Who can coach the Letran Knights?

Who can coach the Letran Knights?

by rick olivares

A little over a month after the NCAA champions Letran lost their head coach to La Salle, the Knights are still without a head coach. In a conversation with Letran Athletics Director Fr. Vic Calvo O.P., he bared that they have yet to find a replacement. “Kausap ko mga bata and they said na huwag magmadali maghanap ng replacement,” said Fr. Calvo in a conversation outside the San Juan Arena during the NCAA Volleyball tournament last Monday, December 14. “We should take our time in deciding until we get the right coach. But syempre, hindi rin naman natin puwedeng patagalin ‘to.”

We will take the occasion to recommend a few people who could take the job. 

There’s the Letran connection:

First off, there’s Louie Alas. 

He has been itching to get back to the college game that he dearly loves. Coached Letran for 14 years. After he won the title in 1999 with CSJL, he received an offer from the Manila Metrostars that was way bigger than his college contract. Here is the difference, boys and girls — he asked if he could be released from his contract except the Letran priests said no. Alas said he’d honor his Letran contract yet a week later, the Dominicans released him amicably. After leading the Metrostars to a title and a stint with Talk ’N Text in the PBA, Alas returned and led the Knights to two more titles.

Alas is used to working with not much. With the graduation of key players, there’s the tough task of seeing them defend the title. What coach has done more with less?

Kerby Raymundo. 

Former Letran Knight who won a championship under Louie Alas. NCAA MVP. PBA champion and All-Star. A thinking player. Good work ethic. Lacks experience but you have to start somewhere. How he translates his traits as a very good player into coach is anyone’s guess. Was offered the job before Aldin Ayo. Now seems to be all right with coaching his alma mater. Should he take it, he will need an experienced first assistant to guide him.

And there are those with a non-Letran pedigree:

Allan Caidic. Just coming off a stint as an assistant with La Salle. Previously coached Ginebra in the pros. Has also served as team manager so he also knows how to deal with players. High profile coach who could attract recruits. Has played for some great minds — Baby Dalupan and Norman Black. Reads the game very well. Can spot things coming even before it unfolds. It would be interesting to see him transfer that knowledge to young players. Tantalizing choice.

Mon Jose. Former La Salle Green Archer. Currently an assistant to Jason Webb in the Star Hotshots and Eric Altamirano with the NU Bulldogs. Hard worker as a player. An even harder worker as a coach. Disciplined and has bright ideas. 

Josh Reyes. Currently an assistant to Nash Racela with FEU and Jong Uichico with Talk ’N Text. One of the best young coaching minds. Has worked his way up from the video coordinator to scout to teaching the dribble drive offense to Talk ’N Text, Gilas, and FEU. Let me tell you a story about Reyes when he first arrived in FEU along with Racela. Good in team psychology and is able to look at the big picture.

Introducing the last Kobe Bryant shoe (while he's playing)

“Throughout my time with Nike, I’ve obsessed the details of my shoes. For the KOBE 11, we worked to perfect Flyknit for basketball,” said 17-time All-Star Kobe Bryant.

At first glance, the low-top and simplified silhouette appears familiar. One could be fooled into believing that they’ve seen this before. Wrong. Look closer. See those pearlescent fibers? Those are thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) threads, an indication of progression; and, despite their subtlety, an announcement of the arrival of an evolution, a stronger iteration of Nike Flyknit.

Fittingly, this progressive technology debuts on the KOBE 11, underscoring the dedication to innovation that has cemented Kobe Bryant’s design legacy, one that rivals, if not extends, the champion’s on-court perfectionism.

Beginning in 2004 with the Nike Huarache 2K4, Bryant’s signature line – a partnership between the legendary athlete and Nike designer Eric Avar – has repeatedly introduced technical breakthroughs to basketball, including Flywire, Nike Free-inspired natural motion, advanced proprioception and Flyknit. At the same time, it has consistently championed a less-is-more philosophy. The union of these values has radically altered expectations for performance basketball footwear, a practice that continues with the KOBE 11, Bryant’s final on-court shoe.

The KOBE 11 is a progressive low-top that distills Bryant’s signature legacy to its essence: high performance, lightweight, responsive and sophisticated design. “The KOBE 11 design represents the whole being greater than the sum of the parts,” says Avar.

midsole also incorporates siping grooves, allowing the foot to move and flex naturally.

