The UAAP Coaches

Got this picture from a friend. Not so sure what year this was taken. But it was about the time when Coach Norman Black (2nd row, middle) was coaching the San Miguel Beermen, while Franz Pumaren is one of the team's point guards (3rd from right). Magkasama pa sila sa San Miguel, my all-time favorite team sa PBA! Si Coach Norman has always been my all-time favorite coach. At ang all-time favorite player? Sorry, hindi yun si Franz Pumaren! 

Medyo huli na ang post na ito. Natapos na ang usaping Black vs. Pumaren sa UAAP, at alam na natin kung sino ang wagi, at sino ang sawi! It was just great to find this picture again.

Hector Calma forever!

Ateneo-La Salle Game 2 Finals

Prayer of a Sportsman

Dear Lord, in the battle that goes on through life
I ask but a field that is fair,
A chance that is equal with all in the strife,
A courage to strive and to dare;

And if should win, let it be by the code
With my faith and my honor held high;
And if I should lose, let me stand by the road,
And cheer as the winners go by.

And Lord, may my shouts be ungrudging and clear,
A tribute that comes from the heart,
And let me not cherish a snarl or a sneer
Or play any sniveling part;

Let me say, “There they ride, on whom laurel’s bestowed
Since they played the game better than I.”
Let me stand with a smile by the side of the road,
And cheer as the winners go by.

So grant me to conquer, if conquer I can,
By proving my worth in the fray,
But teach me to lose like a regular man,
And not like a craven, I pray;

Let me take off my hat to the warriors who strode
To victory splendid and high,
Yea, teach me to stand by the side of the road
And cheer as the winners go by.

-Berton Braley

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I read in one of the posts in Multiply that losing with character and poise is as important as winning with honor" --- Ateneo has a lot to teach La Sallites and not just how to play good basketball. Very interesting. Despite heartbreaking losses of past seasons, Ateneo has been poised even in defeat. I remember that from the Game 3 of Season 69, when JC, Macky and Doug thanked the Ateneo supporters in Araneta despite losing to UST. In contrast to Pumaren when all he could do was to blame officiating and saying that the finals was a script. Sorry, a lot of people don't buy this!

And to the Blue Eagles, what a season it has been! Biggest thanks to Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Bacon Austria, Nonoy Baclao, Mike Baldos, Ryan Buenafe, Vince Burke, Justin Chua, Yuri Escueta, Tonino Gonzaga, Kirk Long, Jobe Nkemakolam, Jai Reyes, Eric Salamat, Nico Salva, Chris Sumalinog, Chris Tiu, coach Norman Black, and everyone who made this championship possible. It has been a memorable season and championship! Congratulations! Bonfire na!!!

Related articles:

PDI

Manila Bulletin 1

Manila Bulletin 2

UAAP Awards

Lumabas na ang balita tungkol sa mga UAAP awardees sa artikulong ito mula sa Inquirer.

MVP: Rabeh Al-Hussaini (Ateneo)

Mythical 5:
Rabeh Al-Hussaini (Ateneo)
Jervy Cruz (UST)
Rico Maierhofer (DLSU)
Chris Tiu (Ateneo)
JV Casio (DLSU)

Rookie of the Year: Ryan Buenafe (Ateneo)

Sa Huwebes magaganap ang awarding ceremony. Sana kasabay na rin nito ang awarding sa CHAMPIONSHIP!

Ateneo vs. La Salle Game 1 Finals

Di na ako nag-abala pang bumili ng tickets at nanood na lamang sa Moro Lorenzo Sports Complex ng laro, kasama ng mga kapwa Atenista.

Masaya ako na nanalo ang Blue Eagles sa unang laban sa finals. gRabeh ang nilaro ni Rabeh Al-Hussaini, ang sentro at isa sa mga nangungunang kandidato para sa Most Valuable Player Award. Ang kanyang 31 puntos ay naglagay sa kanya sa record books bilang player na nagtala ng pinakamalaking puntos sa isang finals game.

Maganda rin ang nilaro ni Baclao. Ang 7 shot blocks ay marami para sa isang laro. Humuhusay si Nonoy sa pagiging isang defensive player. At lumalabas na rin ang kanyang 'angas'. Minsan naman kelangan ang angas para maipakita sa kalaban na seryoso ka sa laro at gusto mong manalo.

Nabawasan ang playing minutes ng Team Captain na si Chris Tiu dahil sa foul trouble, kaya rin nadagdagan ang playing minutes ni Rabeh.

Magaling ang depensa ng Ateneo ngunit hindi masyadong maganda na nagtala ang Ateneo ng maraming turnovers. Buti na nga lang magaling ang depensa at hindi nakapuntos ang La Salle.

