Blazers shoot down Chiefs for 1st win

Blazers shoot down Chiefs for 1^st win

By Rick Olivares

Three playing dates of NCAA Season 86 had gone by with every team having played a game except for the College of Saint Benilde. “We’re still undefeated,” joked head coach Richard del Rosario last week.

And after the final whistle of their 70-64 win over Arellano University, the Blazers had their real first of the season. “We’ve won our opening games in the past four years,” noted del Rosario who put a damper on excessive celebrations. “But after that we lost two straight and could never get any consistency.”

The Blazers took control of the game from the start and never let the out-of-sync Chiefs into it. From a slim 59-55 lead by the end of the 3^rd canto, the Chiefs self-destructed with three crucial turnovers in the opening minutes of the final period of play. The Blazers scored 7 points off them from contributions from Jan Tan, Mark de Guzman, and Christian de la Paz that put some distance between the two teams, a lead that CSB maintain towards the end.

Arellano head coach Leo Isaac dispatched the 5’3” Leonard Anquilo into the fray and Benilde’s lead shrunk down to two after forward Jerald Lapuz scored on a putback 66-64. But AU’s inability to get off a good shot with time running down on their shot clock told heavily on their endgame. First year Blazer Carlo Lastimosa, the nephew of former all-pro Jojo Lastimosa, put in the finishing touches on Arellano highlighted with a nifty alley-oop lay up from backcourt mate de Guzman.

With four seconds left in the game, the Blazers began to prematurely celebrate. After Lapuz gave a duty foul on de Guzman, the Benilde guard threw the ball at the Chief and was assessed a technical foul. Andrian Celada miss both free throws. Along with a missed trey during Arellano’s prior possession, it could have been a five-point swing.

Benilde had their win. “Right now, it’s a battle for consistency. It was obvious more so in the endgame. We’re going to have to mature fast because here in the NCAA, every game is a battle.”

The undefeated Blazers will be playing the hitherto undefeated San Sebastian Golden Stags next Wednesday July 14 at the San Juan Arena.

CSB 70 – De Guzman 14, Lastimosa 13, Tan 12, Nayve 10, de la Paz 7, Sinco 6, Argamino 3, McCoy 2, Ongtenco 2, Abolucion 1, Mañalac 0

AU 64 – Lapuz 16, Celada 13, Ciriacruz 10, del Rosario 7, Acidre 6, Anquilo 4, Caperal 4, Zulueta 2, Advincula 2, Palma 0, Casiño 0, Virtudazo 0

Will the 2010 World Cup unite South Africa?

My last two votes for the All-Star team

Vote for Swish!!!

Bleachers' Brew #216 German Engineering

This appears in my column in the Monday July 5, 2010 edition of the Business Mirror.

German Engineering

by rick olivares

The systematic destruction of Diego Maradona’s fancied Argentina side was an extraordinary feat of German engineering.

Pay attention closely England – even you clueless people in the Philippine Football Federation – because you should learn a thing or two.

If you’re a purist and a protectionist then Germany’s approach to football and its national team right up your alley.

Die Mannschaft was projected to compete for the World Cup title come 2014 in Rio but they are already from all indications well ahead of schedule.

I’d say that there are two factors that should not be lost here: one, that they are the Under-21 and Under-17 European champions; and two, the Germans have dealt with the global recession in the most practical manner.

The first factor has allowed Joachim Low to replace many of the parts of their 2006 team with younger players who are playing an unbridled passion. Who would have thought that this team wouldn’t miss a beat without injured captain Michael Ballack? In fact, the team is a much better one without the vociferous and vitriolic nature of the Chelsea/Bayer Leverkusen midfielder who isn’t one to mince his words. Sami Khedira who was captain of the U-21 team has taken Ballack’s place on the field and has played solidly. Mezut Ozil’s speed on the wings has caused nightmares for opposing defensive backs, and Thomas Muller will be in Argentinean defenseman Nicolas Otamendi’s thoughts for the next few weeks.

Of great note is that this is not Adolf Hitler’s German National Team. The Fatherland has embraced immigration and for the second straight World Cup features a multi-ethnic squad with Ozil who is of Turkish descent, Jerome Boateng who has roots from Ghana, Cacau who is from Brazil, and their Polish strike force of Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski. And they make for a much more talented German team.