Over 11 silhouettes, Bryant and Avar have set a high bar for personal narratives embedded in signature lines. The launch colorway of the KOBE 11, Achilles Heel, is no different. The deep red and black shoe features subtle nods to the Greek hero Achilles, and Bryant’s own career arch. 

Known to be invulnerable in all of his body except for his heel, Achilles’ ultimate demise resulted from an arrow to his weak point during the Trojan War. Consequently, the term “Achilles heel,” was born.  The KOBE 11 Achilles Heel features a graphic representation of the hero on the right heel, while the left features four-stitch marks representing the four feet of thread used in Bryant’s 2013 Achilles surgery.

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The Air Zoo Huarache 2K5 is my fave Kobe shoe!

On the new (and delayed) PBA Hardcourt annual

Picked up my complimentary copies of PBA Hardcourt last night from the Inquirer office. There's a feeling of satisfaction, relief, and finality about this.

First of all, I didn't readily accept this job of overseeing the production of the 40th annual of the PBA. I was busy with other matters and thought that this would be too time consuming. Boy, it was more than that. More on that later.

I wanted to change the annual's look. I first began collecting Hardcourt in 1986 as a college freshman. I loved it as much as a fan could. And well, my tastes have changed. As has my sense of design and what annuals or even magazines and books should look like.

Upon getting the job as Hardcourt EIC, I wanted to make a few changes; a departure from what was previously established. The most obvious one is the cover. For the first time, you don't see a player on the cover. They usually feature some players that ranged through the years from the popular ones to those who receive awards. I was thinking -- it's the 40th anniversary and there are so many people who have made the league what it was. It would be an injustice to miss out on even one on the cover so why not be generic but have a striking image for the cover? The jump ball represents the struggle of the game. One player trying to get the ball to a teammate and jumpstart the offense. But no faces. 

I wanted the cover to jump out at you from the racks of the bookstore or news stand. I hope it does.

Overall, I wanted a coffeetable book approach. Big pictures and less text. Different page designs. I love coffeetable books. I have purchased them since I was old enough to buy them and have written quite a few of them. I wanted to bring a part of that feel to the annual. Hopefully, you like what we've done.

One other change was the table of contents wherein the chapters were in chronological order. Meaning from the Philippine Cup to the Commissioner's Cup to the All-Star Game and charities to the Governors' Cup to the PBA Draft and FIBA. I thought it would make more sense reading and appreciating the season that was.

I wanted a lengthier feature on the imports but page count was a concern. Previous versions of Hardcourt ran up to 200 pages. The 40th volume totals 230 pages.

It was both fun and frustrating to work on this. Did I get what I mostly wanted? I'd say about 80%. There are other things I wanted to do and try. Make it an even better fan experience.

I would also like to take the opportunity to apologize for the lateness of PBA Hardcourt. There were problems along the way -- foreseen and unforeseen. They took a toll on me and I did not relish the anger and frustration that I felt along the way especially since a lot of it could have been avoided. Having said that, I will not be doing this again. For me, it is one-time experience. I am one and done. It is a dream for a long-time PBA fan like me. And it sure is nice to give back to the league. Likewise, it's a gift as well to other fans and to the league as well.

Merry Christmas.

Enjoy it. And do let me know what you think.  

It should be out in bookstores and where publications are sold by this week's end. PBA Hardcourt 40 retails for P475.

The Filipino MMA fighter in the ONE FC

This appears on rappler.com



The Filipino MMA fighter in the ONE FC

by rick olivares

Brandon Vera’s spectacular 26-second first round knockout of Paul Cheng to claim the inaugural Heavyweight Belt during ONE FC: Spirit of Champions last night at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City saved what was an event overshadowed by the pullout of the original contender for the title bout and the off-cage death of a Chinese fighter. 

Vera’s victory also rescued what could have been another miserable outing by the home team in a ONE FC event in Manila as three of the five fighters succumbed to defeat. 

Ruel Catalan submitted to Alex Silva in the first round, dropping him to a miserable 2-7 record. Catalan won his ONE FC debut at Moment of Truth but has since lost three consecutive matches. 

