Rich Franklin is ONE FC’s new Vice President

This is a thumbs up move for ONE FC. Rich "Ace" Franklin is the new VP.

This appears on philstar.com

Rich Franklin is ONE FC’s new Vice President

by rick olivares

To paraphrase an old quote by General Douglas MacArthur, “old fighters don’t fade away; they just find a way to stay in the game.”

One-time UFC Middleweight Champion Rich Franklin is joining the ONE FC a Vice President. After 15 bloody, exciting, heart-breaking, and incredible years of fighting and a 29-7-1 record, the man they call “Ace’ (because of a similarity to actor and comedian Jim Carrey) is taking his skills up the corporate ladder.

In Singapore to cement the deal as well as to be in town for ONE FC Honor and Glory on May 30, Franklin will join Asia’s largest Mixed Martial Arts organization with the title of Vice President. “MMA has been a huge and large part of my life and for so long that I cannot even begin to tell you how excited I am to be joining ONE FC,” said the 6’1” Ohioan of this new stage of his career. “When MMA was growing in the United States, my job as a fighter was to help Americans understand the sport. At this stage of my career and an exciting development for me if I may say, Asia is the birthplace of martial arts yet MMA is not quite understood yet. So a part of my duties is to grow the sport by working with fighters, the media, promoters, and the fans.”

Franklin quickly doused water on any notion that he is fighting for ONE FC. “I have a live contract with UFC,” he underscored. “I have one more fight for them and if I do go back into the octagon, that last fight will be my retirement fight. With ONE FC it’s a wholly different thing. If I enter the cage it’s to shake fighters’ hands and shake hands with them but not as a fighter.”

“The corporate side is a different creature. I’m not up against the Dan Hendersons, Anderson Silvas, Ken Shamrocks, Yushin Okamis, and Chuck Liddells but it doesn’t make it no less tough. It could possibly be an even tougher battle because now instead of focusing on one foe, you have to care about an organization. And that means there are people – not just the fighters but those who work for ONE FC – who are also dependent on what you bring to the table.”

Like math.

Franklin laughed.

He is far removed from those days when he taught mathematics at Oak Hills High School in his hometown of Cincinnati. “In a huge class, I had a few who really got math,” Rich recounted in his trip down memory lane. “Most didn’t. But it’s really a boring subject, right? I had to make it appeal to them. So in a way, this is like going full circle – teaching MMA in my career.”

There reasons for moving to ONE FC were manifold. Aside from the business decision with the largest MMA organization in Asia (that will be hosting its 16^th fight promotion this weekend), one was a familiar face in Matt Hume.

Hume, a former fighter who helped train Franklin after his second loss to Anderson Silva. Hume, who is Vice President for Operations of ONE FC owns and is the head trainer at AMC Pankration in Seattle, Washington that is home to current UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson and ONE FC Bantamweight Bibiano Fernandes among many others.

“Matt Hume helped see this deal through,” said Franklin. “He told me that ONE FC is a very good organization and I could help it grow.  Seeing it first-hand how they do their business; how they treat their fighters and their fans only tells me I am doing the right thing.”

Despite the title and new job, Franklin isn’t packing his bags for Singapore. “I am not moving to Asia” cleared Rich. “There’s a certain amount of time that ONE FC will be needing me to stay here in Asia for fights and promotions or even other duties. That could be for a few days, maybe even a month. But there’s no big permanent move to Asia. At least not yet.”

Over dinner of chicken wings, pasta, fries, and burgers at Burger vs. Wings at Orchard Central with media from Cambodia, Singapore, and the Philippines, Franklin talked at great length about his career and working with the ONE FC.

A feet away sat ONE FC’s Loren Mack, Director for Public Relations, “Rich,” he enunciated. “is going to be big for us and the sport.”

True enough, ONE FC just revealed the ace up their sleeve.

Dinner with Rich Franklin at Burger vs. Wings

Other reading for ONE FC Honor and Glory

Honorio Banario: To win back honor and glory

Ben Askren: A debut with many implications

Got my new Warrior Liverpool 2014-15 Steven Gerrard shirt

Got my new Liverpool 2014-15 jersey with Steven Gerrard's name and number on the back (with the Premier League patches on the side) from Warrior. This is the third year that the American outfitter is with the Merseyside club and I have to say that I love their kits. They sure brought a lot of pizzazz to LFC's apparel with their sense of design and nod towards the club's history.

This is my second jersey with the captain's name on it. 

