ―the team who

wants ‗it‘ more will win,‖ they link ―it‖ most often than to the player(s) who‘ll demand

the ball when the game is on the line.

This is not to say that ball hogging wins games [i.e. Leo Canuday]. Wanting the ball

goes hand-in-hand with knowing exactly what to do with it. That‘s where Ateneo will

miss Chris Tiu, and here‘s where Al-Hussaini needs to come in. His counterpart, Pari

Llagas, told me at the start of the season that it would be tougher to defeat the

defending champions than FEU because of Al-Hussaini‘s presence. If he commands

that offense with gusto and not his temper, the Blue Eagles will be hard to stop.

Ateneo has Ryan Buenafe and Eric Salamat, two clutch players, while Acuña, Lee and

even Llagas have become big-game players. That‘ll be an interesting talking point

throughout the course of the series.

6. Rebounding: UE put itself in a position to win over FEU because it went toe-to-toe on

the boards. In Game 1, Chongson‘s squad outrebounded the Tams by a staggering 12

caroms.


While Ateneo won over UST despite losing the battle of the boards, 45-40 last Sunday, it

still has the tools to outhustle the opposition. Nico Salva will be back in the finals, while

Al-Hussaini and Nonoy Baclao are already equivalent to five guys blocking out for a

loose ball combined. Ateneo has the size advantage, but will it be able to use that

edge come Sunday?

There are, indeed, a lot more other departments that can be looked at, but listing all of

them down will make my bucket list look like a grocery checklist made by a panic

buyer who thinks the end of the world is upon us because UE managed to win its first-

ever Final Four [and for that matter, post-season] matchup. Truth be told, these are the

primary storylines that will determine who gets to stage what, where. Will there be a

bonfire in Loyola Heights, or a party deep in Manila‘s guts? I ‘m leaning towards the

former, but that‘s not to say that UE is a bad team. The Red Warriors are for real, and

Chongson is not as bad a coach as people think. But, this is Ateneo‘s to lose.

History lesson By Alder T. Almo

29 September 2009

More than just the championship, a lot with far greater significance are at stake in the

coming Finals series between the University of the East Red Warriors and the defending

champion Ateneo Blue Eagles.

The Warriors will be trying to hit not only two but three birds in one stone beginning on

Thursday.

First, the Warriors are just two games away from ending an almost 24-year title drought.

Second, a 19th title will tie them with their Final Four victim Far Eastern University

Tamaraws for the most number of men‘s basketball championships. Third, it‘s their

chance to erase the bitter memories of past Ateneo victories against them.

Who could forget the famous buzzer beater shot of Gec Chia 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 shattered the hearts of UE fans, who saw the bitter 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.

Former league MVP Yap, Tubid, Artadi and Coach Boysie Zamar of that ill-fated 2002

celebrated UE‘s sweet victory from the gallery last Thursday. They were there to witness

what they could have accomplished if not for Chia's dagger shot seven seasons ago.


But the connection between the Warriors and the Eagles runs deeper beyond that

memorable 2002 Final Four face-off.

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 their most

bitter Finals‘ defeat.

As v ividly 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 wasn't even covering the games yet at that time. He was just a first year high

school when the historic game happened. However, he has a vhs tape of that game

well kept in his video collection and a framed article on that magical comeback by the

Eagles in the 1987 finals.

―UE had star players like Jerry Codinera, 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 for the now-defunct Pepsi team in the PBA while Codinera

went on to join Caidic in the pro league‘s 25 greatest players of all time.

On the other hand, Halili recounted that Ateneo had Nonoy Chuatico playing his last

year in the Blue Eagles jersey. The other members of that team, who went on to

complete the back-to-back title romp the following season 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 title-clinching game, the Warriors were well ahead, 83-63. They were 10 minutes away from

reclaiming the title they have lost to Benjie Paras and Ronnie Magsanoc-led University

of the Philippines Fighting Maroons in 1986.

Then the unthinkable happened.

Seven minutes later, the Warriors‘ dream ride back to the pantheon of greatness turned

to a nightmare that sent them into years of oblivion.

