Ateneo arranges all-UAAP final in Champions League

Two-time defending UAAP champion Ateneo bucked the absence of its star players finding enough strength in the fourth quarter to trounce bitter NCAA rival San Beda in the other semis match in the 2009 Philippine Collegiate Champions League.

The Blue Eagles went on a shooting clinic in the payoff period to defeat undermanned San Beda, 81-69, Monday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City to arrange an all-UAAP title showdown with Far Eastern University for the PCCL national title.

Reserve Oping Sumalinog combined with starters Jai Reyes and Eric Salamat in a big fourth quarter three-point shooting rampage as the Blue Eagles broke the game wide open to reach the national finals for the third consecutive season.

Ateneo won despite playing sluggish two months after its UAAP title conquest over University of the East and playing minus star big man Rabeh Al-Hussaini.

The 6-foot-6 Al-Hussaini, who bagged the 2008 UAAP Most Valuable Player and this season's Finals MVP honors, is currently concentrating on his commitments with the Smart Gilas RP national team.

"We're still not complete but we'll just do the best we can in the championship," said Ateneo coach Norman Black.

Sumalinog, Reyes and Salamat led the Loyola-based squad with 14 points apiece while Ryan Buenafe added 13 markers, three rebounds, four assists and two steals in 19 minutes on the floor.

They combined to hit all of the team's nine three-pointers off 24 attempts and was glad to win despite committing 21 turnovers.

"We turned the ball over 21 times but good thing San Beda committed 26 turnovers," Black added.

Ateneo was ahead by just six points, 65-59, with less than six minutes left before Reyes nailed a three-pointer. Salamat followed suit with two treys while Buenafe completed the rout with a triple for a 79-64 lead with just 1:40 to go.

The best-of-three title series between the Eagles and Tamaraws will begin on Wednesday with the former seeking their second title overall while the latter going for a record third championship.

Garvo Lanete led the way for San Beda with 15 points on 6-of-14 shooting while Bam Gamalinda nearly had his third straight double-double finishing with 13 points and nine boards.

Rookie Rome Dela Rosa came off the bench scoring 12 points in 24 minutes of action.

The Mendiola-based squad actually led 30-22 in the second quarter only for Ateneo to mount a comeback to trail 39-34 at the half.

But San Beda pulled within 48-46 with 3:35 left in the third on a Dela Rosa lay-up before Ateneo pulled away for good.

The Red Lions suited up with just 10 players and missed the services of American import Sudan Daniel (right foot) and Borgie Hermida (deep cut above his right eye).

San Beda and San Sebastian will play in a one-game showdown for third place, also on Wednesday, in a rematch of the NCAA finals won by the Stags.

Scores

Ateneo 81 – Sumalinog 14, Reyes 14, Salamat 14, Buenafe 13, Baclao 11, Salva 8, Long 5, Golla 2, Gonzaga 0, Chua 0, Austria 0, Tiongson 0, Monfort 0.

San Beda 69 – Lanete 15, Gamalinda 13, dela Rosa 12, Caram 8, Marcelo 7, Tecson 5, Villanueva 3, Solera 2, Lim 2, Pascual 2.

Quarter scores: 12-18; 39-34; 58-53; 81-69.

Games on Wednesday (Ynares Sports Arena)
2 p.m. — San Sebastian vs San Beda (3rd Place)
4 p.m. — FEU vs Ateneo (Finals Game 1)

Ateneo arranges all-UAAP final in Champions League

Two-time defending UAAP champion Ateneo bucked the absence of its star players finding enough strength in the fourth quarter to trounce bitter NCAA rival San Beda in the other semis match in the 2009 Philippine Collegiate Champions League.

The Blue Eagles went on a shooting clinic in the payoff period to defeat undermanned San Beda, 81-69, Monday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City to arrange an all-UAAP title showdown with Far Eastern University for the PCCL national title.

Reserve Oping Sumalinog combined with starters Jai Reyes and Eric Salamat in a big fourth quarter three-point shooting rampage as the Blue Eagles broke the game wide open to reach the national finals for the third consecutive season.

Ateneo won despite playing sluggish two months after its UAAP title conquest over University of the East and playing minus star big man Rabeh Al-Hussaini.

The 6-foot-6 Al-Hussaini, who bagged the 2008 UAAP Most Valuable Player and this season's Finals MVP honors, is currently concentrating on his commitments with the Smart Gilas RP national team.

"We're still not complete but we'll just do the best we can in the championship," said Ateneo coach Norman Black.

Sumalinog, Reyes and Salamat led the Loyola-based squad with 14 points apiece while Ryan Buenafe added 13 markers, three rebounds, four assists and two steals in 19 minutes on the floor.

They combined to hit all of the team's nine three-pointers off 24 attempts and was glad to win despite committing 21 turnovers.

"We turned the ball over 21 times but good thing San Beda committed 26 turnovers," Black added.

Ateneo was ahead by just six points, 65-59, with less than six minutes left before Reyes nailed a three-pointer. Salamat followed suit with two treys while Buenafe completed the rout with a triple for a 79-64 lead with just 1:40 to go.

The best-of-three title series between the Eagles and Tamaraws will begin on Wednesday with the former seeking their second title overall while the latter going for a record third championship.