Now to get Coutinho's kit.

(Filoil Cup games in Cebu) SWU serves UE a lesson in power and relentlessness

SWU serves UE a lesson in power and relentlessness

by rick olivares

It was the University of the East’s turn to face all these questions after they were pounded mercilessly all game long by Southwestern University en route to a 80-63 loss that saw them bounced from the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup.

The SWU Cobras answered their own questions about their own resolve after flopping big time in their match against new nemesis La Salle the day before in a 64-59 defeat.

The Cobras won their fifth match in six outings and advanced to the quarterfinals of the premier collegiate summer basketball league because of the following:

Landry Sanjo

The night of SWU’s loss, I had a chat with the Cameroonian. He got so emotionally caught up in the match with La Salle that he forgot to keep his head in the game. His two fouls on Arnold Van Opstal when the Green Archers forged ahead were of the frustration kind. Sanjo said that he’d play his usual smart but power game against UE.

And he set the tone for the game. He relentlessly attacked UE and got Charles Mammie, Chris Javier and Moustapha Arafat in foul trouble.

He was the paragon of power and hustle. Sanjo finished with 34 huge points – best in the tournament so far while grabbing 11 rebounds, dishing off three assists, and chalking up a steal and a block. He had more points that all the UE centers put together.

He was highly active in every quarter including the fourth when UE chopped the lead down to nine. His three-pointer with 50 seconds left was the coup de grace for SWU.

According to my Cebuano media friends, after SWU lost Ben Mbala to La Salle, everyone has been trying to find their own version of Sanjo, a power player with a incredible work ethic.

The Cobras shot the daylights out of the Hoops Dome

Just when UE was trying to figure out a way to stop Sanjo, Jasper Parker kept the defense honest with his outside shooting (6-13). When either Tallo or Parker went to the bench, Anton Pardo came in and blew the Red Warriors away on 7-11 shooting. Daryl Goloran hit his 15-footers.

Collectively, SWU shot 53% from the field. A lot of those baskets (even a few from Parker) came from inside the paint. They went back to what got them those first four wins and that was by pounding the rock inside.

The Cobras were able to sustain their level of intensity

SWU took three of the four quarters. And yet there was no drop off in their play even if they gave up the third period that UE took (scoring 20 to the 25 points of the Red Warriors). With the bench of Goloran, Pardo, and Justin Aboude delivering quality minutes, it afforded the starters valuable rest time.

Mac Tallo didn’t shoot too much this time around but he was solid at quarterback as he passed for eight assists (2:1 ration on assists to turnovers) while adding a steal and a block.

What happened to UE?

The saying in the vernacular is, “Naunahan sila ng SWU.” Once SWU got the jump on them for  a 12-2 lead in the first period, they never stepped off the gas pedal. UE was unable to impose its style of basketball with their trapping defense.

The trap worked in the third period and a portion of the fourth but the 20-point lead was a little too much to overcome.

The inability of the centers to stop Sanjo was their undoing. The help sagged inside leaving a lot of room for Parker and Pardo to check their gun sights before firing for effect.

When UE tried to get those points back, their own gunners in Bong Galanza and Paul Varilla (both with zero points) fired blanks.

Their only three bright spots were Dan Alberto who scored nine points but was checked in the second half. Chris Javier finally stood up to the taller opposition (it took a near fight with Charles Mammie -- that was eventually resolved -- during the halftime break to set him off). Javier finished with 17 points, eight rebounds, and one assist but gave up a crucial turnover at the height of UE’s rally. Nevertheless, it is hoped that this could be the game where he finally contributes on a regular basis.

The last bright spot for UE was Roi Sumang. What hasn’t been said about this kid who has been playing through injuries (and he had this niggling thigh injury for the past couple of weeks that hurt his explosiveness).

When UE made its comeback, Sumang drove every time and got and-ones on Tallo (twice) as well one each on Goloran and Adam Mohammed.

Losing Gino Jumao-as to two unsportsmanlike fouls hurt UE for there was no other facilitator. Renz Palma tried his best but was whistled for quick fouls rendering him largely ineffective.

When UE chopped the lead down to nine with 2:34 left in the third after Roi scored the second of his and-ones on Tallo, the Red Warriors couldn’t get a break from the referees. Three non-calls for traveling and two over-the-back fouls. While that hurt their momentum, that doesn’t mean they would have won it because for a while, they stopped SWU but were unable to convert because they would turn the ball over or take some bad shot.

