Recently in UAAP Category

MANILA, Philippines -- At Sunday’s Game 1 in the best-of-three UAAP collegiate finals series, the Ateneo Blue Eagles drew first blood over rival La Salle Green Archers. In an article by Marlon Ramos, five suspected scalpers were caught allegedly selling tickets for P1,500--20 times the ticket’s face value of P75. Still, in another report by Jasmine Payo, two patron tickets, originally priced at P350, were sold at P25,000. As a paradox, the blockbuster game showcased talents for game play that every fan would want to witness and be part of. Likewise, this paves way for opportunists to get into the business of selling overpriced tickets. It could be a simple case of symbiosis, or the law of supply and demand: die-hard fans buy overpriced tickets from scalpers to watch the game at the court and rally for their teams. Building up team spirit? For scalpers, this is an opportunity to sell overprized tickets to fans before the fight begins. Genius or madness? A blog written by DLSU graduate Paul Garilao cited a LaSallian October 2002 article on scalpers. Mang Jimmy, a scalper for over eight years, travels from Cavite to DLSU to get spare tickets from professors and students. The tickets he sold during the 2002 game have a scalped price below: According to the blog, the scalper earned as much as P20,000 (in 2002) from scalping when game favorites such as Ateneo and La Salle play in the court. It is reasonable to add up some more figures to that if its finals seasons. The scalping market continues to exist alongside each game. Each ballgame has two faces: a celebration of each team’s finest and an opportunity to earn big. Scalpers, in essence, will never run out of business as long as there will be people who can pay the price for their desired game tickets. Is this genius or madness? Who’s the winner and who’s the loser? You answer.

By Izah Morales WITH the thumping beat and hip hop groove, the University of the Philippines pep squad wowed the audience in their tribal-inspired stunts and routines allowing them to defend their title and becoming the 2008 UAAP Cheerdance Competition champion. UP pep squad team captain Angelica Sison, BA Communication Research senior, said that with the support of family, friends, and teammates, they were able to pull through despite the injuries and challenges they encountered. “As long as one person is fighting, hindi pwedeng bumitaw, talagang kapit lang talaga lahat (we cannot quit, we just held on),” said Sison. Sison said this year’s competition brought a lot of pressure on them since UP is hosting the UAAP and is celebrating its centennial year. Nonetheless, this helped them refocus their vision on the competition leading to the enhancement of their routines, she said. Sison observed that all of the teams have improved this year, bringing the competition to a higher level. About 20,000 people dressed in yellow, maroon, green, blue, red, white with exhilarating energy rocked the big dome as they cheered for their alma mater with their respective banners.

ATENEO suffered its first defeat to Far Eastern University Thursday after Aldrech Ramos buried a key jumper with less than a minute remaining in the fourth quarter. In the last 47.7 seconds, Ramos' jumper effectively clipped the wings of the Eagles, giving the Tamaraws a 67-66 lead. The game ended with the score of 72-66, in favor of the Tamaraws. After the game, the Tams were seen huddled in one corner, celebrating a victory without forward Mac Baracael who was earlier shot by an unknown gunman. Police are now investigating the attack that almost killed Baracael

Sad news for UAAP fans. Mac Baracael, a basketball player from the Far Eastern University, was shot by unknown assailants Thursday night. Excerpt:

MANILA, Philippines -- A UAAP basketball player is fighting for his life after a lone gunman shot him twice late Thursday night. Mac Baracael, a junior forward of Far Eastern University, was shot by an unknown assailant with a 45-caliber pistol near Philtrust corner Morayta and R. Papa streets.