Garvo Lanete led the way for San Beda with 15 points on 6-of-14 shooting while Bam Gamalinda nearly had his third straight double-double finishing with 13 points and nine boards.

Rookie Rome Dela Rosa came off the bench scoring 12 points in 24 minutes of action.

The Mendiola-based squad actually led 30-22 in the second quarter only for Ateneo to mount a comeback to trail 39-34 at the half.

But San Beda pulled within 48-46 with 3:35 left in the third on a Dela Rosa lay-up before Ateneo pulled away for good.

The Red Lions suited up with just 10 players and missed the services of American import Sudan Daniel (right foot) and Borgie Hermida (deep cut above his right eye).

San Beda and San Sebastian will play in a one-game showdown for third place, also on Wednesday, in a rematch of the NCAA finals won by the Stags.

Scores

Ateneo 81 – Sumalinog 14, Reyes 14, Salamat 14, Buenafe 13, Baclao 11, Salva 8, Long 5, Golla 2, Gonzaga 0, Chua 0, Austria 0, Tiongson 0, Monfort 0.

San Beda 69 – Lanete 15, Gamalinda 13, dela Rosa 12, Caram 8, Marcelo 7, Tecson 5, Villanueva 3, Solera 2, Lim 2, Pascual 2.

Quarter scores: 12-18; 39-34; 58-53; 81-69.

Games on Wednesday (Ynares Sports Arena)
2 p.m. — San Sebastian vs San Beda (3rd Place)
4 p.m. — FEU vs Ateneo (Finals Game 1)

ABS-CBN scored for non-coverage of NC games

MANILA, Philippines - The NCAA yesterday said it will now offer the rights to telecast the NCAA games to other networks starting this year., disappoined over ABS-CBN decision not to telecast Wednesday’s games.

“Our five-year contract with ABS-CBN expires next year but we’ll start negotiating this year,” said league president and San Beda rector Fr. Mat de Jesus, OSB, in a statement.

The league expressed its disappointment over ABS-CBN’s decision to cancel the telecast of the NCAA games that pitted San Beda versus Angeles U Foundation and Letran against Emilio Aguinaldo last Wednesday to give way for the coverage of the late President Cory Aquino’s funeral.

The network also cancelled the airing of the NCAA games last month during President Arroyo’s annual State of the Nation Address.

While admitting that the two events were of national importance, the NCAA argued that the least the network could have done was to air the games on a delayed basis.

“Personally, the President Cory Aquino event carried national importance,” said de Jesus. “However, ABS-CBN and Studio 23 could have aired the games on a delayed basis for the schools and fans alike.

“It’s one thing to give way once in a while to a national event and it’s another thing to completely disregard scheduled games without even a delayed telecast,” said de Jesus.

“There’s some imbalance here,” he said. – Joey Villar

ABS-CBN scored for non-coverage of NC games

MANILA, Philippines - The NCAA yesterday said it will now offer the rights to telecast the NCAA games to other networks starting this year., disappoined over ABS-CBN decision not to telecast Wednesday’s games.

“Our five-year contract with ABS-CBN expires next year but we’ll start negotiating this year,” said league president and San Beda rector Fr. Mat de Jesus, OSB, in a statement.

The league expressed its disappointment over ABS-CBN’s decision to cancel the telecast of the NCAA games that pitted San Beda versus Angeles U Foundation and Letran against Emilio Aguinaldo last Wednesday to give way for the coverage of the late President Cory Aquino’s funeral.

The network also cancelled the airing of the NCAA games last month during President Arroyo’s annual State of the Nation Address.

While admitting that the two events were of national importance, the NCAA argued that the least the network could have done was to air the games on a delayed basis.

“Personally, the President Cory Aquino event carried national importance,” said de Jesus. “However, ABS-CBN and Studio 23 could have aired the games on a delayed basis for the schools and fans alike.

“It’s one thing to give way once in a while to a national event and it’s another thing to completely disregard scheduled games without even a delayed telecast,” said de Jesus.

“There’s some imbalance here,” he said. – Joey Villar

Lions finish strong over Great Danes

MANILA, Philippines - San Beda sized up Angeles U Foundation in the first two quarters then imposed its will in the second half to score an 89-56 rout yesterday and close in on unbeaten San Sebastian in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

Garvo Lanete fired eight of his 20 points in the third quarter where the Red Lions pulled away after a lackluster outing in the first half on their way to a 7-1 (win-loss) mark.

American Sudan Daniel also came two blocks short off a triple-double effort with 17 points, 11 rebounds and eight shotblocks.

The Great Danes, who fell to 1-7, kept the game close in the early going and trailed by just seven, 31-38, at the turn.

But the Lions came out of the break roaring as Lanete combined with Bam Bam Gamalinda, who scored all his eight points in the period where San Beda outscored AUF, 26-12.

“It’s a good win and preparation against JRU, but we still have to minimize our turnovers,” said coach Frankie Lim, referring to their match with the Bombers on Monday.

In juniors’ action, Letran leaned on Jarelan Tampus, who shot 29 points to power the Squires past the Emilio Aguinaldo side, 133-77, for their eighth straight win.