It is clearly a painful loss. However, like SWU a day before, this is something they should learn from and serve them in good stead in time for the UAAP.

SWU's cheering squad! Ten hut!

Breaking down La Salle’s win over SWU

Breaking down La Salle’s win over SWU

by rick olivares

With every victory, the Southwestern University Cobras looked forward to a rematch with new nemesis La Salle. Their boisterous crowd even chanted, “We want Archers! We want Archers!” after every victory.

They got them all right but after the 64-59 loss to the Green Archers, it’s not only back to the drawing board where the wanting and the waiting for another crack at their conquerors will just have to wait for another day as the resurgent UE Red Warriors are on deck.

But aside from that, the Cobras got exposed. Bad.

SWU got off to a fast start by pounding the rock inside. Bernie Bregondo scored underneath (his only two points of the game). Mac Tallo scored on an acrobatic reverse lay-up for an and-one after Robert Bolick fouled him. Adam Mohammed drove hard for a deuce. Then Mohammed found an open Jasper Parker for a trey. The score stood at 10-4 at that point.

After 10 minutes, SWU led, 22-15.

Come the second period, the bench was sent in and this is where their problems began. Save for Daryl Goloran (11 points), the reserves simply failed to produce. Instead of putting away La Salle (not that it is an easy task) after spotting them a 22-15 lead, the reserves flat out bombed.

Then SWU’s starters began to struggle with their offense. Parker and Tallo all of a sudden couldn’t hit the side of a building even if it were in front of them.

Parker was 1-12. It got to a point where he drove and had he released early he might have gotten a bucket. Instead he hesitated then pumped and got blocked for it.

Tallo fared no better shooting 3-15. And one of those was that reverse layup and a close range shot in the first period. Meaning his triple in the fourth period was his only other field goal.

Mohammed stopped attacking the basket.

It got to a point where instead of methodically breaking down La Salle, they looked to deliver the knockout punch very early with their outside artillery. Unfortunately, they were off target today.

When reserves Anton Pardo and Mark Racho didn’t deliver they were never sent back. Jovanie Luz sparkled in nine minutes with a triple, a rebound, and a beautiful assist. But that was it. He never returned.

In contrast, La Salle sent their players back to the fray even when they didn’t produce early in the game. When they returned, they delivered. Van Opstal was taken out of the equation by Sanjo for the first three periods. In the payoff period,  he scored four crucial points. Terrence Mustre likewise didn’t figure much but his late game triple backed up Matt Salem’s booming howitzers.

That’s trust the coach (Juno Sauler) has in his players.

I wish the same could be said for SWU. At some point when Parker and Tallo were shooting bricks, Yayoy Alcoseba should have brought back Pardo (he never even got off a shot; not one) and Luz. Forget Justin Aboude who though has an excellent attitude has bad hands. It’s like asking Mike Tyson to score a basket. Why run plays for him when you can have him clean up that glass for putbacks?

If it weren’t for Landry Sanjo’s hustle, defense, and intensity, this game would have been a no contest early on.

La Salle rotated their players much better than SWU and the Cobras paid the price. Sanjo was just flat out gassed by the third period.

The Green Archers knew that after Sanjo, SWU has no other capable center so they repeatedly attacked the inside. Behind Jeron Teng and Jason Perkins, DLSU scored 25 of their 64 points inside the paint (they also added eight free throws). Sanjo was simply overwhelmed inside by La Salle that won the battle of the boards, 52-47. In a close game won by five points, those rebounds translate into extra possessions.

And there were match up problems. I don’t get it why SWU insisted on putting Mohammad on Teng who is not only taller and wider but also stronger. Goloran would have been a better match up because of his height and reach.

I wondered why they preferred to play one-on-one. What happened to the picks? No pick and roll? You could see that pick coming for Almond Vosotros or even Jeron Teng. One of the oldest plays in basketball with no surefire defensive scheme to stop it and SWU didn’t even run it.

Having said all of that, were the first four wins of SWU a fluke?

Not at all. First of all, they went up against teams that DO NOT have complete lineups. JRU, Perpetual Help, University of the Visayas, and University of San Carlos do not have the inside-outside combinations of La Salle. They ran against teams with a lot of players playing out of position. This time around, they ran smack into one with a lot of talent, skill, smarts, and depth. And one that is superbly coached.

The SWU Cobras can definitely win this year’s CESAFI. They have the talent to do so. But if there’s one thing this game showed to its CESAFI rivals, it’s how to beat these Cobras.