Was interviewed for an upcoming episode of Wildcard on Studio 23 (Saturdays 630 pm and hosted by Aaron Atayde and Frances Fleta). Had a blast chatting with Aaron Atayde about sports on and off cam.
Here are my answers to the UAAP/NCAA questions. I'll post the NBA and PBA questions/answers tomorrow. I think I said most of what I planned to say.
Here are my answers to the UAAP/NCAA questions. I'll post the NBA and PBA questions/answers tomorrow. I think I said most of what I planned to say.
Aaron: What are your predictions for Season 72 of the UAAP – basketball and other sports?
Rick: Well, we still have a long ways to go more so since the year isn’t over. But for the question’s sake, for basketball, Ateneo does not have a lock on the repeat title. They’d love to win it again in its 150th year and I imagine they’d put their best feet forward for that, but it won’t be easy. La Salle and FEU will have reloaded big time to counter Ateneo – with height and lots of firepower. For the Blue Eagles, they’ll need to find a way to replace the presence and influence of Chris Tiu. You all saw it in the other tournament (PCC) when they were looking for another source of points. Of course missing Ryan Buenafe was huge as well. But Tiu opened up that lane for Rabeh Al-Hussaini to post up. But what they need is a gunner. A big time gunner. If you ask me they got lucky last season without peppering foes from the outside. Now everyone will adjust to their inside game unless the find that shooter. Could have been Clark Bautista.
As for other sports – volleyball has just started and is picking up every year in terms of popularity. Football is just around the corner.
There is a renewed interest and focus on collegiate sports and the UAAP in general and that is good for the sporting scene.
There is a renewed interest and focus on collegiate sports and the UAAP in general and that is good for the sporting scene.
Aaron: Who will be the team to beat next season?
Rick: Of course, it’s Ateneo. Until they can pry away the title from their cold dead fingers then the road to any championship has to go through Loyola Heights. They have quite a lot to fix on that team if they want to defend their crown successfully.
Look for Nonoy Baclao to amp up his scoring too.
As for Eric Salamat, Norman Black said he was the King Eagle in waiting because Chris Tiu was still around. But with the ascent of Rabeh, either he waits another year or he takes over now. Some say he has a place in the starting unit. Hard to say with both him and Ryan Buenafe playing similar styles of play. I like him off the bench but he's definitely earned starter's status now. And what I like about him is that opponents have no easy baskets with him around.
Look for Nonoy Baclao to amp up his scoring too.
As for Eric Salamat, Norman Black said he was the King Eagle in waiting because Chris Tiu was still around. But with the ascent of Rabeh, either he waits another year or he takes over now. Some say he has a place in the starting unit. Hard to say with both him and Ryan Buenafe playing similar styles of play. I like him off the bench but he's definitely earned starter's status now. And what I like about him is that opponents have no easy baskets with him around.
Aaron: Do you think Rabeh Al-Hussaini will dominate and repeat as MVP?
Rick: It is very possible. In 2006, he gave everyone a glimpse of what was to come when he was unloading double figures as a beneficiary of the open looks he got from JC Intal and Macky Escalona. And when Chris Tiu became the man he found himself a nice complement to the captain. But as we saw in the second round or even in the off season, Rabeh is already capable of holding his own. I think he has a few more tricks up his sleeve for next year. I was talking to the UST players and they all noted how different a player Rabeh had become once he got his confidence going. If he doesn’t step up next year Ateneo will be in trouble.
Aaron: With Sam Ekwe, Pong Escobal, and Kelvin De La Peña gone, who do you think will emerge as the NCAA’s MVP.
Rick: Well there are the Letran guys like RJ Jazul and Rey Guevarra. There are the JRU holdovers but they all have to learn when to pass the rock and when to take charge rather than mindlessly firing away but that’s their game isn’t it? But I think Ogie Menor is ready to strap his Red Lions onto his back for an unprecedented four-peet for San Beda.
Sam Ekwe made that team go. His presence gave Yousif Al-Jamal, Menor, and Escobal the right to fire away because they new Big Sam was there to collect the garbage. Sudan Daniels should help but the onus is on Menor to be the man. Hard to guard a guy with that size, strength, and speed. And he knows how to pass. The thing is his shooting is still suspect, something he will need in the pros because I don’t imagine he’d be playing anything but the 1 or 2 spots.
Aaron: Some people say that Sudan Daniels is a bust.
Rick: Isn’t that a little too early to tell? Those who saw the off-season leagues saw him get double figures in spite of getting double or triple-teamed. We’ll see though but any designs on the NCAA crown they’ll have to do battle with the team from Mendiola. He doesn’t even need to pour in a bucket of points. All he has to do is defend the lane and his teammates can score.
Aaron: You’re the only one to say that San Beda will repeat…
Rick: Really? Shows everybody what I know, huh? (laughs)
Aaron: What has the UAAP done right and wrong?
Rick: The best thing they’ve done is partnering with ABS-CBN because we’ve seen an unparalleled growth in the league – in terms of exposure and popularity. What has it done wrong? By changing commissioners every year and by passing stupid rules that sanction one team this year but benefit another.