As usual gRabeh ang aking sigaw at pagka-hyper ko kahapon, lalo na tuwing nakakapuntos is Rabeh. Sobra akong natuwa sa pinakita niyang emotions. Kitang-kita sa kanya ang kagustuhang manalo para sa Ateneo community. Nagkaroon sya ng interview kamakailan lang, na maaaring magpaliwanag sa kanyang gumagaling na performance sa UAAP. Ang interview ay makikita rito.

At ang block at sigaw (mukhang sigaw kasi sa TV) kay Rico Maierhoffer... wala akong masabi. Ito ang angas!

Sa pagtatapos ng blog entry na ito, nais kong ibahagi ang nabasa kong nakatutuwang talata. Ito ay mula rito.

Yuri-ka! Salamat at after a long wait nasa cham-tiu-nship ulit ang Ateneo. This season is a really big rabeh-lation. Good job-e Blue Eagles. Bombahin nyo ang oping-sa ng La Salle with a jai-namite. Baldos-er their defense, always block-lao their shots, and continue zig-zags-ging to create fast burke points. Justin time for them to be black-ed out. Lets see if makaka-salva pa sila.

Phew..I think I'm going to have a buenafever because of all this heat. So bring home the bacon guys.

Dalawang araw pa at game 2 na. Tapusin na natin ito! OBF!

It's Ateneo vs. La Salle in the Finals!

Makalipas ang 6 na taon, muli na namang maghaharap ang Ateneo at La Salle sa kampeonato ng UAAP. Though mas gusto ko sana na FEU ang kalaban, a championship match against the arch rival is always interesting. Ang tagal na pala ng rivalry na ito: seventy years! Panahon pa ito nung college ang lolo ko. 

Sa UAAP, ito ang pang-apat na beses na maghaharap ang Ateneo at La Salle sa Finals. Nagkasagupa ang dalawang koponan noong 1988, 2001 at 2002. Nag-kampeon ang Ateneo noong 1988 at 2002, at ang La Salle naman noong 2001. Sino kaya ang magiging kampeon sa taong ito? Abangan!

Grabe ang fuss about the finals, as usual! At pahirapan na naman ang pagkuha ng tickets. Di na ko masyadong umaasa na makakapanood ng championship games live. Pero syempre, tuloy pa rin ang suporta. Tuloy-tuloy lang, Blue Eagles! OBF!

Ateneo wins over La Salle again

I expected that La Salle will come out strong at this second round encounter with Ateneo. After all, this game is more important to them, for a win would mean that they will be in 2nd place and would have the twice to beat advantage. For Ateneo, on the other hand, there is really no pressure to win, for even if they lose, they will still be in 1st place. While many are saying that this will be a no bearing game for the Blue Eagles, the team thinks otherwise. After all, it's the rival team that they are battling. And all throughout the game, it could be seen which team wanted to win more. I was actually disturbed by a comment from the sportscaster from La Salle. I can't remember the exact words but she kind of said that Ateneo is on top only by a few points, and we (La Salle) are not giving our best yet... it's our destiny to win... My reaction is that if you are not giving your best, then you don't deserve to win. And the result of the game just proved that!

And I loved the halftime performance! Sayang lang hindi naipakita nang buo sa TV. Pero ito ang video (by kitaruna, from YouTube):



Note the arrow broken by the A! First time ang pang-ganti na ito, coz the other team has that 'arrow through the A' routine.

Oh I just love the Ateneo! On to the Final Four! OBF!

Striking statement

"You know you are very bright. Just don't be lazy."

Kailangan pa talaga na sabihin ito sa akin bago ako matauhan. Ewan ko ba, palagi kong nakakalimutan ang mga kelangan kong dalhin at gawin. Mga simpleng mga bagay at gawain lang naman, pero nakakaligtaan ko. Haay. Sana talaga matuto na ako. Baka magsawa na ang mga taong gustong tumulong sa akin, lalo na ngayon na mas nagiging challenging ang work ahead. Please, Lord, help me!

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Grabe kala ko naka-kalahati na ako sa aking thesis work, pero mga 1/3 pa lang pala! Up to this time nag-eevolve ang mga gagawin ko. I see naman the value of all this work. Hindi biro ang aking mga gagawin. So, Lord, again, please help me! I pray that I will have enough resources, time, strength, guidance, to do all the things that I have to do.

Thank you, Lord. At bahala ka na sa akin...

The newest Adidas endorsers

The Ateneo Blue Eagles!

Actually, hindi lang sila ang endorsers. The De La Salle Green Archers are also endorsers of the popular sportswear. This is a scene from the autograph signing at the Adidas store. All 16 Blue Eagles were present in the event. I was surprised to see so many people at the store!


I lined up to have my poster autographed by the Blue Eagles.

What can I say? I'm a FAN! I've been a fan of the Blue Eagles since grade school. And this season was particularly special because this is not like the Blue Eagles that I was used to watch. I guess the basketball program is now reaping its fruits :)

This is now the autographed poster of the Blue Eagles.