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Jul 20

NU No Match for Archers! More on Ekwe!

by Tony L. Atayde
2,271 Views | 67 Comments

From a slow and and shaky start, La Salle stepped on the gas and completely dominated a National University squad that was confused and in disarray. The Bulldogs looked more like chihuahuas who wanted to play chess rather than basketball.

I have always liked NU, especially after they beat Ateneo in Season 70 in a game that totally derailed Ateneo’s drive for the championship. But in this game, I don’t know if NU will ever show their potential in Season 71.

NU started out strong and took a 21 – 12 lead early. But Peejay Barua went on a rampage and almost scored at will. He hit 17 points in the first half, including 5 treys. By the time the first half ended, La Salle had erased the early 9 point deficit and replaced it with a 10 point lead at halftime. The Green Archers erected a lead as big as 30 points and Coach Franz took advantage of this by fielding all his rookies which gave the fans a peek at this year’s team at work.

Rico Maierhofer also pushed his MVP title bid further with an all around game scoring 16 points, including 2 treys. 13 rebounds and mixed in his share of blocks and steals.

Coach Franz attributed the slow start to the difficult schedule that La Salle had this week. Aside from that hard fought win against UST last Thursday, it is also mid-tem exam week at DLSU.

Barua was just amazing as he made 75% of his attempts from the field. He has always been a dependable shooter that Coach Franz has continuously tapped to provide instant offense for the Green Archers. His time in the spotlight has come and so far he has come through.

What I liked in this game was the play of former National University juniors’ player MJ Mendoza. Watch out for this kid. He was a member of last year’s Mythical Five in the junior’s division (along with Joshua Webb) and he has the bulk and the height that will help this DLSU team. At one point in the game, Mendoza scored 6 straight points. His style is undoubtedly a perfect fit to the Pumaren system.
I was also very impressed with the highly emotional play of Joshua Webb. I am now officially a Joshua Webb fan!

This kid has got it all and will shine in no time. His intensity level did not diminish even if La Salle had already built an insurmountable lead. At one point, he did not back down from NU veteran Edwin Asoro and even the burly Aguilar.

I was with Macmac Cardona at my grandson’s baptism yesterday and he was telling me how he sees so much of himself in Webb. Cardona further said that the intensity level of Webb is what the team needs, especially because it is very contagious.

I was also very happy to see Marko Batricevic play and even score during the game. After languishing with an injury last year that saw him play only 2 minutes the entire season, I hope that Marko can now be the player that many hoped he could be.

With the team starting to slowly solidify after a pre-season plagued by injuries, the Green Archers are slowly but surely getting better. For one thing, their end game has improved tremendously from last year where they would collapse in the final minutes of the game. Their foul shooting is slowly getting better too.
Though they may not have as many “big names� as the other team, La Salle’s defense is its star component. As they say, “offense wins games, defense wins championships�.

The officiating has not improved one iota. It still sucks big time and it will suck even bigger as the season goes on. At one point during the DLSU game, Asoro drives to the basket and flagrantly elbows Webb in the mouth. But as expected it was Webb who was called for the foul. Even the TV commentators could not believe the call.

Bloodied and angry, Webb walks to the bench and a very concerned Coach Franz walks towards him to check on his player. Lo and behold Coach Franz gets a warning for walking into the court.
The National Amateur Blind Referees Organization (NABRO) needs to be replaced, but it’s too late to do so for Season 71. Let’s just hope that the Commissioner Almighty keeps suspending the referees until there are none of them left.

The Ekwe Issue:

This writer broke the Ekwe story about the wrong uniform issue during the San Beda – CSB game. The protest will be reluctantly filed on Monday or Tuesday and it will be up to the NCAA Mancom to decide.
This issue has many precedents. In lawn tennis, table tennis, track and field and even chess, teams have been slapped with forfeiture for committing this infraction. I believe that it is too hefty a penalty for the infraction but that is what the NCAA Mancom has laid down in its rules. Why punish the entire team when one player messes up?

However, at this point, it is not a judgment call.