Aaron: How can the UAAP improve the way the games are managed? What does the league have to do in order to improve the officiating in basketball?
Rick: That is something that isn’t indemic to the UAAP. It has been bad all these past years but it’s only now that the stink has gone up. To improve the officiating one has to also work with the SBP because all the refereeing orgs have to be streamlined, trained, and sanctioned. People say the officiating in the PBL is far superior. You have obviously not watched a PBL game for those who say that. Not calling fouls when there are obvious ones doesn’t mean players will be better basketball players.
Aaron: You have become an influential writer and one of the most-read ones today and you have a popular site. How has the internet, in particular sports-dedicated websites and blogs, changed the way how the UAAP and collegiate sports is viewed by fans and supporters alike? Do you think it’s been good or bad for the league? Why?
Rick: Thanks for the generous praise, Aaron. Hahaha. But I really began writing years ago and I think there are a couple of things that helped: writing my column my own way as opposed to the traditional style of writing, my girlfriend putting them up in a blog, and writing for Ateneo which created an audience, and now expanding to other schools.
I think before people, fans like me, didn’t have a venue to share their thoughts, comments, rants and complaints about the games. Forums can tend to be faceless but blogs… one simple post can change things.
The digital and internet age has put things within everyone’s grasp. Information can be shared at the snap of the finger and those able to communicate it fast and even skillfully. I think online stuff has been good and of course bad. But publicity helps.
Aaron: There has been talk about the UAAP accepting a new member and the possible expansion of the league? Do you think it’s necessary? If yes, who should the UAAP consider adding as a new member of the league?
Rick: I think that is a step in the right direction. Accepting a new member means change of which many are afraid. But think of the dynamics and new synergies. One can’t be too selfish all the time. It’s high time they did. That is why the off season tourneys are intriguing because you get to see your teams play different squads. And that is fun and challenging.
Rick: Well there are the Letran guys like RJ Jazul and Rey Guevarra. There are the JRU holdovers but they all have to learn when to pass the rock and when to take charge rather than mindlessly firing away but that’s their game isn’t it? But I think Ogie Menor is ready to strap his Red Lions onto his back for an unprecedented four-peet for San Beda.
Sam Ekwe made that team go. His presence gave Yousif Al-Jamal, Menor, and Escobal the right to fire away because they new Big Sam was there to collect the garbage. Sudan Daniels should help but the onus is on Menor to be the man. Hard to guard a guy with that size, strength, and speed. And he knows how to pass. The thing is his shooting is still suspect, something he will need in the pros because I don’t imagine he’d be playing anything but the 1 or 2 spots.
Aaron: Some people say that Sudan Daniels is a bust.
Rick: Isn’t that a little too early to tell? Those who saw the off-season leagues saw him get double figures in spite of getting double or triple-teamed. We’ll see though but any designs on the NCAA crown they’ll have to do battle with the team from Mendiola. He doesn’t even need to pour in a bucket of points. All he has to do is defend the lane and his teammates can score.
Aaron: You’re the only one to say that San Beda will repeat…
Rick: Really? Shows everybody what I know, huh? (laughs)
Aaron: What has the UAAP done right and wrong?
Rick: The best thing they’ve done is partnering with ABS-CBN because we’ve seen an unparalleled growth in the league – in terms of exposure and popularity. What has it done wrong? By changing commissioners every year and by passing stupid rules that sanction one team this year but benefit another.
Aaron: How can the UAAP improve the way the games are managed? What does the league have to do in order to improve the officiating in basketball?
Rick: That is something that isn’t indemic to the UAAP. It has been bad all these past years but it’s only now that the stink has gone up. To improve the officiating one has to also work with the SBP because all the refereeing orgs have to be streamlined, trained, and sanctioned. People say the officiating in the PBL is far superior. You have obviously not watched a PBL game for those who say that. Not calling fouls when there are obvious ones doesn’t mean players will be better basketball players.
Aaron: You have become an influential writer and one of the most-read ones today and you have a popular site. How has the internet, in particular sports-dedicated websites and blogs, changed the way how the UAAP and collegiate sports is viewed by fans and supporters alike? Do you think it’s been good or bad for the league? Why?
Rick: Thanks for the generous praise, Aaron. Hahaha. But I really began writing years ago and I think there are a couple of things that helped: writing my column my own way as opposed to the traditional style of writing, my girlfriend putting them up in a blog, and writing for Ateneo which created an audience, and now expanding to other schools.
I think before people, fans like me, didn’t have a venue to share their thoughts, comments, rants and complaints about the games. Forums can tend to be faceless but blogs… one simple post can change things.
The digital and internet age has put things within everyone’s grasp. Information can be shared at the snap of the finger and those able to communicate it fast and even skillfully. I think online stuff has been good and of course bad. But publicity helps.
Aaron: There has been talk about the UAAP accepting a new member and the possible expansion of the league? Do you think it’s necessary? If yes, who should the UAAP consider adding as a new member of the league?
Rick: I think that is a step in the right direction. Accepting a new member means change of which many are afraid. But think of the dynamics and new synergies. One can’t be too selfish all the time. It’s high time they did. That is why the off season tourneys are intriguing because you get to see your teams play different squads. And that is fun and challenging.
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