By Jasmine W. Payo Inquirer GAMES THURSDAY (Araneta Coliseum) 3 p.m. -- Univ. of the East vs La Salle (Game 1, best-of-three Finals) MANILA, Philippines--It was the biggest winning margin in the rivalry that more than lived up to its hype this season. And the win also turned out to be the biggest of them all. De La Salle University ended its rare five-game saga with arch rival Ateneo de Manila University on top as the Green Archers turned back the Blue Eagles, 65-60, Sunday to clinch the last UAAP Finals berth in front of a 23,000-strong sellout crowd at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. “This is the only time that two is greater than three,” said La Salle coach Franz Pumaren. “They beat us three times (this season), but we beat them when it counted the most.” La Salle senior guard Cholo Villanueva found the seams in the Ateneo defense, drilling in nine of his 13 points in the fourth quarter to keep the Archers in control. “This is the ‘welcome back’ party for us,” said Villanueva, referring to the Archers’ impressive return to the Finals after serving a one-year suspension last season. “Coach Franz said to just control the tempo of the game, make good stops and convert it into offense. It was all about controlling the tempo of the game.” But a more arduous road lies ahead as the Archers face the undefeated University of the East Warriors in the best-of-three championship series. Game 1 will kick off at 3 p.m. on Thursday at the Araneta Coliseum. The title duel has its own interesting sidebar as Franz squares off with younger brother and UE mentor Dindo Pumaren. “It’s a long overdue series with Dindo,” said Franz after nailing the second title slot in front of 23,319 fans, the biggest crowd ever recorded in Philippine basketball history. Offense failed the Eagles at crunch time as the Eagles shot an abysmal 20 percent -- 2 out of 10 field goal attempts -- in the fourth quarter. But they stayed in the game by scoring 12 of their 17 markers in the final quarter from the foul line. Pumaren said the Archers made sure to tighten their defensive screws in the closing minutes. “This is one game where we really responded well playing defensively,” he said. “The players tend to relax, but the players made sure that no way are we going to relax this time. We played smart down the stretch.” The Archers took off early in the fourth quarter with a pair of Villanueva lay-ups sandwiching a TY Tang triple for the biggest lead of the game, 55-46, with 5:30 minutes left. Eric Salamat ended the Ateneo drought with a three-point play, but Villanueva responded 33 seconds later with a triple on top of the key to push the gap back to nine, 58-49. The Eagles came up with one last gasp as rookie center Nonoy Baclao surprisingly nailed a triple to trim the margin by a basket, 62-60, with 13.6 seconds left. But the rally proved futile as JV Casio and Rico Maierhofer converted three of their four foul shots to cushion the Archers’ lead in the last 11 seconds. “There’s nothing to be ashamed of,” said Ateneo coach Norman Black, who emerged from the dugout more than an hour after the game. “As far as I can remember, you guys didn’t even give us a chance to reach this far.” Outside the coliseum, scalpers also had a field day with patron tickets going ridiculously high at P6, 000 apiece.

By Jasmine W. Payo Inquirer MANILA, Philippines--A DAY after the University of the Philippines gave coach Joe Lipa the pink slip, alumni groups were pushing for two of the temperamental coach's former wards, Eric Altamirano and Ronnie Magsanoc, to take his place. School officials said they will name the coach early to give him time to prepare for the next UAAP season, which coincides with UP's centennial celebration, but have yet to begin their search for Lipa's replacement. "I recommended for [Lipa's early] termination because of the centennial year," said Hercules Callanta, dean of the College of Human Kinetics, who wants the team to be competitive in the 2008 season. "The next coach will be hard pressed for a result. We want [the new coach] to have the luxury of time." The school, though, is still awaiting word from UP chancellor Sergio Cao regarding the status of Lipa. Although Callanta recommended that Lipa be replaced after a winless season, the decision will only be final once it is ratified by Cao. "Although the recommendation is already a big step, it still has to be ratified," said a school source. "The chancellor should have an action based on his own decision," said Callanta. "We just have to wait for his action." Callanta said the school doesn't have a list of candidates yet, although several names have already floated. "We haven't started anything," said Callanta. "No one is being eyed, no one is being sought after. All are speculations." But alumni groups are pressing for Magsanoc and Altamirano, both members of Lipa's 1986 championship squad, the only UP team to win a UAAP title. The name of Allan Gregorio was also floated but the Air21 assistant mentor respectfully asked that he be taken off whatever list because he is eyeing a PBL stint. The Maroons wrapped up the elimination round with a 0-14 record marked by horrendous blowout losses.

By Jasmine W. Payo Inquirer TWO big men are amazingly shaking off the underachiever tag that had hung over them for several seasons in the UAAP men’s basketball competition. Long consigned to the background, Ford Arao of the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles and Joseph Linga-Lingao of the National University Bulldogs came out of their shells over the weekend and took charge in their team’s first-day victories. "He really wants to make a big impact this season," NU coach Manny Dandan said after his starting center powered the Bulldogs to a 73-70 overtime victory against Far Eastern University in Saturday’s opener. The next day, Arao scattered 10 of his 20 points in the extra period of the Eagles’ 69-63 come-from-behind triumph against the Adamson University Falcons. "We lost our three main men (to graduation), so I plan to keep on playing hard," the 6-foot-5 Arao said. With their breakthrough performances, Arao and Lingao-Lingao shared the Player of the Week citation awarded by the UAAP Press Corps. Lingao-Lingao, a wide-bodied 6-foot-5 Cebu native, unloaded 17 points, 13 rebounds, two assists and all of his team’s five blocks to put the former cellar-dwellers on top early with powerhouses La Salle, Ateneo and University of the East. Arao, who normed 4.4 points last year, also exploded with a double-double effort of 20 points and 15 boards. "I’ll give my best every game because this is my last playing year," said Arao, a former San Beda Red Cub standout. Other nominees for the weekly honor include NU leader Edwin Asoro (17 points and 16 rebounds), University of the East’s Mark Borboran (13 points, four boards, three assists) and De La Salle University’s Cholo Villanueva (19 points, six rebounds, four assists).