At the 3:25 mark of the payoff period, Nieto gave Ateneo the lead, 87-86, and the ‗87

Eagles have authored what could be the greatest comeback in the UAAP Finals history

just as the ‗87 Warriors became a footnote of history. The game ended at 94-92 to the

jubilation of Ateneo fans and to the consternation of UE fans.

Twenty two more years of disappointment followed. And in the coming Finals, the

Warriors finally get the golden chance for a sweet vengeance.

For the Eagles, it‘s a rare chance to revisit a glorious past. Will history finally be kinder to

UE this time? Or will history repeat itself?


GAME 1

October 1, 2009

Araneta Coliseum

Eagles, Warriors collide October 01, 2009

Lifted From: Manila Bulletin

University of the East owns the second most number of titles won in the UAAP men's

basketball title history with 18, tied with University of Santo Tomas and just one behind

the record 19 of Far Eastern University.

But ranged against an Ateneo Blue Eagles team that has gone 29-2 overall from last

year until this point as it seeks a second straight title, the Warriors appear not worthy

opponents, those remarkable championships in the past notwithstanding.

As Game 1 of Season 72 Finals finally unfolds this afternoon before an expected sellout

crowd at the Araneta Coliseum, the third seeded Warriors are definitely a major

underdog against the proud and mighty Eagles.

"They also have championship experience, has a rich tradition, a good basketball

program and a strong alumni support."

Indeed, everything appears to be going Ateneo's way entering a best-of-three title

series that was supposed to start last Sunday, but had to be reset because of the very

bad weather brought by typhoon Ondoy.

The Eagles, winner of four championships, including a sweep of arch nemesis La Salle

Green Archers in last year's Finals, had lost only once in 14 games in the eliminations -- a

68-58 upset of the UP Fighting Maroons -- and made it to the championship round by

making short work of no. 4 UST Tigers, 81-64.

The Eagles, fresh from a 10-day layoff, also boasts of a solid frontline in former league

MVP Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Nonoy Baclao and a deadly backcourt in Jai Reyes, Eric

Salamat and Ryan Buenafe.

Black, in his third Finals with the Katipunan-based school, downplayed the effects of the

four-day postponement had on the Eagles as what happened in 2006 when Ateneo

won Game 1 of the title series against UST, but lost the next two – and the title –

following a week-long rest due to the havoc brought by super-typhoon Milenyo.

"We can't worry about what happened in the past. We have to deal with the present,

which is to play and win for the school the title," he said.

"Besides, we're too concerned of the Finals right now and I don't believe in such things."


Daunting the task staring them, the Warriors, however, believe in themselves.

"We plan to beat Ateneo with our defense," Chongson stressed. "Our defense has been

ridiculed. Sinasabi na walang sistema or they said it's a system without a system, pero

we keep on winning dahil ang habol namin ay championship pa rin."

The Warriors are going to the Finals on a hot streak,

They've won their last eight outings, including back-to-back against second seed FEU

Tamaraws in the Final Four, allowing them to earn a second trip to the championship

round in the last three seasons.

The title showdown is the first for the Warriors and Eagles in the last 22 years since an

Ateneo team backstopped by Alex Araneta and Jun Reyes, beat Jerry Codinera and

the rest of the UE squad for its breakthrough title in the country's premiere collegiate

league.

This season, the Eagles also hold a 2-0 lead over the Warriors in their head-to-head

encounter.

Serving as sidelight in the title series is the expected matchup between UE hotshot Paul

Lee and Salamat, his former teammate with the four-time NCAA junior champions San

Sebastian Staglets.

"Close kong kaibigan si Eric dahil sa pinag-samahan namin sa Baste," said Lee. "Pero

siyempre sa court, magkalaban kami dahil gusto kong tulungan ang team ko na

manalo ng championship."

Eagles break rallying Warriors in Game 1 October 02, 2009

By: Joey Villar


Big man Rabeh Al-Hussaini played like an MVP while

diminutive Jai Reyes, airlifted from the rooftop of his

flooded house for the game, dished out a gem of a

game as Ateneo thwarted University of the East, 78-71,

in Game 1 of the UAAP best-of-three title series

yesterday at the Araneta Coliseum.

The 6-6 Al-Hussaini towered over everyone else as he

buried 28 points, including eight in the fourth quarter to

break the Warriors spirited charge while Reyes tossed

in all five of his triples in the second half to help power

the Eagles to the victory.


