UAAP Sunday: Ano raw? #1

Ano raw? 

15 August 2010

(Over)heard by Josiah Israel Albelda

Starting today, I'll be posting some of the things I (over)hear at the UAAP games I cover. It may come from the players themselves, their coaches, fans, referees, janitors and even scalpers. 


#3 "@$%^*!@(!)__(*#&**@()!#$@!(*# mo! Walang kwenta kang tao!" - UE supporter after Tamaraw Reil Cervantes slammed Warrior Paul Lee hard to the ground in overtime. Lee crashed with a thud, prompting the whole UE "community" inside the Philsports Arena to point their index (some used the middle) finger onto the Zamboanga native.

#2 "Go Adamsoooonnn! Pag nanalo tayo, magpapaka lalake na akooo!" - gay Adamson student as the Soaring Falcons forced overtime before winning it after two extensions against the UST Growling Tigers.

#1 "Reeeeffff! Reeeeeffff! Kung may sama ka ng loob sa FEU, sa akin mo na lang ibunton! Sa akin mo na lang ibunton! Saaaaaaaakeeeeeen!" - FEU fan early in the fourth quarter of their game against UE.

UAAP: Capacio rues officiating, calls for changes

Capacio rues officiating, calls for changes

Montinola says no to elevating issue to UAAP Board

By Josiah Israel Albelda

An obviously dejected Far Eastern University coach Glenn Capacio walked into the press room, still reeling from a bruising match his Tamaraws just had with a resurgent University of the East side.

The ex-PBA defensive ace didn't wait for reporters to ask questions and minced no words.

"Wala ba kayong magagawa para mag-improve ang officiating sa UAAP?" he rued. "Kase kawawa yung coaches dito e. Nagpreprepare ka for ilang months tapos gaganituhin ka lang?"

"Hindi biro-biro yung stress na binibigay nila sa amin niyan."

Capacio didn't hide his frustration, citing that the game was actually over in the first half but the referees allowed the Red Warriors to slowly climb back into the game and get a shot at pulling the rug from under the referees.

"Di ko alam kung anong plano nila," he said. "Alam naman ng lahat ng nanonoood kung ano yung nangyayari. Kaya sana may magawang pagbabago para gumanda yung liga."

"Naaawa lang ako sa players ko, nagpapakamatay sa loob ng court," added the three-year coach. "Kulang na lang sipain kami sa loob bago matawagan ng foul."

Even with what was happening, Capacio said that he just told his players to focus on the game, give their best and simply not mind the "bum calls."

The Tamaraws, especially birthday boy Reil Cervantes, responded well, canning two crucial baskets in overtime as the league leaders upended the Red Warriors, 83 - 77.

FEU team manager Anton Montinola, meanwhile, told Bilog ang Bola that he is not keen on elevating the issue to the UAAP Board.

"The game is over," he shared. "The commissioner is highly competent. He will review the tape and act accordingly." 

There is no report yet if the Commissioner's Office will mete suspensions on the team of referees led by Arnulfo Bermeo as it did earlier in Season 73. ###

Breaking: Stankovic Cup

Almost but not quite

Lebanon escapes Gilas, gain Stankovic Cup finals

Update by Mychael Miravite, Bilog Correspondent (Sagwa. Haha.)

Photos from fibaasia.net
15 August 2010

Smart Gilas lost a heartbreaker to host Lebanon, 80 - 81, in the semifinals of the 2010 Stankovic Cup in Beirut.


The undermanned but gritty Filipinos, not expected to do well in this tournament following personnel blows in recent weeks, shocked naysayers with stellar performances until the hometown team edged them in this down-the-wire thriller.


Lebanese superstar Fadi El-Khatib scored 25 points while naturalized American Jackson Vroman had 23 for the World Championship-bound squad, which will meet Japan in the finals tomorrow at 2am.


On the other hand, Filipino-American Marcio Lassiter fired seven three-pointers to post 23 markers, playmaker JV Casio had 17 and team captain Chris Tiu drained four treys to finish with 16.


The Filipinos shot 48% (15/31) from rainbow territory but just had nine free throws converted to Lebanon's 16.


