UAAP: Tams charge into UAAP Finals

Tams charge into UAAP Finals

By Josiah Israel Albelda

16 September 2010

Terrence Romeo was still sweating profusely as he entered the press room. He just came from a battle that was not only bruising --- but draining as well. It was too much for a rookie. Too much for an 18-year-old.


Luckily for Far Eastern University, Romeo --- all five feet and nine inches of him --- was more than up to the challenge.


The newly-minted Rookie of the Year delivered in the clutch as the Tamaraws ousted host De La Salle University, 69 - 59, to barge into the Finals of Season 73 of the UAAP men's basketball tournament Thursday before a wild crowd at the Araneta Coliseum.


In a match that looked more like a slugfest in the early goings, Romeo showed the composure of a champion, draining a trey in the dying moments of the fourth quarter and leading the Morayta-based five's charge in overtime as they returned to the Finals for the first time since 2005.


"Masaya talaga ako dahil nakapasok na kami sa Finals," the Cebu native told reporters. "Hindi ko pa naranasan ito dati."


It was actually sweet revenge for Romeo, whose Baby Tamaraws were swept in the Final Four last season by the De La  Salle Zobel Junior Archers.


"Gusto ko talaga sila bawian," quipped the freshman, who finished with 12 points, five boards and two steals.


With the hard-earned win, FEU is on track to bring back home the trophy they have copped a record 19 times in league history.


It also brought four-year coach Glenn Capacio closer to his dream of getting a UAAP championship.


"Masarap pala makapasok sa Finals," the former PBA ace shared in jest. "Ipinakita talaga ng mga bata yung puso nila sa laban na ito. Hindi ako masaya sa officiating pero hindi ako bumitaw para sa kanila."


The game was so hotly contested that ace Tamaraw and Smart Gilas standout JR Cawaling was thrown out of the game in the second quarter after his shoving of Simon Atkins earned him an unsportsmanlike foul and a subsequent technical foul after warding off a referee who was calming them down.


Cawaling will likely be suspended for the first game of the Finals, which starts next Sunday.


Even Capacio lost his cool early in the fourth quarter, almost throwing a punch on a referee, that cost him a technical foul as the Green Archers took a 49-42 lead with around seven minutes remaining.


The Taft-based squad inflated the lead to nine at 51-42 before the Tamaraws came back charging behind Romeo and designated gunner Paul Sanga to send the game into extension at 55-all.


Then FEU took it from there, limiting La Salle to only four points in five minutes while scoring 14 themselves to set up a date with either defending back-to-back Ateneo de Manila or Adamson next week.


League Most Valuable Player Ryan Roose Garcia was dismal in his second Final Four stint as the Archers' pesky defense limited him to 11 points on a horrible five-of-19 shooting. He also had four turnovers in a back-breaking 40-minute turn.


The Zamboanga native, however, had nine rebounds as the Tamaraws defined board domination with 64 to their foes' 46.


Reil Cervantes pulled down a career-high 19 rebounds (eight offensive) while Aldrech Ramos grabbed 10 (four offensive).


Spider Webb tallied 15 points for the hosts, which have had a memorable season stopped short. No other player scored in double digits for La Salle.


Archer sharpshooters were terribly off-target with Simon Atkins, Samuel Marata and Joseph Tolentino combining for three-of-24 from rainbow territory. They shot five-of-34 overall.


Atkins bade goodbye to his UAAP career with seven points, four assists, three steals and a mind-boggling seven turnovers.


"We actually had control of the game," said Coach Dindo Pumaren, who admitted that his wards' relative inexperience and youth showed out in the endgame.


"But I am proud of my boys," he added. "Nobody expected us to be here but we almost got to the Finals. We had a dream but we were not able to fulfill it. I hope that next year we could get our act together."