By Jasmine W. Payo Inquirer MANILA, Philippines--The University of the East Warriors got as much production from their bench as they did from their stars to put the University of Santo Tomas Tigers’ title defense off to a bad start via a 73-60 trashing Sunday in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City. “I’m very happy that everybody played well, especially the five guys from the PBL (Philippine Basketball League),” said coach Dindo Pumaren, who cited the solid performances of Mark Borboran, who paced UE with 13 points, Marcy Arellano, Elmer Espiritu, Kelvin Gregorio and Jorel Cañizares. James Martinez added 12 markers, including back-to-back triples that pushed the Warriors ahead, 65-54, with 2:52 remaining. Earlier, Ford Arao held his own in overtime action as the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles survived a huge scare against the Adamson University Falcons, 69-63. Playing his finest performance in five years, Arao shot 10 of Ateneo’s 16 points in the extra period as the Eagles recovered from poor shooting to climb out of an early double-digit hole. “Sometimes you have to win ugly,” said Ateneo coach Norman Black. UE and Ateneo joined opening-day winners De La Salle University and National University on top with 1-0 slates. The Falcons shocked the favored Eagles with a 12-0 start that grew to 17-2, before Arao stepped up late in the game to lead all Ateneo scorers with 20 points and 15 boards. “The most important thing is that we’re able to recover,” said Black. “In the beginning, we just couldn’t make any shot. We were getting good looks at the basket, but it just wouldn’t go down. On the other end, Adamson did just about everything.” Adamson’s Patrick Cabahug, who shot a game-high 28 markers, scored on a running jumper at the buzzer to forge the extra period. A seven-minute dry spell hit the Eagles again in the fourth period, allowing Cabahug to spearhead a 12-0 spurt to reverse a 48-39 Ateneo advantage to a 51-48 Adamson lead. But Rabeh Al-Hussaini scored on a putback in the next possession, then drew a foul from Paul Gonzalgo for a three-point play that tied the game at 51 with 58.7 seconds left in the fourth period. Before Cabahug’s game-tying jumper, Ateneo seemed headed for a win as Chris Tiu nailed two free throws off a Leo Canuday foul with 12.9 ticks remaining. The Falcons lost steam midway, scoring only a combined 15 points in the second and third quarters, following a 22-point output in first. Offensive contributions from Jai Reyes, Chris Tiu and Jobe Nkemakolam pushed the Eagles within three 28-25, late in the first half. The scores: First Game ATENEO 69 -- Arao 20, Reyes 11, Tiu 9, Nkemakolam 8, Salamat 6, Monfort 5, Al-Hussaini 5, Laterre 3, Baclao 2, Baldos 0, Barracoso 0. ADAMSON 63 -- Cabahug 28, Hugnatan 14, Canuday 8, Yambot 5, Gonzalgo 4, Colina 2, Alvarez 2, Olalia 0, Canada 0, Margallo 0, Santos 0, Gorospe 0. Quarters: 11-22, 25-30, 43-37, 53-53 (reg), 69-63 (OT) Second Game UE 73 -- Borboran 13, Martinez 12, Thiele 11, Arellano 8, Fampulme 7, Bandaying 5, Gregorio 5, Espiritu 5, Llagas 3, Lingganay 2, Cañizares 2, Lee 0. UST 60 -- Cruz 16, Cuan 13, Taylor 9, Ababou 9 , Badua 5, Canlas 4, Mirza 2, Dizon 2, Scott 0, Espiritu 0, Cortez 0, Allera 0. Quarters: 17-14, 33-27, 48-45, 73-60

WHO'S your pick for the University Athletics Association of the Philippines men's basketball tournament? Why do you believe your team will be the champion this year? In Saturday's opening ballgames, comebacking La Salle massacred my alma mater, University of the Philippines, while National University shocked Far Eastern University in overtime. Here's an excerpt from Jasmine Payo's story for the Philippine Daily Inquirer:

The De La Salle University Green Archers marked their collegiate comeback with an 82-61 rout of the University of the Philippines Maroons at the start of the UAAP men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the Araneta Coliseum. Wearing green jackets printed with the words, “We’re back. We’re one,” the Archers wasted no time in establishing their dominance of the Maroons, with Cholo Villanueva getting to work early and winding up with a game-high 19 points for La Salle, which relied anew on its no-breathing-room defense to grab the victory. “We played defense pretty well, pretty solid,” said La Salle coach Franz Pumaren, whose wards spent a year cooling their heels after the school was slapped a suspension due to an eligibility scandal.