In the other game, Letran made a key stop in the closing seconds as it edged Emilio Aguinaldo, 85-84, in overtime to remain at No. 4 with a 5-3 card.

Rookie Jomar Datang blocked Claude Cubo desperation shot at the buzzer to help seal the win for the Knights, who drew 26 points from RJ Jazul and a combined 22-point output from Rey Guevarra and Kevin Alas.

The Generals fell to 2-6.

Lions finish strong over Great Danes

MANILA, Philippines - San Beda sized up Angeles U Foundation in the first two quarters then imposed its will in the second half to score an 89-56 rout yesterday and close in on unbeaten San Sebastian in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

Garvo Lanete fired eight of his 20 points in the third quarter where the Red Lions pulled away after a lackluster outing in the first half on their way to a 7-1 (win-loss) mark.

American Sudan Daniel also came two blocks short off a triple-double effort with 17 points, 11 rebounds and eight shotblocks.

The Great Danes, who fell to 1-7, kept the game close in the early going and trailed by just seven, 31-38, at the turn.

But the Lions came out of the break roaring as Lanete combined with Bam Bam Gamalinda, who scored all his eight points in the period where San Beda outscored AUF, 26-12.

“It’s a good win and preparation against JRU, but we still have to minimize our turnovers,” said coach Frankie Lim, referring to their match with the Bombers on Monday.

In juniors’ action, Letran leaned on Jarelan Tampus, who shot 29 points to power the Squires past the Emilio Aguinaldo side, 133-77, for their eighth straight win.

In the other game, Letran made a key stop in the closing seconds as it edged Emilio Aguinaldo, 85-84, in overtime to remain at No. 4 with a 5-3 card.

Rookie Jomar Datang blocked Claude Cubo desperation shot at the buzzer to help seal the win for the Knights, who drew 26 points from RJ Jazul and a combined 22-point output from Rey Guevarra and Kevin Alas.

The Generals fell to 2-6.

Grieving Bombers survive Cardinals

MANILA, Philippines - Jose Rizal University battled back from an 18-point deficit to turn back Mapua, 83-78, behind the fourth quarter heroics of John Wilson yesterday to rejoin San Sebastian in the lead in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

Wilson scattered 14 of his 25 points in the last period, including an 11-point binge in the final 1.41 minutes to power the Bombers to their sixth straight win which they dedicated to a fallen former teammate.

“This one is for Jayson Nocom, our captain, brother, friend and protector,” said Jose Rizal coach Ariel Vanguardia.

Nocom died in a motorcycle road accident early Monday.

Wearing a piece of black cloth bearing Nocom’s initials and jersey No. 10, the Bombers fought back from a 37-55 deficit in the third quarter behind a stirring 35-19 run to close within 72-74 with less than two minutes to go in the contest.

Wilson then capped the Bombers’ endgame blitz with 11 straight points, including a triple that bounced once before trickling in.

“I thought that one triple by John (Wilson) will not go in. But it did, probably Jayson (Nocom) tipped it in, he’s now our sixth man,” said Vanguardia.

It was a sorry loss for Mapua, which pounced on a weary JRU side which attended Nocom’s wake the past two nights, to seize control majority of the way.

In the other game, Letran bucked the absence of suspended teammates Kris Alas and Jaypee Belencion as it demolished Angeles U Foundation, 94-64, to remain at No. 4 with a 4-3 card.

Rey Guevarra paced the Knights with 16 points while Kevin Alas, Kirk del Rosario and RJ Jazul chipped in 15, 15 and 14 points, respectively, to make up for the absence of Alas and Belencion, who were suspended for one game for their misconduct in their match against San Beda last week.

The Great Danes fell to their sixth setback in seven outings.

Grieving Bombers survive Cardinals

MANILA, Philippines - Jose Rizal University battled back from an 18-point deficit to turn back Mapua, 83-78, behind the fourth quarter heroics of John Wilson yesterday to rejoin San Sebastian in the lead in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

Wilson scattered 14 of his 25 points in the last period, including an 11-point binge in the final 1.41 minutes to power the Bombers to their sixth straight win which they dedicated to a fallen former teammate.

“This one is for Jayson Nocom, our captain, brother, friend and protector,” said Jose Rizal coach Ariel Vanguardia.

Nocom died in a motorcycle road accident early Monday.

Wearing a piece of black cloth bearing Nocom’s initials and jersey No. 10, the Bombers fought back from a 37-55 deficit in the third quarter behind a stirring 35-19 run to close within 72-74 with less than two minutes to go in the contest.

Wilson then capped the Bombers’ endgame blitz with 11 straight points, including a triple that bounced once before trickling in.

“I thought that one triple by John (Wilson) will not go in. But it did, probably Jayson (Nocom) tipped it in, he’s now our sixth man,” said Vanguardia.

It was a sorry loss for Mapua, which pounced on a weary JRU side which attended Nocom’s wake the past two nights, to seize control majority of the way.

In the other game, Letran bucked the absence of suspended teammates Kris Alas and Jaypee Belencion as it demolished Angeles U Foundation, 94-64, to remain at No. 4 with a 4-3 card.