Ana Julaton bowed to Russian Irina Mazepa via unanimous decision as the former women’s boxing champion was bloodied and unable to mount any serious offense. 

Mark Streigl lost in a shocking upset to Australian Reece McLaren via rear-naked choke. McLaren was a last minute replacement for the original opponent who got injured during training. 

Eugene Toquero inflicted on Chinese striker Li Wei Bin his first loss in four fights as the visitor refused to answer the call for the third round. Toquero put on a beating on Li even as his punches lacked serious knockout power by second round’s end.

And there was Vera’s thrilling knockout on Cheng who paid for a missed strike by getting caught flush on the face that was followed up by a kick that dumped him to the canvas.

Overall, the “homecourt” hasn’t exactly been an advantage for the Filipino fighters in events held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and the MOA Arena.

In seven ONE FC events held in Manila since August of 2012, there have been 34 matches that has featured a Filipino fighter. However, two of them saw a Filipino face a fellow Filipino so against foreign competition, the home side has a 18-14 record.

The worst ever outing was the second ONE FC event, Rise to Power that was anything but one as the Pinoys fell, 0-5, in a shocking shutout. Spirit of Champions was the other event where the locals posted a losing record, 2-3. 

No other local fighter has fought in a ONE FC cage more than Honorio Banario (8-6). The Baguio native brought a 6-0 record into the ONE FC with all his wins coming in the URCC. He lost his first fight in ONE FC then rebounded with two wins one of which was against compatriot Eric Kelly. Following that win, he has lost five straight sending his MMA career into serious doubt. 

Kevin Belingon, Banario’s Team Lakay buddy, also brought in a stellar 9-0 record with six of them coming in the URCC. Since coming to the ONE FC, he is 4-4. 

Eduard Folayang is another top local fighter who came into the ONE FC with an 11-1 record. In the ONE FC, he’s 3-4. 

Geje Eustaquio is 3-3.

Eric Kelly is one of the few Filipino fighters with a winning ONE FC record. Kelly has an overall MMA record of 12-1 but is 5-1 in the ONE FC. His lone loss was to Banario although Kelly points out that he submitted due to an eye injury.

Toquero brought a 5-0 record to ONE FC. Toquero who made a name for himself with PxC has a 3-2 record in ONE FC.

Vera is 2-0.

ONE FC Chief Executive Officer Victor Cui believes it is all about exposure. “There are a lot of talented Filipino fighters,” he said. “They just need exposure. The more you fight compete against international talent, you get a firm grip on styles and technique. Filipinos like the striking game but there’s more to MMA than striking.”

“I think it is a massive advantage for us to fight in front of the homecrowd,” shared Julaton a day before her fight with Mazepa. “The home fans give a boost. But people have to remember we are fighting against some tough folks so nothing is easy. I’d love nothing more than to give the local fans something to cheer about but MMA is 50-50."

Talking to ONE FC and former UFC fighter Kamal Shalorus who took down Folayang in ONE FC: Rise to Power, the Iranian said that he believes there’s a lot of talent in the Philippines. “You have so many good fighters. You just need more exposure as well as to adapt more skills. In my country of Iran or in others like the United States, wrestling is something we get into an a young age. In MMA, you need to have good takedown and mat defense if you want a chance of winning."

Veteran MMA writer James Goyder shared his thoughts, "A lot of the Filipino fighters came into ONE FC with really strong records, but without having really faced top calibre opponents. If you look at the guys Eustaquio, Folayang, Belingon and Banario fought before ONE FC none of them were in the same class as Shalorus, Masakatsu Ueda, Adriano Moraes and Jadamba Narantungalag. It's a big step up, and I think the fact that Filipino fighters are winning more fights than they are losing is a positive."

Added Goyer, "It depends whether you want to see Filipinos smashing overmatched opponents on home soil, or whether you want to see them being tested against the top guys in the division. If you fight the top guys you aren't going to win every time, but when Belingon beats Koetsu Okazaki or Toquero beats Gianni Subba, or Folayang beats Kotetsu Boku the crowd appreciate it because they know that their hometown fighter has beaten a worthy opponent. I don't think it would be the same feeling if these fighters were winning every time but beating opponents who no-one had ever heard of.”