Ateneo, which also beat UE the last time they met in the finals 22 years ago, goes for a

sweep and a back-to-back title romp in Game Two on Sunday.

But they just couldn't find an antidote to Al-Hussaini, whose tantalizing performance was

reminiscent of his Game One effort last year when he scored 31 points against the La

Salle Archers on their way to their first crown in six years.

Reyes, who had to be airlifted from Riverside, Cainta, provided the spunk at the

backcourt, using the picks efficiently to sink five straight treys that broke the backs of

the Warriors.

For a while, the Eagles appeared headed for an easy victory when they zoomed to a

33-16 lead early in the second quarter on Al-Hussaini's inside shots.

But the Warriors, shifting from man-to-man to the zone, charged back with a fiery run

that gave them a 35-34 edge at the break.

Rudy Lingganay took charge for UE in the second period, pouring in all his nine points,

including six coming off three steals.

But Reyes, slowed down by fouls in the early going, came to the Eagles' rescue in the

third period, single-handedly destroying UE's zone and giving Eagles the momentum.

Al-Hussaini, last year's MVP, took over in the fourth to ensure the victory.

"We played very well in the first quarter especially their man-to-man defense. When

they went to a zone against our second team we struggled a lot and we couldn't make

our outside shot," said Ateneo coach Norman Black.

"I t also hurt us that Jai was in foul trouble in the first half. But if they play us man-to-man

it's going to be easy for us to get the ball to Rabeh. If they play the zone it's going to be

more difficult so we have to be more creative on how to get Rabeh the ball. That's

what we did in the second half," Black said.

Black, however, said Reyes was the key to everything.

"Reyes made clutch three pointers. Basically, he really broke their zone open by making

the outside shots. Sometimes it takes one guy to get it done and Jai was able to knock

down his shots tonight he really broke their zone and really gave us a chance to win the

game," said Black.

UE mentor Lawrence Chongson agreed.

"We know Al-Hussaini will get his numbers so we tried to limit the rest but Jai Reyes came

out big tonight -- he made three points after three points to keep them afloat when we

were making a rally," said Chongson.


Paul Lee, who torched the Far Eastern U Tams with 43 points in their pair of shock 84-74

and 78-72 Final Four wins, came off the bench to fire 15 points.

For a while, it looked like he'd bail the Warriors again as he unloaded a nine-point

barrage in the first seven minutes of the final period.

From eight points down, UE closed to within, 66-69, from a Lee triple and a pair of foul

shots, three minutes left.

But Al-Hussaini scored on a break from a UE turnover and knocked down four more to

secure the Eagles' win.

"He's (Lee) going to be the headache on Sunday also -- it's not going to end. He's going

to be a headache for us. Their backs are against the wall now so even more so he's

going to come out firing so we just have to continue to defend him -- we're not going to

stop Paul Lee, we'll just try to control him the best we can," said Black.

UAAP NOTES: The Eagles also found ways to take away the players' distraction from

tropical storm 'Ondoy.' 'I'm not going to say it's easy because some of our players were

really affected by the floods. Our campus was heavily hit and then a lot of our players

are living in Marikina, some in Antipolo so they're affected by the flood,' said Black. 'A

lot of their homes were flooded. UE probably had the same concerns but it was very

difficult getting them focused. In case of Jai, he was stuck in his roof for 24 hours where

the flood was all the way up to the second floor so you can imagine how hard it is for

him so we try to support him as much as we could so he could get over the incident as

much as possible,' he added.

The scores:

Ateneo 78 -- Al-Hussaini 28, Reyes 17, Salva 8, Buenafe 7, Austria 6, Salamat 4,Long 3,

Baclao 3, Chua 2, Sumalinog 0, Monfort 0

UE 71 -- Lee 15, Llagas 13, Acuna 13, Reyes 11, Lingganay 9, Espiritu 8, Acibar 2, Zamar 0,

Bandaying 0

Quarterscores: 24-11; 35-34; 57-53; 78-71


GAME 2

October 3, 2009

Araneta Coliseum

Warriors forge rubber match;

Blow Eagles off the court by 20 in Game 2 October 04, 2009

By Jasmine W. Payo

Lifted by: Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines - Dominant in all departments,

the University of the East Warriors mocked the odds to

forge a winner-take-all UAAP championship

showdown.