Rey Guevarra paced the Knights with 16 points while Kevin Alas, Kirk del Rosario and RJ Jazul chipped in 15, 15 and 14 points, respectively, to make up for the absence of Alas and Belencion, who were suspended for one game for their misconduct in their match against San Beda last week.

The Great Danes fell to their sixth setback in seven outings.

High school player erupts for 89 points

MANILA -- Jose Rizal’s high school basketball is slowly but surely starting to become a factory of players who are mean, scoring machine.

On Wednesday, the Light Bombers produced another one Unleashing one of the finest scoring exhibitions in league history, Joshua Saret did a Kobe Bryant as he torched Angeles U Foundation with a league-best 89 points to power Jose Rizal to a one-sided 171-43 victory in juniors’ action of Season 85 at The Arena in San Juan City.

The 5’8” lightning-quick Saret, who poured in 22, 21, 19 and 27 points by quarter, drained 33 of the 54 he shots he attempted from the field and buried nine of the 10 foul shots he took.

Saret laced his spectacular scoring feat by bombing AUF with a league-high 14 booming triples.

Saret thus became the new owner of the highest scoring output in league history since former teammate Keith Agovida burned the hoops with an 82-points explosion on Sept. 4 last year.

Letran’s Marlon Bola Bola was the previous record owner before Agovida with 71 points in the 70s.

Amazingly, Saret bested the 79 points poured in by Allan “The Triggerman” Caidic in the pros in 1987 that proved to be the highest scored by a Filipino ever.

Incidentally, Saret’s feat was eight points higher than what Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant’s NBA personal high 81 points. Bryant, the 2007-2008 MVP, was in the country a few days back for a six-day multi-nation Asian tour.

Saret, who is now being eyed by big name schools like reigning UAAP champion Ateneo, actually had 11 rebounds, 12 assists and 13 steals to post the league’s first quadruple-double since Ryan Buenafe, formerly of San Sebastian, made a habit of it two seasons back.

Curiously, Saret scored only six points when Agovida, reportedly playing for La Salle next UAAP season, waxed hot.

“We’re proud of him,” said Management Committee member Paul Supan of Jose Rizal. “He will play for our seniors’ team next year.”

High school player erupts for 89 points

MANILA -- Jose Rizal’s high school basketball is slowly but surely starting to become a factory of players who are mean, scoring machine.

On Wednesday, the Light Bombers produced another one Unleashing one of the finest scoring exhibitions in league history, Joshua Saret did a Kobe Bryant as he torched Angeles U Foundation with a league-best 89 points to power Jose Rizal to a one-sided 171-43 victory in juniors’ action of Season 85 at The Arena in San Juan City.

The 5’8” lightning-quick Saret, who poured in 22, 21, 19 and 27 points by quarter, drained 33 of the 54 he shots he attempted from the field and buried nine of the 10 foul shots he took.

Saret laced his spectacular scoring feat by bombing AUF with a league-high 14 booming triples.

Saret thus became the new owner of the highest scoring output in league history since former teammate Keith Agovida burned the hoops with an 82-points explosion on Sept. 4 last year.

Letran’s Marlon Bola Bola was the previous record owner before Agovida with 71 points in the 70s.

Amazingly, Saret bested the 79 points poured in by Allan “The Triggerman” Caidic in the pros in 1987 that proved to be the highest scored by a Filipino ever.

Incidentally, Saret’s feat was eight points higher than what Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant’s NBA personal high 81 points. Bryant, the 2007-2008 MVP, was in the country a few days back for a six-day multi-nation Asian tour.

Saret, who is now being eyed by big name schools like reigning UAAP champion Ateneo, actually had 11 rebounds, 12 assists and 13 steals to post the league’s first quadruple-double since Ryan Buenafe, formerly of San Sebastian, made a habit of it two seasons back.

Curiously, Saret scored only six points when Agovida, reportedly playing for La Salle next UAAP season, waxed hot.

“We’re proud of him,” said Management Committee member Paul Supan of Jose Rizal. “He will play for our seniors’ team next year.”

Stags seek solo lead

MANILA, Philippines - San Sebastian College goes for its fifth straight win and the solo lead as it collides with a skidding Arellano U side today in the 85th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

The Stags, tied with the Jose Rizal U Bombers in the lead, hope to ride on their streak and pounce on the Chiefs’ back-to-back skid in their 4 p.m duel.

Letran, meanwhile, tries to sustain its rebound from two straight defeats as the Knights shoot for their third straight win against the St. Benilde Blazers in their 2 p.m. clash.

The Knights and the Blazers share fourth place with the Chiefs halfway through the first round elims.

The Stags smothered the Emilio Aguinaldo Generals, 87-73, last Friday to keep in step again with the Bombers. But SSC coach Ato Agustin remain wary of the Chiefs.

“Arellano is a tough team, we expect a close game,” said Agustin. “But they’re coming off two straight losses, maybe we’ll use our momentum against them.”

Stags seek solo lead

MANILA, Philippines - San Sebastian College goes for its fifth straight win and the solo lead as it collides with a skidding Arellano U side today in the 85th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

The Stags, tied with the Jose Rizal U Bombers in the lead, hope to ride on their streak and pounce on the Chiefs’ back-to-back skid in their 4 p.m duel.