What has not been said about this squad is how it has risen from tragedy following the suicide of its goalkeeper Robert Enke last year. But they have an excellent core with Manuel Neuer taking over from Jens Lehmann and they have they equally talented Tim Weise and Rene Adler as back-ups.

And regarding the second factor, if England is awash with foreign talent (they argue that foreign players are inexpensive as opposed to the homegrown), Germany has taken the opposite direction.

All across the Fatherland, they have put up close to 400 centers of excellence for youth development. It has been more cost efficient to teach and raise German youth. The net effect is staggering. Witness their success in youth competition in Europe, and in recent years, we’ve seen a challenge to Bayern Munich’s traditional stranglehold on the Bundesliga.

Schalke, Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, Werder Bremen, Hamburg, Wolfsburg, and Stuttgart have made tremendous headway in recent years with the latter two winning two Bundesliga titles.

Now they are back in the scene of last tournament’s disaster. In their 2006 semis clash with Italy, the match was dangerously heading into penalty kicks (something that the Italians have never won until their battle with France in the final). The Italians scored two late goals from Fabio Grosso and Alessandro del Piero to stun the home team. Die Mannschaft beat Portugal in the battle for third as the entire Germany took to their squad and their former manager Jurgen Klinsmann who was a proponent of the change in styles of play.

This year the Italians played true to form – when much is expected from them, they crash and burn, when they slip in under the radar they are damn good. While the Germans, those models of consistency and efficiency are back in the hunt.

In World Cup play, Germany is tied with Brazil for the most number of appearances in the finals with seven. They have won the World Cup three times behind Brazil’s five and Italy’s four.

In this current tournament, they have played five matches with four wins against one loss. They have scored the most number of goals in South Africa with 13. Spain’s David Villa may be the leading contender for the Golden Boot Award (for the tournament top scorer) with 5 goals but Miroslav Klose is right behind with 4 while attacking defensive back Thomas Muller has 4.

Thrice have they scored four goals (against Australia, England, and Argentina). Their one loss was after Klose was sent off with a red card; a dubious call by the referee.

And unlike Spain’s virtuoso plays, Germany is tops in assists with 11.

Spain’s best passing match was in its surprise loss to Switzerland but since then they have struggled and have tasked David Villa to rescue them time and again.

For the second straight tournament, the Germans have played an attractive kind of football that should make Brazil proud. The passes have been timely and accurate while the team play has been exquisite especially when they have led to goals.

The Argentineans can empathize. After all, in 2006, they cut up Serbia and Montenegro with 24 straight passes (in one minute) that Esteban Cambiasso converted into a goal.

Of course, the Argentine side that played this year was minus Cambiasso and its top playmaker in Juan Roman Riquelme who has feuded with Diego Maradona.

And just as Lionel Messi was kept on the bench by former manager Jose Pekerman in their quarterfinals loss to Germany in 2006, this time around it was the Albiceleste’s other terrific midfielder Sebastian Veron who sat and stewed on the bench. He might have not been one hundred percent but who knows what he could have done?

Bastian Schweinsteiger, the subject of Maradona’s racist putdown right before the clash of the two countries, was imposing in the central midfield. He cut a swath right through Argentina’s defense and made all the right passes. Truthfully, they were fun to watch in their runs and counter-attacks. Had Klose not misplayed some sumptuous passes, he might have ended up with at least a hat trick for the match.

For years football watchers have derisively labeled the Bundesliga and German players as “boring” or “football played by robots.” In basketball terms, they are the Hoosiers or the Celtics of Larry Bird – nothing fancy but simple and fundamentally sound hoops.

“Simple” and “fundamentally sound.”

They are synonyms for efficiency in German engineering.

Read this from my 2006 World Cup articles. There are many others that saw print that was never posted in Brew.

Klinsmann may have the last laugh

and here

http://bleachersbrew.blogspot.com/2006_06_01_archive.html

Q&A on football stuff

Q: I know you're a huge football fan. Can you say that big scoring games like Germany's 4-0 win over Argentina are fun?

A: A game can be 1-0 and still be hugely entertaining. It's the skill and technique that makes them fun to watch. And by far, Germany has been the most entertaining of the entire World Cup.

Q: You watch the games at a bar. What game was the most watched one you've seen so far?