The Warriors reduced Ateneo into a fumbling bunch

and roared to a surprising 88-68 blowout victory,

spoiling the Blue Eagles‘ bid to sweep the title series

in Game 2 of the men‘s basketball Finals at the

jampacked Araneta Coliseum.

Elmer Espiritu highlighted the rout with a spectacular

alley-oop dunk off a Paul Lee assist that silenced the

predominantly Ateneo crowd and gave the Warriors

a 19-point advantage, 79-66, with four minutes left.

―I t has been said that it‘s the discipline of Ateneo

versus the emotions of UE,‖ said UE coach Lawrence

Chongson after his Warriors tied the best-of-three

series at 1-1.

―But discipline has its limits. We knew they weren‘t just going to take shots, we knew they

were going to execute. We had patience in our defense.‖

The climactic rubber match of the best-of-three championship duel is set at 3:30 p.m.

on Thursday also at the Big Dome with the Eagles aiming to clinch the school‘s first

back-to-back title romp since 1987-88 and the Warriors vying to end a 24-year title

drought.

Espiritu paced a show by UE‘s big men with 22 points built on an impressive 8-of-12 field

goal clip. Pari Llagas came off the bench with 19 markers on top of six rebounds and

five assists.

―We were playing loose, there was no pressure,‖ Espiritu, the newly minted Defensive Player of the Year, said in Filipino. ―After Game 1 we wanted to avenge our loss right

away.‖


The Eagles were a mere shadow of their form in their 78-71 Game 1 v ictory as the

Warriors came out firing in the second half to finish with a remarkable 52.2 shooting

percentage.

―We have been criticized a lot for our system,‖ said Chongson, whose Warriors snapped

the season-best 12 game winning streak of the Eagles, who won their first three meeting

with their title rivals.

―We‘re really an offensive team, but the defense is still there.‖

It was the most lopsided championship match since 2003, when Far Eastern University

rolled past Ateneo, 83-65.

―Obviously, they shot the ball extremely well from the perimeter, which is something

they haven‘t done against us, especially their big guys,‖ said Ateneo coach Norman

Black.

―We have to do a better job defending the three-point line against their big guys. We

also gave up a lot of back-door plays in the second half.‖

It was Black‘s worst UAAP beating since July 10, 2005, when the Eagles absorbed a 78-

60 setback against the La Salle Green Archers on his league debut.

UE also held down Rabeh Al-Hussaini to 18 points after the 2008 Most Valuable Player

averaged 28.3 points in Ateneo‘s first three wins over the Warriors.

―What went right was our defense,‖ said Chongson. ―We went zone (defense), we

gambled on it, we clogged the middle and finally reduced Rabeh‘s output against us

because he always plays his best game against UE.‖

The Warriors shot 47.4 percent from three-point range, spiked by Espiritu‘s 4-of-5

shooting, while the Eagles struggled with 20.6 percent.

Paul Lee added 13 points, including six in the third quarter when the Warriors took their

first double-digit advantage at 63-53.

―I told the boys we‘re playing the game of our lives, that we were fighting for our lives,‖

said Chongson.

Val Acuña also delivered in key stretches for UE to finish with 12 points and eight

rebounds, while guard Rudy Lingganay added seven markers, eight boards and three

assists.

Back-to-back triples by Espiritu and Llagas at the start of the last period pushed the

Warriors ahead, 69-53.


And the Eagles‘ frustration showed late in the game when Ateneo guard Emman

Monfort was slapped with an unsportsmanlike foul for elbowing Espiritu, with the Warriors

up, 79-60.

―Our defense broke down in the second half,‖ said Black as the Warriors outscored the

Eagles, 50-28, in the second half.

The scores:

UE 88—Espiritu 22, Llagas 19, Lee 13, Acuña 12, Lingganay 7, Reyes 6, Zamar 5, Duran 4,

Tagarda 0, Bandaying 0.

ATENEO 68—Al-Hussaini 18, Monfort 12, Reyes 11, Baclao 10, Austria 6, Salamat 4, Long

3, Chua 2, Buenafe 2, Sumalinog 0, Salva 0.