The NCAA rules clearly state:

Rule #6
Playing Uniform and School ID

6.1 All athletes shall wear the OFFICIAL PLAYING TEAM UNIFORM in all the games/matches of the current NCAA Season.
6.5 Any athlete whose playing uniform does not conform to the
preceding rules shall be INELIGIBLE to participate in a given game/match.
9.2 A team shall lose the game by FORFEITURE if and when:
9.2.1 An INELIGIBLE athlete is fielded or enters the playing court with an intent to play. He and his team shall lose the game/match BY FORFEITURE.

This is a microcosm of our country. The problem is not that there are no laws, it is the implementation that is subject to scrutiny. Jaywalking may not be a major offense but everyone knows it is still against the law. Yet most people pay no attention to it. That is how much we as country respect rules.

Now, you hear so many reasons on why San Beda should not forfeit the game. There is no reason in the world that can justify breaking a rule that all member schools ratified. The message that is being sent is simply wrong.

If it is possible, I believe that CSB should not be given the win but I would also take away the victory from San Beda. This way the beneficiary will be the rule of law.

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Posted in The Green Mind

Comments

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  • Grrr!  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 21 July 2008 at 2:16 pm

    If UP does not protest, then it is up to the commissioner to take cognizance of ADMU’s error and have the eagles forfeit the games. Baka nagbu-bulag bulagan ang commish dahil school niya ang involved. Remember, no one complained about pumaren not wearing his ID yet the commish took notice of the fault and imposed sanction. Dapat ganito din sa UP-ADMU game, otherwise, haosiaowan na lang ito. Kung haosiaowan, just give every team in the UAAP a trophy and cancel the season…sheeshhh

  • Apung Iru  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 21 July 2008 at 2:12 pm

    LDC… percisely why i said that it the SBC coaching staff’s fault of letting Ekwe wear the wrong uni. I was just wondering why CSB officials waited for the outcome before they filed the protest. i wonder why mancom let the player play with the wrong jersey. too bad SBC’s error is causing another big issue with NCAA mancom. coach gee et.al. should have seen this at the start. coach frankie et. al. should have provided sam with bettter laundry/uniform allowance.

  • The Green Mind  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 21 July 2008 at 2:00 pm

    Do you know that Ateneo had 2 players with the wrong uniform in the last game? But UP did not want to file a protest even if the error was obvious and there were pictures to prove it.

  • The Green Mind  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 21 July 2008 at 1:53 pm

    Christian,

    It should count as loss for San Beda and a loss for CSB. It may affect the final outcome but that is the only win win situation I see. CSB does not deserve the victory. They should not be rewarded for San Beda’s error.

    Tiger Power,

    UST’s problem is that they missed all pre-season tournaments. Their rookies who have had to step up because of injuries have no experience at this level.

    La Salle was also beset with injuries during the pre-season but they took this as an opportunity to expose their rookies to the other UAAP teams.

  • LDC  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 21 July 2008 at 1:47 pm

    Apung Iru,

    You said that “diba dapat sumigaw ka kaagad when you sense something is wrong.” Excellent point! So why didn’t the Red Lions do so?

  • Apung Iru  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 21 July 2008 at 1:41 pm

    its the basketball team officials of the RL’s fault of letting Sam wear a wrong uniform. i agree na pag may namatay dapat may magreklamo… but i also would like to stress out na habang ninanakawan ka eh hahayaan mo lang ba? diba dapat sumigaw ka kaagad when you sense something is wrong. Sana nagreklamo kaagad yung CSB officials nung game para di na umabot sa protestahan. pag nanalo kaya yung csb magrereklamo sila?

    anyway if the game is forfeited infavor of the Blazers… take it away with your guys… balato na ng RL sainyo yan. alam naman nating lahat kung sino ang nanalo. besides a true basketball game is won at the hard court not at the desk. hay rules are rules… but what a big crack there is.

    thanks for bringing this up sir Tony!