A: Argentina-Germany by the proverbial country mile. The bar was overflowing with people all the way outside. Next is England-Germany and England-USA. What makes it fun too is fans come dressed in their fave team colors. The difference is walang kantyawan.

Q: Your favorites are the US and France but you also root for other teams?

A: This is the first time, I've rooted for the US and I've said that their success will mean well for the world in the growth of the sport. France whether they suck or not is still my fave. I like England, Germany, heck, a lot of teams. Hard not to like them when I enjoy the game that much. However, Diego Maradona's antics made it difficult for me to appreciate Argentina. I have lots of their blue and white jerseys -- Riquelme and Batistuta are my obvious favorites. I'd love to get a Messi one as well. But Diego spoiled it. Even post game, he didn't have to fight with German fans. That was an ugly ugly way to exit the World Cup. Do I think he should continue to coach the Albiceleste? Yes. He has proven himself. Maybe a little humility then they'll be okay.

It's tough too coz I like Argentina. Remember they have to Liverpool players in Maxi Rodriguez and Javier Mascherano. But Javy has not played well this past year and it showed in the World Cup. Maradona should have tried Veron who will retire from national duty after this. And he should have mended fences with Juan Roman Riquelme. I know he has an attitude but they should have sat down and worked for a common goal.

England. Oh, I love the Three Lions but to watch this team is to know heartbreak. That match where David Beckham was sent off (in Alan Shearer's last for England) is still a painful memory. Then they reprised that in '06 when Wayne Rooney got sent off rather harshly. I remember that game so vividly just as when Germany lost to Italy and France in the Finals.

Q: You gave Austin Manyara a Manchester United jersey. Why?

A: Well, it was given to me as a gift and I am not a fan of MUFC. Austin, if you get to talk to him is a huge football fan. Except that he roots for the wrong squad. So I said I'd give it to him. I am also turning over my LeBron Cavs jersey to Joe Etame of JRU. He is a huge LBJ fan. I have an extra one kasi. Sorry no more extras! Hahaha. I think I have some 50 football jerseys. My favorites are the Real Madrid "Siemens" era, Liverpool of course, DC United, Everton (coz it's blue), Juventus, Arsenal with its O2 logo, and Croatia. Someone always gives me grief when I wear my Croatia.

Q: Do you have a collection of football DVDs?

A: Yes, I do. I have lots of Liverpool. There's an Arsenal (the 49 DVD). Zidane which is a magnificent film that you really have to bear with. I have Real Madrid. Cristiano Ronaldo. I have the New York Cosmos. I even have Chelsea and Fulham. AC Milan (in Italian). And a few World Cup stuff that I never seem to tire watching. I'll be abroad again soon and should pick up a few more. The one I want to get is the best of the UEFA Champions League.

Q: What would you say are the best football matches?

A: Wow. There are simply too many to mention. But I'll just pick out what I've seen on TV and videotape: 

West Germany 2 vs. Holland 1. The red card on Frank Rijkaard for spitting on Rudi Voller ended any hope for the Oranje to win.

Argentina 2 vs. England 1. "The hand of God" goal of Maradona and his superb weave through six Englishmen for his second goal. I was jumping up and down in disbelief watching this on TV. Is there any other better goal in World Cup history?

Liverpool 3 vs. AC Milan 3. LFC won 3-2 on penalties. The Miracle of Istanbul. I've got the DVD of this of course. But watching this on TV, God.... I was pacing back and forth. As it has been said about this most memorable match, AC Milan won the game on May 25 then lost it on May 26. What does that mean? The game began around 945pm and it was past midnight when Liverpool won it during a penalty shootout.

Manchester United 2 vs. Bayern Munich 1. Two names here Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Infamy for Oliver Kahn. 

West Germany 3 vs. France 3 (The Germans won 5-4 in penalty kicks). I began to somewhat root for France here. This was the infamous foul on Patrick Battiston by Harald Schumacher. And the French had that great midfield of Michel Platini, Alain Giresse, and Jean Tigana.

Liverpool 5 vs. Alaves 4. Do we have all night?
There's quite a lot more. Real Madrid vs Mallorca for the La Liga title four years ago. Lots really.

Last night @ Gweilos, Eastwood

The last two nights, I watched the World Cup games with Johan Agricola who played for a short bit with Dutch Eredivisie team Heerenveen. He hardly slept at all after the Netherlands' huge win over Brazil. We both cheered for Germany against Argentina. While I was in Barotac Nuevo last year, I met a former Feyenoord player who came over from Boracay to watch some football. I forgot his name though.