Quarters: 18-15, 38-40, 63-53, 88-68

GAME 3

October 8, 2009

Araneta Coliseum

Five (Ateneo 71 vs. UE 58) October 9, 2009

Lifted From: Ateneo.edu.ph

By Rick Olivares

The meek have inherited the earth.

Now, they are the strong. The barren wasteland of the 90s is but a memory. The three

titles of the new millennium have confirmed that the Ateneo Blue Eagles have

reclaimed their place in the basketball firmament with their 71-58 demolition of another

storied team – the University of the East Red Warriors -- in the third match of a best-of-


three finals series. I t is the biggest haul in a decade since the four crowns of the 1950s. I t

is the sixth time the Blue Eagles have accomplished back-to-back title wins (1931-33,

1953-54, 1957-58, 1975-76, and 1987-88).

The fifth UAAP title gives Ateneo a total of 19, including the 14 won in the NCAA.

Collectively, our trophy count ties us with Far Eastern University and the University of

Santo Tomas for the highest ever in college basketball.

At the center of it all is that dominant big man, Rabeh Al-Hussaini, whose stratospheric

rise to basketball stardom no one had charted. And he joins a pantheon of great

Ateneo centers that include Rico Villanueva, Danny Francisco, Steve Watson, Marte

Samson, and Moro Lorenzo, to name a few. Mastery

But Norman Black, the man who guided the blue and white back to the throne is the

longest tenured Ateneo coach since the Maestro, Baby Dalupan, waved his magic in

the NCAA. Dalupan won back-to-back titles with players like Steve Watson, Joy Carpio,

Fritz Gaston, Chito Narvasa, Padim Israel, and Pons Valdez to name a few.

Like Dalupan, Black is a Philippine Basketball Association Grand Slam w inner. But the

Maestro achieved the feat when he concentrated on the Crispa Redmanizers

(although he did guide the UE Red Warriors to an all-time best seven straight UAAP titles

in the 60s). Black, on the other hand, achieved that trifecta of crowns during the 1989

season as a player-coach for San Miguel Beer.

In Black‘s five years in the Ateneo, he‘s compiled a sterling record of 65 wins and 18

losses. That right there is a 78.31% winning percentage. He‘s won two UAAP titles in three

Finals appearances and doesn‘t look to stop there.

Did anyone think that the team would go 13-1 in the eliminations again?

If there wasn‘t a doubt that the Blue Eagles would repeat, there were questions, and

quite some disappointment, that they couldn‘t get the job done in Game 2 against the

Red Warriors. Even worse, some painted comparisons between the crushing Finals

defeat of 2006 and Game 2 this year.

If there was any unwavering belief that they could get the job done, it was the Ateneo

coaching staff and the team. After the team walked off the floor victims of an 88-58

mauling, Black drew up the game plan for the next match.

―Did we execute what I wanted?‖ was the terse question.

To a man, the team mumbled, ―No.‖ There was a feeling of massive overconfidence

heading into that match. The pre-game talk of celebration filtered about which left

team officials concerned. ―We have been trying to temper those feelings,‖ revealed

team manager Paolo Trillo. ―After all, there‘s still a game to play.‖

The words were prophetic as the blue and whites ran smack into a hungry UE team that

wanted to prove it belonged on the big stage. And they were dealt the worst loss in the

Norman Black era – a 20-point thumping that revitalized their foes.


Coupled with a Game 2 loss by the Ateneo Blue

Eaglets, quite a few in the media wondered about

―the choking Eagles.‖ It was UE‘s first Finals win since

1985 when Allan Caidic led them to their last pair of

titles.

―We didn‘t take care of business,‖ summed up Jai

Reyes, who suffered from a miserable shooting day.

―But we‘re ready.‖

Even as Ateneo attacked UE‘s zone from the

opening tip, it seemed that the Red Warriors‘ outside

artillery was still on target as Paul Zamar and Rudy

Lingganay zeroed in on the basket to keep pace

with the defending champs.

But after Rabeh Al-Hussaini scored on a lay-up from a

pass from Jai Reyes, to shift the score in favor of

Ateneo, 10-8, the Blue Eagles never looked back.

Fourteen of their 21 firstquarter points came from inside. The challenger‘s interior

defense was so porous that it looked like a lay-up line for a while.