  • Apung Iru  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 21 July 2008 at 1:41 pm

    its the basketball team officials of the RL’s fault of letting Sam wear a wrong uniform. i agree na pag may namatay dapat may magreklamo… but i also would like to stress out na habang ninanakawan ka eh hahayaan mo lang ba? diba dapat sumigaw ka kaagad when you sense something is wrong. Sana nagreklamo kaagad yung CSB officials nung game para di na umabot sa protestahan. pag nanalo kaya yung csb magrereklamo sila?

    anyway if the game is forfeited infavor of the Blazers… take it away with your guys… balato na ng RL sainyo yan. alam naman nating lahat kung sino ang nanalo. besides a true basketball game is won at the hard court not at the desk. hay rules are rules… but what a big crack there is.

    thanks for bringing this us Tony!

  • boy_siga  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 21 July 2008 at 1:10 pm

    wag mag alala beda, bibigyan din ng isang talo ng mapua ang letran.. that way, maglalaban beda at letran na may tig isang talo. ok ba yun?

  • Guest  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 21 July 2008 at 12:03 pm

    SBC-CSB, parehong letters lang, iba lang arrangment.

  • 1point  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 21 July 2008 at 12:01 pm

    @atom, did CSB protest this issue? if they did, they should have done it during the game.

    but whether CSB protested or not, rules should still be enforced.

    anyway, SBC can beat CSB (and some teams) anytime this season and even still win the championship. kaya lang, they have to work harder just because of this mistake.

  • Tiger Power  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 21 July 2008 at 11:49 am

    I can’t agree with you more Mr. Atayde(giving San Beda the loss…and not rewarding CSB)…sometimes i may have a crack reading your articles…though bias on your part is understandable given your allegiance to your school (i probably maybe doing the same thing).

    Now what the hell is happening with my Tigers, times like this…i miss cuan and his awful FT%…

  • The_Big_Cat  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 21 July 2008 at 11:48 am

    A throwback uniform is also an offical uniform.

  • Christian  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 21 July 2008 at 11:42 am

    @The Green Mind, assuming SBC forfeits the game, which I believe they should, AND not award the win to CSB, what will happen to that particular game?

  • jc laurito  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 21 July 2008 at 11:32 am

    hmm.. expected na dapat natin yan.. tayo ang pagiinitan at hahanapan talaga tayo ng mali every game. champions tayo eh. besides, that’s the ONLY way na makakakuha sila ng WIN against SAN BEDA, other than that, TAMBAKAN na..

    pax!

  • mancom lover  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 21 July 2008 at 11:30 am

    diba nasa rules din ang bawal nakatack-out ang jersey? bakit yun hindi pinapansin? puro san beda nlng kasi laging pinapansin eh.

  • Grrr!  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 21 July 2008 at 10:26 am

    The rules are clear. The mancom should take notice of the situation REGARDLESS of whether or not a complaint is filed. Parang kung may pinatay na tao at walang nagrekalmo, pababayaan na lang pa yun ng autoridad? I heard that this is not the only game Ekwe wore the wrong uniform. Dapat imbestigahan yan.

  • Drew  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 21 July 2008 at 10:15 am

    Bakit, nung nagstart ng game hindi ba napansin ng Ref yung uniform? at bakit nung last game lang napansin? dahil?

  • Letranista  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 21 July 2008 at 9:38 am

    There are two things a team or player should consider in playing the sport.. One is play hard and smart every second in the game… Two is play by the RULES (no matter how silly it is). If Sam Ekwe is proven INELIGIBLE to play that game against CSB, then the RULE should be applied with consistency. this is a good lesson for the NCAA school members, if we want this league to continue moving forward. After this issue, we should all move on because there is an exciting Round 2 of Eliminations, Final 4 and Finals ahead of us.

  • spectator of some sort  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 21 July 2008 at 9:12 am

    oh wow..henry sy..that’s why rico perez is at the bench in their game against dlsu..well, i believe in mr.atayde’s foresight..better funding means better programs for the future.

  • The Green Mind  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 21 July 2008 at 8:57 am

    As for the Ekwe issue, I strongly believe that San Beda’s win should be forfeited but not awarded to Benilde. This way you lay down the consequence to the team that committed it but do not give it as a reward to the other team.

  • The Green Mind  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 21 July 2008 at 8:55 am

    NU had a population of only about 3,000. But Basketball programs are not about revruiting within the school. High school players do not look at NU as one of their first choices because it is not a contender. Even its gym is in awful condition.

    Look at the Boston Celtics. Before they won the championship this year, players did not look at the them as a possible destination. But now, players are falling in line to try and join the team.