The scores:


FEU (69) - Romeo 12, Sanga 12, Garcia 11, Ramos 9, Cervantes 9, Noundou 8, Mendoza 2, Bringas 2, Knuttel 2, Exciminiano 2, Cruz 0, Cawaling 0


DLSU (59) - Webb 15, Mendoza 7, Atkins 7, Andrada 7, Tolentino 6, Marata 6, Dela Paz 5, Vosotros 2, Tampus 2, Villanueva 2, Paredes 0, Ferdinand 0


Quarterscores: 20-12, 26-32, 40-44, 50-55, 69-59

UAAP: UP Pep Squad all set to reclaim cheer crown

Assistant coach: I-dedeliver namin sa mga manonood ay saya

UP Pep Squad all set to reclaim cheer crown

By Josiah Israel Albelda

Photo from iamvishnu.multiply.com

"The joy of a spirit is the measure of its power." - Ninon de Lenclos

With only less than 24 hours remaining before the 2010 UAAP Cheerdance Competition, the University of the Philippines (UP) Pep Squad, one of the most storied in history, is keeping its cards close to its chest.

One thing's for sure, however. They would leave fans and the UP community happy when they strut their stuff tomorrow in this annual cheering joust. 

Of course, the jaw-dropping stunts and the amazing array of moves that the squad has been known for will be there. But it's the feeling of  "joy" that would push State U back to the pinnacle.

"Gusto naming i-deliver sa mga manonood is yung saya," Assistant Coach Nino Jose Antonio told Bilog ang Bola. "Kung gaano kasaya yung isang routine, isang performance - doon umiikot ang piyesa namin."

The Diliman-based crew has moved on from their second-runner up finish and vowed to wow the crowd when eight cheering teams clash at the Araneta Coliseum at 2:00 pm.

"Hindi na namin iniisip yung last year," added Antonio, who's been with the team, first as a dancer and then a mentor, for 12 years now. 

Level competition, grueling preparation

And while most expect UP and defending champion Far Eastern University (FEU) Cheering Squad to dominate this Sunday's festivities, Antonio is not just one to count other teams out.


"Every team is a competitor," he said. "Walang team na mahina, walang team na sawsaw lang. Lahat malakas."

And what would separate State U from the rest of the pack?

"Mas maganda yung sorpresa na lang," Antonio shared. "Basta makikita pa rin nila kung paano mag-perform yung UP Pep Squad. Yung atake namin, iba."

The youthful mentor said that the group has been gradually preparing for the event since summer but only got the chance to complete their routine when classes started last June.


"Very tiring yung preparations namin," he added. "Hindi siya naging swift. We have new members. We have stunts na di ganoon ka-familiar sa mga tao. So it was really challenging."

With all these, expect UP to go all out tomorrow and help atone for the miserable season the state university's men's seniors and juniors basketball teams have had - both teams finished winless.

Antonio said, though, that this doesn't add pressure for the squad to win tomorrow.

"Nakapanalo na din naman tayo ng championships before," he said. "Having those is pressure enough. We want to add to that list of championships."

State U is gunning for its sixth championship, second in the all-time list behind Santo Tomas' eight.

"Gusto namin mapasaya yung UP community," Antonio closed. 

With no less than 20,000 spectators poised to fill the Big Dome to the rafters tomorrow, expect an unimaginable performance, powered by unparalleled prowess from an undisputed powerhouse in Philippine cheerleading.

The "Pep Squad ng Bayan" is sure to make you go home brimming with joy.

Blog Survey #4: UP Pep Squad, siguradong mananalo bukas

UP Pep Squad, magiging kampeon ng UAAP Cheerdance

Ni Josiah Israel Albelda

Pumangatlo man noong nakaraang taon, ang UP Pep Squad pa rin ang pinaniniwalaan ng Bilog ang Bola readers na magkakampeon sa UAAP Cheerdance Competition bukas.


Sampu (71%) sa 14 na bumoto sa week-long na botohan sa site ang nagsabi na ang Diliman crew ang magwawagi sa taunang patimpalak ng pinakamagagaling na cheering squad sa bansa.