Summed up Vera who is the second Filipino champion after Banario held the Featherweight Championship in 2013, “We’re well represented in the MMA world today, bro. And that’s a good start."

ONE FC flyweight Yang Jian Bing passes away

FROM THE ONE FC: The ONE Championship (ONE) family suffered a tragic loss when Chinese flyweight Yang Jian Bing passed away on 11 December 2015 at 12.06 PM due to cardiopulmonary failure. The formal hospital medical reports and procedures are still being carried out. He was 21 years old.

Yang, a native of China was hospitalized at the San Juan De Dios Hospital in Pasay, Philippines, after a sudden collapse on the morning of 10 December 2015.

At the hospital, Yang received the best medical care possible while ONE officials continuously updated his family directly from his hospital bedside. 

CEO of ONE Championship, Victor Cui said, “There is nothing more profoundly tragic and sad than when a member of the ONE Championship family, current or past, passes away. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and loved ones of Yang Jian Bing.  We will work closely with the family and offer all the support they need in any way we can during this very difficult time." 

Cui added, “I want to thank all sports fans around the world for their concern, thoughts and prayers. At this time, we appreciate everyone respecting the Yang family's privacy as they mourn the loss of their beloved son and brother."

Yang competed in the ONE Flyweight Division and his last bout for ONE was on 20 June 2015 and he was scheduled to compete on the card of ONE: SPIRIT OF CHAMPIONS in Manila on 11 December.

FEU’s former CDC coach to join Ateneo

This appears on philstar.com

FEU’s former CDC coach to join Ateneo

by rick olivares 

Jacqueline Alolor-Alota, Far Eastern University’s Cheerdance Coach who led the Morayta-based school to 10-consecutive top three finishes from 2003-12 will be taking her talents to Ateneo de Manila University come January 1, 2016.

“We are pleased to have a top flight coach with us,” disclosed Ateneo Blue Babble Battalion Program Head Ralph Aligada. “Coach Jackie will bring her ideas, creativity, and experience to Ateneo.”

Ateneo’s CDC team finished last in the last three Cheerdance Competitions. “Any great changes will not happen overnight,” noted Aligada who himself was a part of the BBB during his school years. “We are also installing a new program for our team and for Coach Jackie to work her magic with us."

Alolor-Alota, was released from this past season after FEU missed the top three in the past three years. She led FEU to its second CDC title in 2009. Joining her in Ateneo will be her assistants Julius Quitalag and Peter Padilla. 

Mel Tan: ONE FC’s Ring Girl is more than eye candy

This appears on abs-cbnnews.com

Mel Tan: ONE FC’s Ring Girl is more than eye candy

by rick olivares

When I think of Ring Girls for boxing or MMA, they’re pretty and sexy girls who are eye candy to otherwise brutal sports.

However, for Mel Tan, she’s more than perhaps the hottest ONE FC Ring Girl around.

She not only practices Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai, she also does fee diving, trekking, mountain climbing, and running. “Oh, and I used to play basketball when I was in school,” she adds.

Of course. Basketball. How can we forget?

Her interest in martial arts came about when she joined ONE FC in 2014.  “I believe it is only right for me to understand the sport better if I am working with them,” she explains. “And now I have become a fan of the sport.”

The Malaysian beauty is also quick to point to her boyfriend, American MMA instructor Heath Sims who works with the Evolve Mixed Martial Arts Gym in Singapore for pointing her towards a more active and healthy lifestyle. Sims is a former US Olympic wrestling and a six-time US National Champion. “He changed the way I look at a lot of things,” gushes Mel.

Tan used to have a corporate job working in a human resources division but she gave it up to indulge in other pursuits. Back in her native Malaysia, Mel also worked as a model on Deal or No Deal Malaysia and competed in FHM’s Girl Next Door. Now with ONE FC, she has a pretty full schedule considering Asia’s top MMA circuit holds events at least twice a month now.

How does Mel find time for everything in her life?

“Time management,” she offers with a laugh then shakes her head. “Not easy. But it is good to practice that. It teaches you to be more responsible. “I love what I am doing now. Working with ONE FC, doing some modelling. It’s a lot of fun for me. And I get to travel."

Free diving and swimming is one of her passions. She related how she once swam in an aquarium with sharks. “As long as you don’t bother the sharks they won’t bother you,” she reveals. Was she ever afraid?