Letran, meanwhile, tries to sustain its rebound from two straight defeats as the Knights shoot for their third straight win against the St. Benilde Blazers in their 2 p.m. clash.

The Knights and the Blazers share fourth place with the Chiefs halfway through the first round elims.

The Stags smothered the Emilio Aguinaldo Generals, 87-73, last Friday to keep in step again with the Bombers. But SSC coach Ato Agustin remain wary of the Chiefs.

“Arellano is a tough team, we expect a close game,” said Agustin. “But they’re coming off two straight losses, maybe we’ll use our momentum against them.”

Clear Men Future League airs on C/S9

Basketball fans get a different kind of treat beginning today as the pilot episode of the first Clear Men Future League airs over C/S9.

Hosted by basketball stars Chris Tiu and Benjie Paras, the country’s newest cage reality program presented by Clear Men starting at 8 p.m. features some of the most promising players culled from a series of provincial tournaments last summer.

Replays are to be shown over Basketball TV every Tuesdays (9 p.m.) and Saturdays (5 p.m.)

The program will run for one season or a total of 13 episodes.

The charming Sharon Yu, De La Salle’s former UAAP courtside reporter, will be joining the one hour show as lady co-host.

The reality basketball show champion is set to bring home a cash prize of P200,000, while getting a chance to be tapped as the next big discovery in Philippine basketball.

All participants had been spread out to 10 different teams consisting of six players each. They qualified after competing in tough provincial tournaments staged in Metro Manila, Northern Luzon, South Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

The players are required to compete in a series of unique and specially-designed skills challenges that will test their talent, teamwork and character.

And their experiences during the contest duration are going to be chronicled during the hour-long program that will not only show the players’ skills on the court but their human side as well.

Clear Men Future League airs on C/S9

Basketball fans get a different kind of treat beginning today as the pilot episode of the first Clear Men Future League airs over C/S9.

Hosted by basketball stars Chris Tiu and Benjie Paras, the country’s newest cage reality program presented by Clear Men starting at 8 p.m. features some of the most promising players culled from a series of provincial tournaments last summer.

Replays are to be shown over Basketball TV every Tuesdays (9 p.m.) and Saturdays (5 p.m.)

The program will run for one season or a total of 13 episodes.

The charming Sharon Yu, De La Salle’s former UAAP courtside reporter, will be joining the one hour show as lady co-host.

The reality basketball show champion is set to bring home a cash prize of P200,000, while getting a chance to be tapped as the next big discovery in Philippine basketball.

All participants had been spread out to 10 different teams consisting of six players each. They qualified after competing in tough provincial tournaments staged in Metro Manila, Northern Luzon, South Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

The players are required to compete in a series of unique and specially-designed skills challenges that will test their talent, teamwork and character.

And their experiences during the contest duration are going to be chronicled during the hour-long program that will not only show the players’ skills on the court but their human side as well.

Bombers pulverize Generals; Cardinals win

John Wilson dished out another superb game as Jose Rizal smashed Emilio Aguinaldo College, 83-69, yesterday to seize a share of the lead in the 85th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

Wilson hit four triples and finished with 22 points he laced with 10 boards, three steals and two assists without committing a single error to power the Bombers to their third straight triumph and a piece of the lead.

“He’s without doubt one of our best players,” said Jose Rizal coach Ariel Vanguardia of the talented Wilson, a member of PBL champion Oracle Residences.

The Generals fell to their third defeat in row.

Earlier, Mapua drew strength from other sources when top gun Allan Mangahas struggled as it overpowered Angeles U Foundation, 101-63, to score its first win in three starts.

With Mangahas held to only seven points, Mark Acosta, Erwin Cornejo and Jason Pascual gladly picked up the slack and torched the Great Danes with 21, 13 and 12 points, respectively.

“It feels good to finally win this season,” said neophyte coach Chito Victolero, who replaced Barako Bull coach Leo Isaac late last year.

Victolero, a former Cardinal himself, said Mangahas fired up the team despite his so-so offensives.

“The most important thing is he provided us with leadership and he created situations for his teammates,” said Victolero.

The Cardinals, who made it to the Final Four but lost to eventual champion San Beda last season, took the Great Danes out of their comfort zone from start to finish.

In fact, Mapua silenced AUF’s top two scorers – Aaron Santos and Matt Carney, who had 29 and 24 points in an 86-75 thrashing of the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals Monday.

Carney, an Amerasian, was held to just seven points and turned the ball six times while Santos fared even worse as he was held to just two shots and finished scoreless in the contest. – Joey Villar

Bombers pulverize Generals; Cardinals win

John Wilson dished out another superb game as Jose Rizal smashed Emilio Aguinaldo College, 83-69, yesterday to seize a share of the lead in the 85th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

Wilson hit four triples and finished with 22 points he laced with 10 boards, three steals and two assists without committing a single error to power the Bombers to their third straight triumph and a piece of the lead.

“He’s without doubt one of our best players,” said Jose Rizal coach Ariel Vanguardia of the talented Wilson, a member of PBL champion Oracle Residences.

The Generals fell to their third defeat in row.

Earlier, Mapua drew strength from other sources when top gun Allan Mangahas struggled as it overpowered Angeles U Foundation, 101-63, to score its first win in three starts.