Apat (28%) naman ang pumili sa defending champion FEU Cheering Squad para mabawi mula ang kanilang korona.


Bukas na ang labanan sa ganap na alas-dos ng hapon sa Araneta Coliseum. May ticket ka na ba?

UAAP: Eagles in escape act, clinch twice-to-beat

Almost but not quite

Eagles barely escape but come out with twice-to-beat advantage

By Josiah Israel Albelda

5 September 2010

With more than four minutes remaining and University of Santo Tomas down 55-70, a Growling Tigers assistant coach screamed on his players.


"Maghigpit naman tayo sa depensa!"


On the next play, Ateneo de Manila guard Chris de Chavez sank a three-pointer to push the Blue Eagles further up, 73 - 55.


The UST cagers, however, would have none of that anymore. 


The España-based squad locked down on the defending back-to-back champions and drilled three-pointer after three-pointer but fell really short as Ateneo escaped with a 81 - 77 victory to clinch a twice-to-beat advantage in the upcoming Final Four of the 73rd UAAP men's basketball tournament Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.


"They started bombing us with three pointers," Coach Norman Black told reporters. "It's very difficult to defend a team that is shooting like that."


True enough, the Tigers almost completed the comeback but forward Melo Afuang missed a wide-open undergoal stab with 11.5 seconds remaining.


Kirk Long atoned for crucial miscues by splitting his charities as the Katipunan-based five chalked up their 10th win in the tournament and assured themselves of an advantage when the semifinals begin two weeks from now.


UST's searing comeback breathed fire into an otherwise sleepy afternoon with Ateneo seemingly cruising to an easy win when they put up their biggest lead, 68 - 49, a little over five minutes on the clock.


"We won the game, that's the most important thing," a relieved Black said.


The Eagles were in control of the match almost all throughout - thanks to Erik Salamat rediscovering his sharp shooting form and bench player Chris de Chavez providing offensive spark.


Salamat had 18 points, five assists and two steals for Ateneo while de Chavez added 12 markers. 


On the other hand, the Tigers looked uninterested at times but found refuge in their hustle and trifecta expertise to mount a comeback that nobody thought they would.


A win could've come as a perfect gift for UST Coach Pido Jarencio, who celebrated his 46th birthday.


It turned out to be a nightmare, though, for the Tigers as they continued their slide with this ninth loss in 13 matches.


Sophomores Jeric Teng and Clark Bautista outscored the Eagles in the fourth quarter and finished with a combined 39 points, seven rebounds and five assists. They had eight three-pointers.


All UST players suited up for the game but only seven of 15 scored.


The scores:


Ateneo (81) - Salamat 18, De Chavez 12, Chua 11, Long 10, Dela Cruz 6, Monfort 6, Buenafe 6, Golla 5, Salva 3, Tiongson 2, Austria 2, Escueta 0


UST (77) - Teng 23, Bautista 16, Daquioag 10, Afuang 10, Mariano 8, Fortuna 6, Pe 4, Wong 0, Tinte 0, Marata 0, Mamaril 0, Lo 0, Marquez 0, Camus 0, Aytona 0


Quarterscores: 17 - 13; 40 - 23; 60 - 45; 81 - 77

Blog Survey #3: FEU, mangunguna sa UAAP elims

Kahit nasa PBA na ako, #1 pa rin kami - Arwind Santos

Tams, mangunguna sa UAAP elims

Ni Josiah Israel Albelda

Larawan ni Karl de Leon

Pose ni Arwind Santos

Halos tatlo sa apat na Bilog ang Bola readers ang nagsabi na ang Far Eastern University Tamaraws ang mangunguna sa pagtatapos ng 73rd UAAP men's basketball tournament elimination round.

Walong (72%) boto ang nakuha ng Morayta-based team habang tatlo (27%) naman ang naibigay sa defending champion Ateneo de Manila University sa botohang naganap sa Bilog ang Bola.