Go knock yourself out

The Greenhills tiangge is really one shopper's maven. And those looking for football kit knock-offs you'll find a plenty here. Spotted: Portugal Ronaldo, Brazil Kaka, Germany Podolski, England Lampard, Spain Torres, Ivory Coast Drogba, and Argentina Messi. And there are the club shirts as well. They fetch anywhere from PhP450-650. Haggle, folks. Haggle.

The crabs come out for Dunga. Ah, what do they know.

It goes hand-in-hand that when you’re an acknowledged superpower and you fail in your undertaking -- the coach is a bust.

Case in point: Brazil’s ouster from the Round of Eight in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Now you have writers and analysts saying that Dunga’s model was flawed and it was like this and it was like that. Yadda. Yadda. Yadda.

It’s the same song and dance number in every World Cup. I heard that in 2006 with Jurgen Klinsmann who was pilloried left and right as Die Manschaftt headed to the World Cup. But after they were turning heads with their play, even after their late game ouster by Italy, people pleaded for him to stay. Don't you see the same pattern with Jogi Low?

Let me see, who has been vilified this year – there’s Raymond Domenech which is a given. There’s Fabio Capello, Bob Bradley, Carlos Queiroz, and now Dunga.

Let’s tackle Queiroz. When his Portuguese side was eliminated by Spain that was coached by Vicente del Bosque (the common denominator between the two coaches is they both managed Real Madrid FC one after the other), the flaws of the team were obvious – one, Cristiano Ronaldo was hardly a factor and two, the replacements for Luis Figo, Rui Costa and company did not pan out. Let me say that I am a fan of Portugal and Zenit St. Petersburg forward Danny but this was a different pressure cooker situation for him. He's been unable to finish runs and it was glaring versus Brazil and Spain. Will he get better at it? Of course. 

I thought that the team was humming heading into Euro 2008 but that 0-2 loss to Switzerland took the edge out of Portugal (right before Big Phil left). They crashed out of Euro 2008 courtesy of Germany and most recently, flirted with disaster heading to South Africa during the qualifying stages. Then in World Cup play they drew 0-0 with Ivory Coast, pasted North Korea, and drew Brazil 0-0 before getting eliminated by their Iberian Peninsula neighbors 1-nil.

This team was really headed nowhere. I guess we saw that Ronaldo couldn’t give Real Madrid a lift let alone his national side. So I guess his success at Old Trafford was also because of the presence of Carlos Tevez, Rooney, Rio Ferdinand et al.

Bob Bradley, it’s not his fault that USA got beaten by Ghana. If anything, the Americans came away with a healthy respect from everyone. They played so much better than even England. They should have gotten 3 points clear from Slovenia. At the end of the day, it’s the players who are responsible for executing the gameplan.

Starting out slow has nothing to do with the coach. He isn't on that pitch. 

Prior to the World Cup, it was said that the weakest position on the field was the left back. Carlos Bocanegra held but it was the central defense of Jay Demerit and Oguchi Onyewu that failed them too. Post-Ghana it was said the US lacks a quality top striker. Maybe. Robbie Findley and Jozy Altidore didn’t score. But so did Wayne Rooney. Ronaldo only had one goal. The two just didn’t score because they missed their chances and were marked well. Frank Lampard has had two successive lousy World Cups. Does Chelsea need a better attacking midfielder?

Fabio Capello. Funny how Alan Shearer says that their mastering the qualifying stages only meant they beat lousy teams when his own England side beat – Moldova, Georgia, and Poland on their way to the 1998 World Cup. And in the knockout stage, he elbowed Argentinean goal keeper Carlos Roa just as Sol Campbell headed in what should have been the winning goal for England. Instead minutes after, David Beckham was sent off with a red card and the Three Lions lost when the game went into penalties.

Maybe Fabio Capello isn’t a media savvy guy but post-South Africa people are taking shots at his disciplinarian methods? Hmm. Not too long ago, many said that English players were spoiled and lacking in discipline.

And where does coup d’état plotter John Terry fit into all of this?

As for Raymond Domenech… ah serves him right.

The Brazil-Netherlands match. The Selecao looked ready to blitz the Dutch as they were clearly the superior side in the first half. Should they have scored more? Maybe but Dutch defense held.