With Mangahas held to only seven points, Mark Acosta, Erwin Cornejo and Jason Pascual gladly picked up the slack and torched the Great Danes with 21, 13 and 12 points, respectively.

“It feels good to finally win this season,” said neophyte coach Chito Victolero, who replaced Barako Bull coach Leo Isaac late last year.

Victolero, a former Cardinal himself, said Mangahas fired up the team despite his so-so offensives.

“The most important thing is he provided us with leadership and he created situations for his teammates,” said Victolero.

The Cardinals, who made it to the Final Four but lost to eventual champion San Beda last season, took the Great Danes out of their comfort zone from start to finish.

In fact, Mapua silenced AUF’s top two scorers – Aaron Santos and Matt Carney, who had 29 and 24 points in an 86-75 thrashing of the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals Monday.

Carney, an Amerasian, was held to just seven points and turned the ball six times while Santos fared even worse as he was held to just two shots and finished scoreless in the contest. – Joey Villar

Stakes reach P300M in varsity hoops

A man wearing a red shirt and slippers sneaked behind Marnel "Mac" Baracael outside the Far Eastern University campus on Morayta Street and fired two shots to his back.
The assailant calmly unscrewed the silencer from the barrel of his gun, put the weapon in his backpack and melted in the evening rush hour at Manila's University Belt.
Baracael, a rising star in the FEU basketball team, fell bloodied.

As much as P300 million changed hands in recent years in each season of the Universities Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), officials say.
All of a sudden, the vibrant world of varsity basketball, which used to be decked with bright school colors and lively chants, has become a bleak, mute arena of paranoia.
Players, who used to be surrounded by cheerleaders and team mascots, were shielded by a phalanx of bodyguards from swooning admirers.
At least three schools are known to have tightened their watch on their players: FEU, University of the East and Ateneo de Manila University.
"There was heightened security [after the Baracael attack]," said Brenn Perez, the UE representative to the UAAP board. "We had to monitor [our athletes] because the incident just happened in our area. We did not want [what happened to Baracael] to happen to our players."
All about gambling
And even before the shock over the brazen attack on Baracael had worn off, the college basketball world was stunned by what appeared to be the motive behind the shooting. The ugly spawn of gambling has reared its head in varsity basketball.
"Of course, it was about game fixing," said Ateneo athletic director Ricky Palou. "What else could it be?"
And suddenly, people were asking: Had gambling and game fixing -- the art of influencing the outcome of a game through underhanded means -- indeed infiltrated the amateur ranks? If so, to what extent?
The Inquirer sought to dig into the accusations to find out just how deep gambling had penetrated varsity hoops and what is being done to counter its ill effects. The answers to these questions were both startling and disturbing.
"The last two to three years, people were saying that P200 to P300 million in bets were going around," Palou said.
"There's at least P60 to 80 thousand reserved for players. More for referees. Put it this way, what's P100,000 if millions are at stake?"
Even officials are fearful
Speaking to school officials and sources who refused to be identified because they either feared for their safety or were not cleared by their superiors to discuss the matter, the Inquirer learned that: Game fixing, which includes such machinations as point shaving, has caught up in the UAAP and the NCAA; the money involved reaches hundreds of millions; and both collegiate athletic organizations are helpless in their bid to stop the illegal activities.
The Baracael incident, however, may force the organizations, who are duty-bound to protect their student athletes, to start a collective move to solve the problem.
If there's one thing the incident did, it was to bring the problem of game fixing and gambling out of hushed conversations and into the open.
"The initial reaction [at De La Salle University] was how violent already [gambling] is," said Bro. Bernie Oca, vice chancellor for La Sallian mission and external relations. "These people (gamblers) are not afraid to use violence to make a statement."
Can of worms
The first time game fixing was linked to the attack on Baracael was in the immediate aftermath of the shooting, when four sources separately told the Inquirer that a gambling deal gone wrong was the motive.
"Baracael squealed on the players involved in the scam," said a team official days after the attack last year. "The people behind the scam got even with him. [The attack] was meant to silence him."
A current national pool member, Baracael, in a television interview, refused to say game fixing had anything to do with the attack. But he did not dispel it completely: "It's possible, I cannot say," he told investigators then. "I don't have any enemies."
Baracael, 24, has since remained mum on the shooting, choosing to move on with his basketball career. But the can of worms has been opened.
FEU has attempted to distance the shooting from game fixing.
Coach Glenn Capacio has maintained that no motive had been established by the police yet. And the police could not authoritatively say that game fixing indeed was the motive.
'It's sad'
FEU had initially begged off from taking part in the Inquirer probe as it was preparing to host this year's UAAP season, but FEU's Anton Montinola, the UAAP's current president, admitted last week in a sports forum that game fixing was a real problem in amateur hoops.
"It's sad," Montinola said. "This is just college basketball and I don't see why these people (gamblers) should meddle in our affairs."
But as a collegial body, the UAAP has taken no specific action to deal with the problem in spite of the Baracael shooting, leaving it to member schools to address.
"The different schools have to do their part in educating and talking to their players and coaches," Montinola said.
"We (UAAP board) never tackled this issue comprehensively," admitted La Salle's Brother Oca.
"Our meetings are so long, it's all about business, so these big things are not tackled. Except for that particular special meeting after the shooting. Now that it's OK again, it's back to business and preparation for the new season.
"But yes, we should already talk about it," he added.
Wrong approach
Palou is a staunch advocate of the UAAP board collectively acting on the problem.
According to him, leaving it to the schools to work on the problem independently has proven to be the wrong approach in the past.
When a powerhouse school had actually caught one of its players in a deal with fixers to influence the outcome of a match three years ago, nothing definitive ever came out of it apart from the player getting expelled from the team.
"That's why I was so mad, because someone was already caught," Palou said.
"But they didn't do anything about it. There was money involved and somebody squealed, but they didn't do anything about it. The school just took the player out of the team not knowing that there were still other players involved who were still in the team."
The expelled player is now even seeing action in a commercial league.
A former college player, who admitted to introducing a gambling contact to the expelled player, confirmed that there, indeed was another player involved in the deal.
"A contact [of the fixers] approached two players. At first, they said no. Then the contact came back after some time. Soon, the two players agreed. But they were caught [by school officials] because of text messages that were uncovered in one of their cell phones," the player-source said.
The other player? He was spared any punishment.