Smart Gilas plays Qatar for third later at midnight. ###


The Scores:


Lebanon 81 - El Khatib 25, Vroman 23, Stephan 10, El Nour 7, Fakhreddine 7, Fahed 4, Rustom 3, Kanaan 2, Mahmoud 0


Philippines 80 - Lassiter 25, Casio 17, Tiu 16, Barroca 5, Taulava 5, Baracael 8, Aguilar 3, Ababou 1, Ballesteros 0


Quarters: 27-22, 49-45, 67-62, 81-80

Video #1: My students vs. Nonito Donaire, Jr.

My students Bullet Sarte and Emmanuel Suarez had the rare chance to interview boxing sensation Nonito Donaire, Jr. almost two weeks ago. I took the video.

Erik Spoelstra: Homecoming

A scorching homecoming

Text and Photos by Josiah Israel Albelda

13 August 2010

SAN PABLO CITY, Laguna - As the bus slowly crawled through the cramped entrance of San Pablo Colleges, Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra's eyes widened, visibly in awe of what was happening right before him.

A marching band played with electricity. Crowds - on the oven-hot grounds and all the school balconies - roared and cheered wildly. And the school and city officials beamed with smiles extending far beyond their ears.

This is San Pablo City, the home of the Celino family. The home of Erik Celino Spoelstra.

"Welcome home!" screamed a streamer held by an SPC grade schooler.

For the first time in almost 40 years, Spoelstra is home - and he surely relished the moment.

The 39-year-old mentor of superstars Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh swept by this sleepy Southern Tagalog city Thursday for a four-hour blitz, conducting a mini-training camp for kids and dropping by the SPC Medical Center before heading for his mother's ancestral home.

"I'm very proud of my heritage," he said. "My mother taught me Filipino values, hospitality and the importance of family."

Spoelstra received a dose of hospitality he can only imagine in his wildest dreams as San Pabloñans, led by SPC official and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) head Noli Eala, treated him like a long lost son.

The NBA's second-youngest coach got a number of plaques from the city government and the PSC while NBA Asia Business Development Director Ed Winkle received a citation from the San Pablo City council in behalf of the league.

Spoelstra discussed with the local media the importance of staying healthy and fit as part of his tour of duty in the country for NBA Fit. He stressed the significance of eating the right food, having regular exercise and maintaining a healthy lifestyle for Filipinos.

While putting emphasis on why he was really here, he also gave hope that a first Filipino player in the NBA could be in his way a few years from now.

"Around 15 to 20 years ago, nobody would have thought that a Filipino-American like me could coach in the NBA," Spoelstra, the first with Asian lineage to take a head coaching job in North American professional sports. "I hope what happned to me have opened doors, especially for Filipinos, in the NBA."

He pointed out that the league is getting more global, thus, the idea of a Filipino cager plying his trade in the "Big League" is not that farfetched anymore.

After that, Spoelstra, together with amiable Heat assistant coach David Fizdale, conducted drills and hoops activities for around 50 kids from San Pablo.

The scorching heat at the cemented court of the SPC did not deter the duo from giving their all, with Spoelstra making instant connection with the hundreds of students, who repeatedly chanted "Go Heat! Go Heat!" in the bleachers.

As a matter of fact, the youthful mentor was so engrossed with the crowd that he even rolled on the floor laughing after seeing a pair of children clad in Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic gear. The boisterous audience played along as they heavily booed the two.

"Oh my god!" he shouted in jest even as members of the NBA staff dressed the two in "NBA Cares" shirts.

Spoelstra and team then proceeded to a hospital to meet and greet the city's medical professionals before checking out his Cocount Rehabilitation Project in his mother's home barangay, around 15 minutes from the city proper.

It was, indeed, a very special trip for Spoelstra, who promised his co-San Pabloñans that it will not be the first and the last time they would touch base with each other.

With the way he was greeted by his hometown supporters, Coach Spo may be very well traversing the three-hour ride from Manila in the very near future yet again. ###

Photo #1: One-on-one with Rajko Toroman

THE MASTER AND THE BATA. Caught during my interview with Smart Gilas coach Rajko Toroman.

UPDATE: Smart Gilas crushed Iran, 79 - 67, to barge into the semfiinals of the Stankovic Cup in Lebanon.