I agree that Felipe Melo’s own goal changed turned the tide (as was his stomping on Robben) and more than that, it was the emotional immaturity of some of the players. Luis Fabiano thought they dispatch the Dutch easily. And I used to like Robinho but seeing as to how petulant he was with Real Madrid and with Manchester City, I wondered if it was right to bring him in to lead the Selecao. He began to act like the Argentineans or Italians by berating Arjen Robben (Robinho must have thought that he dived but what he didn’t see was Lucio tripping him with his boot).


The team lacking a game changer? Hello. Ever heard of Luis Fabiano? Kaka? Dani Alves? Maicon? On the bench they had the wonderful Grafite who Dunga mysteriously did not play. And what's wrong with Nilmar? Tell me. When Brazil first won the World Cup in 1958 no one -- again, no one -- knew who Pele was. Please, he was 17 years old. And in 1954, who knew Friaca of the Selecao? 


Previously, it was asked why Ronaldinho wasn't included and team officials said he didn't have a great season with AC Milan (I disagree). But so did Robinho. However, a lousy season of club football doesn't mean that they won't perform. Witness Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski for Germany. And there's Steven Gerrard of England. Liverpool was lousy this past year but he scored for the Three Lions this year and set up another in addition to having numerous chances.

The Brazilians unraveled when they let their emotions get the better of them. Would the inclusion of Ronaldinho helped? Maybe. Maybe not.

The Dutch scored from set pieces much like England did against Germany. The difference here is the Germans got their heads straight and went back on the counter-attack which is something Brazil should have done. Instead they kept complaining and lost their nerve. Did they sit back and relax? Not at all. That’s like disrespecting the Dutch. The Netherlands has been playing well. They are like Spain – always producing top quality players but never winning the World Cup. In Euro 2008 they could have made it all the way except they faltered at a late stage. People don’t really talk about them much because Ruud van Nistelrooy and Edwin Van der Sar are gone. They don’t have the Patrick Kluivert types anymore. Ah, Kluivert! He’s the reason why I bought my Ajax Amsterdam kit ages ago (and I still have it to this day). Rob Van Persie isn’t that bad as is Klaas Jan Huntelaar. And me? I have always been a fan of Arjen Robben.

The simple answer is, Brazil unraveled and the Dutch played well. Much like the Americans had a better team than Ghana but the Black Stars played better on that day.

As for Brazil. Dunga won the Copa America and the Confederations Cup. But Brazil only wears stars on its fabled lemon yellow jersey for World Cup victories and because of such, the squad and Dunga is unjustly labeled as a failure.

With the great Bobby Parks

With one of the greatest imports ever to lace up a pair of sneakers in the Philippine Basketball Association -- "Memphis Slim" Bobby Parks. Will be working on something based on what we talked about. Cheers!

Gatorade UAAP & NCAA Heroes

I've been hinting at this for weeks. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. There's more. Hintayin na lang natin mag-materialize before I say it. Having said that, this is something I have been working on with Gatorade -- a Brand Ambassador program for the sports drink. Client and I drew up a list of criteria then I chose these NCAA and UAAP players. Except for Mapua's Andretti Stevens (who was recommended by Cardinals' head coach Chito Victolero), I chose all the players to be included here. Were there others? Yes there were. Sayang nga. But it's all cool. Then DDB did the artwork on the billboard and the advertorials. I helped work on the advertising insert in magazines like Chalk. 


Borgie Hermida's folks are in for a surprise when they see the billboard along EDSA.


The UAAP players: Kirk Long (Ateneo), RR Garcia (FEU), Jeric Teng (UST), Alex Nuyles (Adamson), Kokoy Hermosisima (NU), Nico Elorde (DLSU), and Mike Silungan (UP).


The NCAA players: Pamboy Raymundo (San Sebastian), Borgie Hermida (San Beda), Nate Matute (JRU), Kevin Alas (Letran), Jett Vidal (Perpetual Help), Carlo Lastimosa (CSB), Isaiah Ciriacruz (Arellano), and Andretti Stevens (Mapua).


Watch out for features on all these players! First ones up are Nate & Alex.