“Not at all.”

A woman who swims with sharks and practices Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai.

This is one girl who knows how to take care of herself. 

Eugene Toquero is ready for his Chinese foe in ONE FC: SPIRIT OF CHAMPIONS

Eugene Toquero is ready for Chinese foe

by rick olivares

There aren’t many showmen in Philippine sports. You know the type with the gift for gab to go along with knocking out foes?

Eugene Toquero is one such dude. His mixes his exciting striking style with his Pacquiao-esque one-liners and his penchant for grooming his hair that elicits a lot of attention from the crowd. 

The five-foot-five MMA fighter exudes confidence before every fight and on the eve of his flyweight battle with Chinese Li Wei Bin in ONE FC: SPIRIT OF CHAMPIONS, he elicits the same. “I prepared for this fight by playing a lot of basketball,” he jokes. “And watching Aldub."

Toquero is 2-2 in the ONE FC and is coming off a three-round unanimous decision loss to Asuka “Riku Shibuya” Mikami last October in ONE FC: TIGERS OF ASIA in Kuala Lumpur. The Japanese striker thoroughly dominated the Filipino bloodying him two occasions and hardly gave him any chance to mount serious offense. 

Toquero would have done well to learn from Brazilian Adriano Moraes who handed the Japanese fighter a beating with great footwork, excellent take down defense, and a variety of kicks and strikes to perplex his foe.

Toquero says he’s shaken off that loss. “I’m ready,” he swears. “Malaking laban to. Chinese pa naman yung kalaban."

His Chinese foe somewhat resembles Mikami — has great footwork and is an aggressive striker and an even excellent counter puncher. And the Chinese striker is a head hunter who likes to pepper foes with jabs. Li is undefeated at 3-0 in the ONE FC and fought last November 21 where he fashioned out a split decision against his compatriot, Wang Ya Wong.

Li fights with a lot of energy and has a lot of gas in his tank.

“Meron din tayo nun at yung crowd sa MOA bukas (Friday, December 11) ang aking gasolina,” he notes. 

Toquero is one of five Filipinos who will be seeing action today at ONE FC: SPIRIT OF CHAMPIONS at the Mall of Asia Arena at 7:30pm. 

Voted my starters to the 2016 NBA All-Star Game!

For a while, I was thinking of the starting five for the West should be Golden State's starting unit. That's how good those dudes are. Come to think of it, why not?

There and back with Erika Dy and the Lady Eagles

There and back with Erika Dy and the Lady Eagles

by rick olivares

With about four seconds left in Game Two of the of the UAAP Women’s Basketball Finals, Ateneo Lady Eagles head coach Erika Dy crossed over to the victorious National University bench to shake hands with her counterparts.

She flashed that lovely smile of hers then went back to the Ateneo side of the court. Who knew if she was masking the pain of a loss? How was she taking it?

When Dy came over in 2000 as a freshman, she was that cartwheeling, finger pistol-shooting recruit out of De La Salle Zobel. Instead of moving laterally towards Taft, she instead, and much to the surprise of a lot of people, went to Loyola Heights.

"I really wanted to study in the Ateneo,” she admitted. "I was being recruited by La Salle but my first option was really Ateneo. Ateneo didn’t have a program back then pero I took my chances. I distinctly remember Sandy Arespacochaga talking to me during my senior year in high school. I participated in the Asean Youth Games and he was with the boys’ team. He found out that I was taking the ACET and he started talking to me about the culture of Ateneo as well as the basketball program for women’s that wasn’t so good. But he told me that with me walking in there might start something. I bought into that. And he still talks to me about that. That’s why I went to Ateneo.”

In her first year playing for Ateneo, the Lady Eagles finished 0-12 (at that time, NU didn’t field a women’s team). She never heard the end of it from her former Zobel teammates. “It was tough because we didn’t win at all and I was hearing from my friends in La Salle na hindi na lang dapat ako nag-Ateneo,” she shared. “But I stayed true to my beliefs that something good can come out of this. I knew that hindi ako magcha-champion sa Ateneo but maybe I can start something and eventually provide a path of which a championship can be built.”

Before the Erika Dy and the Lady Eagles could compete for a championship, they had to learn how to win.