Francis Ochoa, Jasmine W. Payo, Cedelf P. Tupas,
Inquirer Sports Staff
- INQUIRER.net

Stakes reach P300M in varsity hoops

A man wearing a red shirt and slippers sneaked behind Marnel "Mac" Baracael outside the Far Eastern University campus on Morayta Street and fired two shots to his back.
The assailant calmly unscrewed the silencer from the barrel of his gun, put the weapon in his backpack and melted in the evening rush hour at Manila's University Belt.
Baracael, a rising star in the FEU basketball team, fell bloodied.

As much as P300 million changed hands in recent years in each season of the Universities Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), officials say.
All of a sudden, the vibrant world of varsity basketball, which used to be decked with bright school colors and lively chants, has become a bleak, mute arena of paranoia.
Players, who used to be surrounded by cheerleaders and team mascots, were shielded by a phalanx of bodyguards from swooning admirers.
At least three schools are known to have tightened their watch on their players: FEU, University of the East and Ateneo de Manila University.
"There was heightened security [after the Baracael attack]," said Brenn Perez, the UE representative to the UAAP board. "We had to monitor [our athletes] because the incident just happened in our area. We did not want [what happened to Baracael] to happen to our players."
All about gambling
And even before the shock over the brazen attack on Baracael had worn off, the college basketball world was stunned by what appeared to be the motive behind the shooting. The ugly spawn of gambling has reared its head in varsity basketball.
"Of course, it was about game fixing," said Ateneo athletic director Ricky Palou. "What else could it be?"
And suddenly, people were asking: Had gambling and game fixing -- the art of influencing the outcome of a game through underhanded means -- indeed infiltrated the amateur ranks? If so, to what extent?
The Inquirer sought to dig into the accusations to find out just how deep gambling had penetrated varsity hoops and what is being done to counter its ill effects. The answers to these questions were both startling and disturbing.
"The last two to three years, people were saying that P200 to P300 million in bets were going around," Palou said.
"There's at least P60 to 80 thousand reserved for players. More for referees. Put it this way, what's P100,000 if millions are at stake?"
Even officials are fearful
Speaking to school officials and sources who refused to be identified because they either feared for their safety or were not cleared by their superiors to discuss the matter, the Inquirer learned that: Game fixing, which includes such machinations as point shaving, has caught up in the UAAP and the NCAA; the money involved reaches hundreds of millions; and both collegiate athletic organizations are helpless in their bid to stop the illegal activities.
The Baracael incident, however, may force the organizations, who are duty-bound to protect their student athletes, to start a collective move to solve the problem.
If there's one thing the incident did, it was to bring the problem of game fixing and gambling out of hushed conversations and into the open.
"The initial reaction [at De La Salle University] was how violent already [gambling] is," said Bro. Bernie Oca, vice chancellor for La Sallian mission and external relations. "These people (gamblers) are not afraid to use violence to make a statement."
Can of worms
The first time game fixing was linked to the attack on Baracael was in the immediate aftermath of the shooting, when four sources separately told the Inquirer that a gambling deal gone wrong was the motive.
"Baracael squealed on the players involved in the scam," said a team official days after the attack last year. "The people behind the scam got even with him. [The attack] was meant to silence him."
A current national pool member, Baracael, in a television interview, refused to say game fixing had anything to do with the attack. But he did not dispel it completely: "It's possible, I cannot say," he told investigators then. "I don't have any enemies."
Baracael, 24, has since remained mum on the shooting, choosing to move on with his basketball career. But the can of worms has been opened.
FEU has attempted to distance the shooting from game fixing.
Coach Glenn Capacio has maintained that no motive had been established by the police yet. And the police could not authoritatively say that game fixing indeed was the motive.
'It's sad'
FEU had initially begged off from taking part in the Inquirer probe as it was preparing to host this year's UAAP season, but FEU's Anton Montinola, the UAAP's current president, admitted last week in a sports forum that game fixing was a real problem in amateur hoops.
"It's sad," Montinola said. "This is just college basketball and I don't see why these people (gamblers) should meddle in our affairs."
But as a collegial body, the UAAP has taken no specific action to deal with the problem in spite of the Baracael shooting, leaving it to member schools to address.
"The different schools have to do their part in educating and talking to their players and coaches," Montinola said.
"We (UAAP board) never tackled this issue comprehensively," admitted La Salle's Brother Oca.
"Our meetings are so long, it's all about business, so these big things are not tackled. Except for that particular special meeting after the shooting. Now that it's OK again, it's back to business and preparation for the new season.
"But yes, we should already talk about it," he added.
Wrong approach
Palou is a staunch advocate of the UAAP board collectively acting on the problem.
According to him, leaving it to the schools to work on the problem independently has proven to be the wrong approach in the past.
When a powerhouse school had actually caught one of its players in a deal with fixers to influence the outcome of a match three years ago, nothing definitive ever came out of it apart from the player getting expelled from the team.
"That's why I was so mad, because someone was already caught," Palou said.
"But they didn't do anything about it. There was money involved and somebody squealed, but they didn't do anything about it. The school just took the player out of the team not knowing that there were still other players involved who were still in the team."
The expelled player is now even seeing action in a commercial league.
A former college player, who admitted to introducing a gambling contact to the expelled player, confirmed that there, indeed was another player involved in the deal.
"A contact [of the fixers] approached two players. At first, they said no. Then the contact came back after some time. Soon, the two players agreed. But they were caught [by school officials] because of text messages that were uncovered in one of their cell phones," the player-source said.
The other player? He was spared any punishment.