It's gonna be a blast to see that billboard personally and knowing I was a part of that. The first time I ever did a radio commercial as a voice talent (for Macintosh computers), I was real thrilled. Seeing the commercials I did (back when I was in advertising) on television or in the movies, I felt so happy. More so when you know that the campaign was a success. Even after all these years, I still get goosebumps and feel that familiar tingle in my spine (no that's not my Spidey sense). 

Stags weather slow start to survive an upset-conscious Altas

Stags weather slow start to survive an upset-conscious Altas

words by rick olivares pic by raddy mabasa

George Allen held up his index finger and thumb to indicate that his Perpetual Help Altas came within a hair’s breath of stealing a game from the San Sebastian Stags. “Konti na lang,” he shook his head. “Konti na lang.”

The Altas shook of the crushing loss to Mapua five days earlier as they lead for almost throughout the match against the Stags until they suffered a brain freeze and power shortage at the worst possible time.

For the defending NCAA Men’s Basketball champions, the Altas’ drought coincided with Calvin Abueva taking over the match from his unusually listless teammates.

His lay-up at the 4:17 mark of the 4^th Quarter gave the Stags a lead 65-63 they would not relinquish. Abueva actually had a quiet 13 points and 12 boards despite being hampered by foul trouble and the troublesome defense applied on him by Altas forward Justine Alano.

Alano’s lay-up with 1:25 left but Perpetual Help behind by a solitary point 70-69 but a botched lay-up by Mark Sumera (that was blocked by Stag Ian Sangalang), a charging foul by Allen, and a badly-missed trey by Jett Vidal finished off the luckless Altas who with the 73-69 loss fell to 0-2.

“We’re not going to have many chances like this,” bemoaned UPHDS coach Boris Aldeguer after the match. Still without bigmen Marlon Gomez and Paul Nuilan who Perpetual Help has appealed to the NCAA Board. “We should have won this.”

The Stags clobbered the Altas in nearly every statistical aspect of the game except in two key areas that allowed them to lead and even stick close: three point and free throw shooting.

Aldeguer’s squad made 9 of 28 trey attempts and 12 of 16 free throws. The former is a rather atrocious percentage of 32% but that isn’t as bad as San Sebastian’s 29% accuracy from LaLa land and 14-32 from the stripe for a poor 44%.

“Hindi ko alam kung complacent o overconfident yung mga bata.” wondered SSCR head coach Ato Agustin. “Nung fourth quarter na lang nagising.”

Ronald Pascual lead San Sebastian with 17 points but missed four consecutive free throws in the final minutes. He redeemed himself by grabbing a key offensive board. Pamboy Raymundo added 15 points.

Jett Vidal topscored for UPHDS with 14 points. Mark Sumera added 13 while Arnold Daganan added 10 points.

SSCR 79 – Pascual 17, Raymundo 15, Abueva 13, del Rio 9, Sangalang 6, Maconocido 5, Semira 3, Gorospe 3, Bulawan 2, Gatchalian 0

UPHDS 69 –Vidal 14, Sumera 13, Daganan 10, Allen 9, Ynion 8, Elorpe 6, Alano 6, Arboleda 3, Kintanar 0


Frankie Lim on San Beda's thrashing of Emilio Aguinaldo College:

Mine sight for sore eyes

Lost amidst the World Cup craziness, I followed rather quietly what was playing out in Wimbledon. Seeing old favorites crash out early on, there was still one to watch (although she did bow out in the semis). Tsvetana Pironkova, that new Bulgarian tennis sensation. I thought she'd make it to the finals but Vera Zvonareva came back after being a set down 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. It's okay. There's the US Open to look forward to.

Three for History: Ateneo Blue Eagles 2010-11 preview

Three for History

The Ateneo Blue Eagles go for a historic three-peat. It’s possible but as history shows, it will not be easy.

by rick olivares

Is the fifth time the charm?

There’s this saying that if you mean something, then you must say it thrice. Does that follow when it comes to winning three straight basketball championships?

Former Chicago Bull player and current team General Manager John Paxson put it best after his team accomplished the first wave of three titles when he said: “The first time, you’re just happy to be there. The second time, you’re on a mission. The third – you’re out to make history.”

How many modern Philippine college basketball teams have accomplished that?

Most recently there was the San Beda. Before them it was De La Salle, San Sebastian, and the University of Santo Tomas.

The Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles are the hard luck team when it comes to three-peats. After they accomplished the task from 1931-33 over at the National Collegiate Athletic Association, they came close again four times – 1953-54, 1957-58, 1975-76, and 1987-88. But each time they ended up as the bridesmaid. In 1955 and 1977, the Red Lions stopped cold the drive for a three-peat. During the other occasions, they failed to make the championship round.

This 2010, well, it will be a mountain to climb for the two time defending champs. More than looking at the failed three-peats, one must first look to a trend of the Blue Eagles missing key players.

Since the new millennium, every time Ateneo have lost three players from their starting unit, they faltered in the Final Four of the following year.

After making the finals in 2003, the team lost Wesley Gonzales, Rich Alvarez, and Paolo Bugia. They cracked the semis the following year but were eliminated by DLSU.

In 2006, Ateneo saw JC Intal, Doug Kramer, and Macky Escalona came within a basket short of winning against UST in Game 3. And when they departed, the team faltered once more in the next year to La Salle.

After their back-to-back title of 2009, the team lost MVP Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Nonoy Baclao, and Jai Reyes. To compound matters, Chris Sumalinog, whose playing time increased towards the end of the second round of Season 72 and who played a superb University Games and Philippine Collegiate Champions League, suffered a season-ending ACL injury.

To replace the lost firepower, the Blue Eagles braintrust dug deep into their Team B and pulled our forward-centers John Paul Erram, Jason Escueta, and point guard Carlo Balmaceda. Also coming on board are rookies Art de la Cruz Jr. from San Beda Red Cubs and Jeric Estrada from the San Sebastian Staglets.

Sixth year head coach Norman Black isn’t big on what transpired years ago and is only concerned with the here and now. “It’s a different time with different circumstances. And, I wasn’t there,” he said with a knowing grin. “We will give it our best shot though.”

Erram and Escueta are interchangeable as starters while Nico Salva has been penciled in to the starting unit alongside team captain Eric Salamat, point guard Emman Monfort, and small forward Kirk Long.

Salva had a great pre-season and based on all indications, he should have a breakout year. His range, athleticism, and speed make him a force to reckon with. The third-year forward along with Monfort, Salamat, and Long means that the Blue Eagles will get out on the break.

Ryan Buenafe will still lead the second unit that now features de la Cruz, Escueta, Austria, and Gonzaga. Second year point guard Juami Tiongson will be inserted here once in a while. During the pre-season, Tiongson has shown some toughness and has been a source of bonus points. And when need be, he can stroke the trifecta. Jai Reyes redux? Possibly.

But a huge factor for the success of Ateneo will be the second unit. The more minutes Ryan Buenafe plays means that the bench is performing well. If he remains in Black’s doghouse that will place even more pressure on the starting unit to produce and will leave the coaching staff scrambling for combinations that will work.

Carlo Balmaceda, after several years on Team B has been promoted to the senior line-up. While he’s made a name for himself as a hustling and scrappy player, if he can contribute quality minutes and on perimeter defense then Black can count on several players to bring that ball up (Austria, Buenafe, Gonzaga, Long and Salva are the others aside from the guards).

The questions remain reserved for the forwards and centers. Black, who played the guard position in the United States but shifted to center here in the Philippines obviously, obviously likes a tall team and he has a collection of centers; weapons from which he can choose and count on.

Escueta is an excellent offensive rebounder. His bulk inside means he cannot be pushed around. Opposing players such as FEU’s Pippo Noundou and La Salle’s Ferdinand couldn’t make hay during the sunshine with Al-Hussaini around and Escueta is another tough customer. What he does not have in speed, hopefully, Erram can make up with his long limbs and height. The jury is still out on Erram despite a year on Team B and a summer with the Team A with regards to his stamina and decision making. But the UAAP is a strange time. Who would have thought that Ford Arao and Rabeh Al-Hussaini would have such breakout performances when in the immediate pre-season tournament they were hardly spectacular?

But wait. There are more trees in the forest with another 6’7” beanpole in Jeric Estrada and a pair of 6’5” players in Justin Chua and Frank Golla, they will platoon inside the paint. Some might argue a lack of consistency, intimidation, and toughness in some of them. Save for Estrada who is new to the team, the other have shown flashes. It is up to them to bring it on a consistent basis.

If their defense holds up and they turn the lane into a no-fly zone, then the Blue Eagles will hardly miss a beat to that historic three-peat.