During her second playing year, the Lady Eagles, now under John Flores, defeated defending champion Adamson in their first game of the season at the Lady Falcons’ own homecourt at San Marcelino in Manila. It was the first win in ages and they celebrated like they won a title. None of the girls wanted to change into their casual attire for school. In fact, they all went back to Loyola Heights still in their game uniforms. The all got down at Xavier Hall with the intent of having the student body look at them and ask if they had a game and if they had won.

“You can say that we wanted the attention,” laughed Dy at the memory.

The win wasn’t the last as the Lady Eagles went on to win a few more games that season and then they got really better in the next few years.

At one point, a couple of alumni showed up for a match prompting one Lady Eagle terse and sarcastic remark about people watching. Flores quickly riposted, “Eh, bakit nga naman may manonood sa inyo eh hindi kayo nananalo?"

Finally and with Flores still at the helm, they won two titles, in 2005 and 2007. However, with the graduation of the championship core as well as the sudden departure of Flores, the Lady Eagles slid back into the abyss. 

"After continuing my studies in the States, when I came back, I made it a point to watch the games knowing that when I was playing walang nanonood sa amin. But after a bit, meron na nanonood sa amin. It was inspiring to give back in my own way."

"It came as a surprise when I was offered a coaching job,” she admitted. “Once more nagusap kami ni Sandy (Arespacochaga) and he convinced me to accept the job of coaching (the Lady Eagles finished 1-13 the year before she came on board as head coach). He said, ‘If there is anyone who knows how to bridge the losing years into the winning one it is you.’ So I once more bought into what he said and I was here.”

It was easier said than done.

If you ask her to describe her playing years in one word, she says it was “tough.” As for he coaching stint? “Tougher.”

She brought back on board Ron Camara to be her chief asisstant. Camara was Flores’ top assistant when Dy was playing. "We would compare the teams when I was playing and to what we have today. We saw similarities and differences and built on that."

"Ang mentality namin when I was playing was there was no where else to go but up. We wanted to prove to people that we were something in the UAAP. After yung team nila Peachy Cheng (the Lady Eagles’ star who led the team to a finals berth and starred for the national team in the mid-1980s), nawala rin yung women’s team then it made a comeback in 1995 na puro last place. This time around it is to bring back the glory days."

Another difference between those salad days and today was the support of the school. At that time, women’s sports weren’t big in Ateneo. Today, you have the emergence of the Women’s Volleyball Team that is paving the way for women’s teams.

"When the Women’s Basketball Team won in 05 and 07 there was more support,” shared Dy. “Today, scholarships are being given out so recruitment is easier. During my time, wala. All my four years in Ateneo walang scholarship. You also have more support with regards to facilities. Kahit ball boys, training opportunities, these are small things that do make a big deal."

The transition from playing to coaching wasn’t easy for Dy. "Ang na realize ko, the things I was good at were the most difficult ones to teach. For example, using ball screens that was something I was pretty good at. My players now, I spend 30 minutes easily teaching ball screens. I realize that I am not that detailed in teaching because it came naturally for me.” 

Dy also drew on her experience working with the Supreme Court Administrator Midas Marquez whose management style was treating his employees not as workers but as friends. “That way, he got their loyalty and commitment to work to the best of their abilities. I applied the same to my team.  Outside the court pagnakita mo kami naglalakad para kaming mag-barkada."

The team started to come together and during Season 77, the Lady Eagles finished 7-7 and nearly booked a Final Four slot but a loss to FEU prevented them from advancing.

“After the season, I wasn’t sure if (center) Danica Jose was coming back,” related Dy. “I told her that  I will understand her not coming back but she assured me she was. I promised her that If she decided to comeback, I’d bring her to the finals. She was a prized recruit; someone you knew you could build a championship team around. If she finished her years at Ateneo wihtout a shot at a title parang pangit. After all her batch, this graduating batch of seniors were my first recruits as team manager. She was also an inspiration for me this year.”

This past season didn’t start out well as the Lady Eagles fell to a quick 0-2 hole. 