Wala namang pumili sa De La Salle at Adamson, na kumumpleto sa Final Four cast ng liga.

Ngayong linggo, ang botohan sa Bilog ang Bola ay tungkol sa paparating na UAAP Cheerdance Competition.

Matatandaang nakuha ng FEU Cheering Squad ang kampeonato noong nakaraang taon habang pumangalawa naman ang Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion at pangatlo ang UP Pep Squad, na nanguna mula 2007 hanggang 2008.

UAAP: Tams punish Maroons

Tams punish Maroons, inch closer to top seed

FEU bench shames UP's, 36-4

By Josiah Israel Albelda

5 September 2010

No upset this time. Call it no mercy.


Far Eastern University inched closer to securing the top seed after crushing still-winless University of the Philippines, 70 - 48, for their 11th victory in the 73rd UAAP men's basketball tournament Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.


There was no letting up for the Tamaraws as they bucked a slow start to drop a crippling 24-2 bomb bridging the first and second quarters that took the fight out of the luckless Fighting Maroons, which crashed to their 13th straight loss.


The win, likewise, served as a buffer for the Morayta-based five, who will meet rival and defending back-to-back champion Ateneo de Manila on Saturday.


"Mahirap pala if you play a non-bearing game and you have four players running for the Mythical Five," coach Glenn Capacio told reporters of his team's lackluster start.


"Nawala kami sa sistema."


Leading MVP candidates Ryan Roose Garcia and Aldrech Ramos, and standouts Terrence Romeo and Reil Cervantes are all slugging out for awards this season.


Fortunately for the Tamaraws, their bench, spearheaded by Gryann Mendoza and Pippo Noundou, stepped up big time and outscored the unproductive Maroons second-stringers, 36 - 4. 


"Happy ako kase nag step up ang second stringers ko," Capacio added.  


UP's four bench points was the lowest in seven years, the last when National University managed only two markers against the Blue Eagles in August 28, 2003.


The Maroons didn't help their cause by shooting awfully awful from beyond the arc, draining only two of 23 attempts in the worst shooting performance of the season.


Also reflecting the Diliman squad's struggles is the fact that only five out of the 12 players who entered the game broke into the scoreboard.


Now, they face the prospects of yet another fruitless season. As a matter of fact, they are staring at the reality of a second 0 -14 card in four years.


UP locks horns with a rejuvenated University of the East side next Saturday as they try to avert a sweep - a complete turnaround after not a few pundits put them into Final Four consideration in the preseason.


Injuries, bad luck and a horde of other reasons, however, sent the Maroons into their worst year in recent memory.


Four players did not dress up for the game due to - you got it right - injuries: Mark Lopez, Woody Co, Carlo Gomez and Miggy Maniego.


The scores: 


FEU (70) - Garcia 12, Cervantes 9, Mendoza 8, Noundou 8, Romeo 7, Bringas 6, Ramos 6, Knuttel 6, Cawaling 5, Guerrero 2, Exciminiano 1, Cruz 0, Sanga 0


UP (48) - Padilla 17, Sison 14, Reyes 9, Pascual 4, Juruena 4, Silungan 0, Saret 0, Manuel 0, Evangelista 0, Reyes 0, Hipolito 0, Gingerich 0


Quarterscores: 7 - 8; 28 - 18; 47 - 36; 70 - 48

Boxing: The Chicken Cackles

Floyd Mayweather Going in on Manny Pacquiao
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Hoy Floyd Mayweather! Lumaban ka na lang!

My Sports: I'm back!

Lucky 14

My students did well in Wednesday's competition. Our small school (which is really small compared to our "opponents") copped 14 awards - almost double from the eight we got last year in individual writing contests.


We did not fully accomplish what we set out to do (win the overall championship) but I'm more than satisfied with the way the kids performed in this annual writing joust.


Now, we have a month to prepare for the next level, the Quezon City-wide Division Secondary Schools Press Conference, where at least 1, 600 students will compete for honors.