The opposing teams have all reloaded. Even NU with Emmanuel Mbe who will be the best import in this league this year. Recruitment is in. There will be no automatic wins for Ateneo. Every win will have to be earned. No one Is expecting another 13-1 season but that is the farthest from their minds. Adamson believes that they now have the personnel and experience to finally beat Ateneo on a UAAP court. La Salle has picked up even more blue chip rookies. Almond Vosotros, who we all thought was going to the blue and white is going to be plenty dangerous for the Green Archers. He is a possible Rookie of the Year candidate.

On the other side of Katipunan are the UP Fighting Maroons who are bristling with offensive weaponry. There will be no one-sided match-ups for sure now that they have scoring threat Mike Silungan, the vastly improved Magi Sison, and NCAA juniors scoring star Joshua Saret.

Despite losing their stars and proven scoring sock, the UE Red Warriors and UST Growling Tigers return with a new crew that could pull some surprises.

The immediate goal is the Final Four. Far Eastern University looks even more potent. But the Tamaraws despite all that talents still have not won as they lost in the two pre-season tournaments. But that will make them even hungrier come July 11 when they face Ateneo.

Nobody said it was ever easy.

Ateneo Blue Eagles 2010-11

Emman Monfort

Eric Salamat

Kirk Long

Nico Salva

JP Erram

Jason Escueta

Ryan Buenafe

Juami Tiongson

Raymond Austria

Art de la Cruz Jr.

Tonino Gonzaga

Frank Golla

Chris de Chavez

Justin Chua

Jeric Estrada

Carlo Balmaceda

Notes: In 1988, after Ateneo won its second UAAP men's hoops crown, they lost starters Danny Francisco, Jet Nieto, and Jay Gayoso. Francisco went down to a heart ailment, Nieto went on to med school while Gayoso didn't enroll in enough units to play. Back-up center Alex Araneta  also missed the line-up for the same reasons as Gayoso.

Rebound magazine & Halikinu Radio are back!

The latest issue of Rebound will be out tomorrow Friday July 2 at Fully Booked, Bufini, and Filbar's. By  July 3 or 4 it will be in National Bookstore, Book Sale and other branches. 

The next issue (#5) will be out by the first week of September. Look for Sid Ventura and myself guest on Hardball this coming Wednesday to promote the magazine. Hardball is at 9pm. There's my super old childhood neighbor Boyet Sison and Bill Velasco. 

We just finished our planning session for the 5th issue and so that you know, we have three new writers on board for that -- Gary Mercado of Basketball Exchange, Anton Roxas of inboundpass, and Theodore Jurado of the Journal Group. Welcome aboard, hommes.

Will also promote Rebound on Halikinu Radio on Thursday July 8 when we go back on the air on NU107 at 8pm. There are only three regular hosts on Halikinu Radio now -- Chuck Araneta, Evee Simon, and myself. Mhel Garrido will pop up occasionally. 

Blast from the RP Youth Past

RP Youth Team (coached by Ato Badolato)

Front row: Olsen Racela (AdMU), Vergel Meneses (JRC), Joey Guanio (UP), John Edel Cardel (DLSU), Dennis Ramirez (SBC).

Back row: Robert Ruiz (CSJL), Bong Ravena (UE), Jun Limpot (DLSU), EJ Fiehl (not sure if he was with still with UST or if he was with AdU already), Danny Francisco (AdMU), Jojo Lim, Nandy Garcia (AdU), and Vic Pablo (FEU).

Let slip the dogs of war

This is the latest issue of FHM Philippines (with the lovely Sam Pinto on the cover on the left). Wrote a short piece on three players and their respective trainers on getting ready for the season. These are CSB's Carlo Lastimosa and trainer Eric Bañez, Ateneo's JP Erram and trainer Chester Tiongson, and FEU's RR Garcia and trainer Eski Ripoll. I was supposed to include UP's Mark Juruena and Randy Sacdalan and UE's Paul Lee but the skeds couldn't jive at all.

I previously worked with Eski with LEAD so it was easy to do the FEU part of the story. It was the same with Coach Chester for obvious reasons. As for Coach Eric, no prob too and I did learn new stuff from this guy. Do you know he once worked and trained with the Boston Celtics' staff? Yep.

Anyways, I'm also working on something that should be out either this week or early next week that involves NCAA and UAAP players (save for two schools -- EAC and UE). Will explain later why they weren't involved.