“The night of the second loss, Danica called me up around 11pm and I had to go to Eastwood to talk to her. Start pa lang ng season and she was really down. I asked her, 'Do I look worried? I am not worried at all. I don’t know what God’s plans are for us. Whatever it is we have to keep playing and accept where we finish. Para wala na siyang gana nung and two games pa lang sabi ko sa kanya laro tayo ng laro. Not to give up. I understand very what that onne of the hardest things as a player is to fight back after a loss. When you’re down and going into the next game, down ka pa rin. Ang hirap makita na mananalo kayo.  But you have to try."

Ateneo won its next game but unfortunately dropped the next two with the fourth loss to La Salle by one point.

"Di ko makalimutan yun. Hazel Yam was crying like a kid losing by one-point to our arch-rival. Masakit. Then we won three straight to make it an even 4-4 that left us tied for third. I thought at that point that we had settled down and tuloy tuloy na to. Instead, we lost the next three to drop to 4-7. Medyo nag-panic na ako. Baka hindi na umabot kahit Final Four, I thought. There was a two week break because of Undas. The following game was UE who is a contender; NU and La Salle were one and two respectively. Then there was UE, UST and us. If we lost to UE patay na talaga kami. we prepared for that game and the girls played really well and we won. If you assess the standings you will know we needed that game. So in some ways, that was the first of our do-or-die games. They came out fighting. Sabi ko lalaban 'to pag-push comes to shove na. This is not a team that will run away from big games. We lost to La Salle but UST and UE lost to UP. All we needed was to win versus Adamson to force a playoff. When we won against Adamson sunod sunod na."

"When we got into the finals versus La Salle, I hugged Danica and told her, ‘Ayan wala na akong utang sa yo.’”

Dy wasn’t the only one to get a word in edge-wise. Kat Quimpo, who had played on Ateneo’s '05 and ’07 champion teams and had also come on board as an assistant to Dy kidded her, “Ayan makaka-relate ka na sa amin.” 

"I never got to play in the Finals,” laughed Dy. “When we got in, I teased our players, 'Ayoko na kayo i-coach buti pa kayo maglalaro sa finals ako hindi nakapaglaro.' I’d rather play than coach. There were a lot of times I wanted to put myself inside the game."

With the strong showing by defending champion National University, the talk around the league was everyone else was playing for second. The Lady Bulldogs had not dropped a match in two seasons thus far and they didn’t look like they were going to slow down anytime soon. “Even with the odds stacked against us, we went into the Finals playing to win.”

The Lady Eagles dove for lose balls, scrapped for every possession yet came up short in the Finals against a tough NU squad bannered by several national players. “I think that the Ateneo community is proud of us because even if we were outmatched, we kept fighting up to the very end and that is what people want, giving it that one big fight to the very end."

During the Thanksgiving Mass for the Lady Eagles, Fr. Kit Bautista, S.J. noted that this was the first time that he saw a second place team this happy.

Wondered Erika, "Did we lower our standards? Are we saying that we overachieved? Hindi naman sa ganon. We set our goals, we wanted to win a championship. We fell short of our goal but we are not ashamed. We fell short very graciously. I am happy not because we have the opportunity to play in the finals but the girls have something to look back on. Later on in life they will have challenges and they will look back at this journey and use their experience to deal with their own challenges.”

Game Two was Dy’s last match as head coach. She’s moving up to the University Athletics Office while John Flores, after spending several years coaching the La Salle Greenhills high school team, returns to the Lady Eagles’ bench. "Because of the movements in the athletics office, as early as March, I knew I was moving to another position. My first reaction was, ‘Ayaw niyo na ba ako mag-coach?' I felt that way at first. It turned out that they wanted me to do both. But I refused. I thought the girls deserved my full attention. If i wasn’t giving my 100% why would they?”

“When it was all over, I didn’t feel too bad. I think I am more nervous about moving into the position where now you look at how to help all the varsity teams. It’s a good challenge though."

When Erika Dy first came over to the Ateneo, the Lady Eagles weren’t winning. Although they didn’t win a championship during her four playing years, she left them in good shape and they eventually won two in three years’ time.

When she returned to Loyola Heights, first as a supporter in the stands and then as team manager and ultimately as head coach, the Lady Eagles weren’t winning either. She stepped down after guiding them to their first finals appearance since 2007.

Just as she did in 2004, Erika Dy is leaving the Lady Eagles in good hands.