Francis Ochoa, Jasmine W. Payo, Cedelf P. Tupas,
Inquirer Sports Staff
- INQUIRER.net

Lions rebound, rout Chiefs

Three-peat champion San Beda swiftly rebounded from a shock loss last week, routing guest team Arellano University, 102-74, yesterday in the 85th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

Garvo Lanete led a roaring charge by the Red Lions by unloading 20 points while Borgie Hermida, American Sudan Daniel, Jay-R Taganas, Dave Marcelo and Jake Pascual, backed him up with double-digit outputs as San Beda recovered from a 77-83 setback to the San Sebastian Stags Wednesday.

“We prepared our team to come out strong, we played solid defense against their shooters and broke through their press in the first half,” said San Beda coach Frankie Lim.

The Chiefs, who were paced by Adrian Celada’s 17 points, fell to their first loss after trouncing the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals and the multi-titled Letran Knights.

Earlier, Angeles University of the Philippines outgunned fellow guest team EAC, 86-75, for its first win in two starts.

Aaron Santos erupted for 29 points he spiked with five triples while Fil-Am Matt Carney made his presence felt in the shaded lane to finish with 24 points and seven rebounds for the Great Danes.

“It’s a good feeling winning our first game in the NCAA,” said AUF coach Eric Gascon, whose team had to travel two hours from Pampanga to play here.

The Generals fell to their second straight defeat.

So dominating were the Lions that they out-rebounded the Chiefs, 57-30, with Taganas, Daniel and Jake Pascual accounting for 31 caroms.

“That’s what we didn’t have in our first loss, rebounding,” said Lim.

Daniel was also an intimidating defensive presence inside as he swatted away a season-high seven shots.

In juniors’ action, San Beda blasted Arellano U, 106-51, to seize the lead with three straight wins.

EAC’s high school team made up for its college counterparts’ loss by smashing AUF, 78-62.

Lions rebound, rout Chiefs

Three-peat champion San Beda swiftly rebounded from a shock loss last week, routing guest team Arellano University, 102-74, yesterday in the 85th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

Garvo Lanete led a roaring charge by the Red Lions by unloading 20 points while Borgie Hermida, American Sudan Daniel, Jay-R Taganas, Dave Marcelo and Jake Pascual, backed him up with double-digit outputs as San Beda recovered from a 77-83 setback to the San Sebastian Stags Wednesday.

“We prepared our team to come out strong, we played solid defense against their shooters and broke through their press in the first half,” said San Beda coach Frankie Lim.

The Chiefs, who were paced by Adrian Celada’s 17 points, fell to their first loss after trouncing the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals and the multi-titled Letran Knights.

Earlier, Angeles University of the Philippines outgunned fellow guest team EAC, 86-75, for its first win in two starts.

Aaron Santos erupted for 29 points he spiked with five triples while Fil-Am Matt Carney made his presence felt in the shaded lane to finish with 24 points and seven rebounds for the Great Danes.

“It’s a good feeling winning our first game in the NCAA,” said AUF coach Eric Gascon, whose team had to travel two hours from Pampanga to play here.

The Generals fell to their second straight defeat.

So dominating were the Lions that they out-rebounded the Chiefs, 57-30, with Taganas, Daniel and Jake Pascual accounting for 31 caroms.

“That’s what we didn’t have in our first loss, rebounding,” said Lim.

Daniel was also an intimidating defensive presence inside as he swatted away a season-high seven shots.

In juniors’ action, San Beda blasted Arellano U, 106-51, to seize the lead with three straight wins.

EAC’s high school team made up for its college counterparts’ loss by smashing AUF, 78-62.