Lawrence Chongson, who has surprisingly turned into a good coach, knew that Ateneo

would watch his perimeter shooters and promised to add a new wrinkle to their game.

―We will fight fire with fire,‖ said the rookie mentor who referred to taking the game

inside.

The Warriors made their run and came close at 28-25 following a Paul Lee lay-up. But

they needed more than just Lee and Espiritu scoring. Pari Llagas, who played superb in Game 2, was hardly a factor as he finished with a measly 3 points, all of them coming

from the free throw line.

In the clutch for all the marbles, Ateneo‘s players – including guard Eric Salamat who

was a non-factor in the first two games – stepped up big time.

With UE triple-teaming Al-Hussaini as Jai Reyes and Emman Monfort were misfiring from

the outside (0-6 from 3-point land beyond the arc), Ryan Buenafe, already a bigtime

player but still with boatloads of potential and promise, drove inside and played stifling

defense on Lee. He finished with 10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks.

His energy helped the blues to a 40-25 halftime lead. While the double-digit lead gave

Ateneo a huge cushion to work with in the second half, they braced themselves for the

inevitable UE run.

The Recto squad opened the third quarter with Espiritu and Val Acuña hitting a triple

each.

Ateneo stuck to its game plan and went inside. As UE doubled down low on the Blue

Eagles‘ center, Jai Reyes answered with consecutive treys to make it 48-31.


Now the challengers were really in trouble for Ateneo was clicking inside and outside.

When Al-Hussaini hit another jump hook to give Ateneo a 20-point lead at 67-47 with

4:10 left in the game, the final minutes were just a formality.

Twenty-two years ago, it was UE that spotted Ateneo with a 20-point bulge with the 3rd

quarter almost done. This season, they came back from huge deficits against FEU and

Ateneo. In the latter, they fell short as time ran out on them. As for Game 3, the Blue

Eagles made sure that the final score in the final game of the season was never in

doubt.

As Paul Lee dribbled out the remaining seconds of the game, the scored pegged at 71-

58 for all eternity as an Ateneo v ictory, the jubilant Blue Eagles and their supporters

raced onto the court in tears and rapturous joy as confetti rained down on them.

The crown was defended. The fifth UAAP title – the 19th overall – was in the bag. The

sixth back-to-back title had been secured. Another improbable and exciting season

that started in blue ended with the league and the basketball landscape awash in

blue. It was a fitting gift an Atenean could have on the school‘s sesquicentennial -- a

men‘s basketball championship to go with the Small Basketeers title and Juniors‘

second straight championship banner.

As is the custom, the team and its officials, and supporters retreated to the Church of

the Gesu for a Thanksgiving Mass, and words of joy, hope, and reflection.

Reyes, who had matched his Uncle Jun‘s feat, spoke revealingly about his ordeal as a

victim of Typhoon Ondoy. He wasn‘t alone in that respect, several team members from

Nico De Chavez, Frank Golla, Nico Salva, and the Juniors‘ Paolo Romero suffered from

the tragedy.

If anything, he spoke of being grateful for what he‘s been given as much has been lost

including homes and belongings. I t was something University President Fr. Benviendo

Nebres, S.J. reiterated, that just as the relief efforts have brought everyone together, so

too, has the wondrous championship.

The once meek have now inherited the college basketball landscape. Now let‘s be

humble about it.

Ateneo 71 – Al-Hussaini 21, Reyes 16, Buenafe 10, Baclao 8, Salamat 7, Long 7, Salva 2,

Monfort 0, Austria 0

UE 58 – Lee 21, Espiritu 16, Acuña 8, Lingganay 5, Zamar 3, Llagas 3, Flores 2, Reyes 0,

Duran 0, Ayala 0

DATE COMPILED: June 2009 – December 2009 | the articles are lifted from the following sites:

www.philstar.com www.abs-cbnnews.com

www.inquirer.net www.ngetstudio.com www.inboundpass.com www.uaapsports.com www.gmanews.tv www.ateneo.edu.ph

http://www.philstar.com/

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/

http://www.inquirer.net/

http://www.ngetstudio.com/

http://www.inboundpass.com/

http://www.uaapsports.com/

http://www.gmanews.tv/

UAAP Season 72_2009

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