    Now that Henry Sy has bought the school, expect it to be better funded.

  • MajorDude  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 21 July 2008 at 8:24 am

    @1point, you’re right there, however there will be no problem if mancom would really implement the rules with “consistency”. im sure san beda is willing to accept that. and im sure the school is now reviewing the complete provisions on all the ncaa rules if indeed rule implementation is consistent as you’ve pointed out and not only directed towards san beda (a sentiment shared by the whole bedan community because of past events which could have been avoided if mancom had shown objectivity in their decisions). in the uaap front, consistency is also the issue being raised by coach franz. the only difference is that san beda would really fight mancom if it is to defend its position. i feel la salle is still being diplomatic (and their actions are being weighed carefully by the alumni and officials to avoid an ugly confrontation with the board).

    animo!

  • atom  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 21 July 2008 at 6:04 am

    it is just the position of the logo- no more spin offs please…

    this protest from CSB is CHEAP!

  • 1point  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 21 July 2008 at 5:56 am

    @prince, henry sy now owns NU and probably he has plans for NU. i just don’t know whether he is a basketball fan and whether he’ll put in some money to NU’s basketball program.

  • 1point  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 21 July 2008 at 5:54 am

    to fans and supporters of san beda: no matter which way the mancomm decision on the ekwe case goes, it won’t be held against san beda. san beda has just to abide with the decision. it was their mistake, not just ekwe’s. someone should have pointed it out to ekwe if ekwe himself failed to notice it.

    as to the mancomm, they should abide by the rules they have set. otherwise, this will be a very costly precedent and they will also be sending the wrong lessons to our youth.

    it was very clearly stated in the rules about such violations. even if the difference is just one plain logo patch, that is already a different uniform. kaya nga tinatawag na uniform, para UNIFORM sa lahat. walang iba.

    i don’t think CSB is dying for that “win by forfeiture” that’s why they seem to be inhibiting themselves from the issue, which is good.

    but then, the rules should be enforced to the letter and with consistency and that is the mancomm’s job.

  • prince  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 21 July 2008 at 2:08 am

    it’s sad to see nu struggle for decades in the uaap, but how can an institution like nu compete with giants like the other schools who have vast financial and other resources?

  • pakito  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 21 July 2008 at 1:44 am

    @John I

    Noble is playing for UE. He was part of the CSJL high school team. i think mythical team siya last season sa NCAA juniors

  • chellotte8  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Monday, 21 July 2008 at 1:12 am

    Ano ba ang pinagkaiba ng uniform na sinuot ni Ekwe, sa uniform na ginamit ng ibang players?

    Db, yung position lang ng logo…

    Ang OA naman kung forfeited na agad yung game dahil lang dun…

    I think yung rule na yun, ginawa para maging uniform tignan ang mga players habang naglalaro…

    So, kung pareho lang ang itsura ng uniform na sinuot ni Ekwe sa isuot ng mga teammates nya…

    Anong problema?

  • John I  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Sunday, 20 July 2008 at 10:31 pm

    Hello Mr. Green Mind,

    I also like the quality and caliber the DLSU rookies showed in their game vs. NU. They will certainly help La Salle sustain a “championship” run in the years to come.

    Just wondering what happened to a certain rookie player named Noble who was in the roster during the Flying V Pre-Season Tournament.

    John I

  • ric  Add karma Subtract karma  +0
    Sunday, 20 July 2008 at 8:09 pm

    Obvious naman na San Beda won by the numbers pero siyempre laging nasusunod ang rules :-(

    So para sakin San Beda loses by the rules. There for forfeited na ang game and as a Bedan tatanggapin ko yung decision ng MANCOM about that and I’ll just have to face the fact that I wont be able to witness a San Beda-Letran game na pareho silang undefeated depending dun sa magiging record nilang dalawa.

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Tony L.
Tony L. Atayde

Very Opinionated. Very Green. Hate him. Love Him. It does not matter and he does not care. A Howard Stern in cyberspace. He bleeds Green, He is purely from La Salle – as a former writer and Assistant Vice President for Events of the DLSU Alumni Association. Played basketball and was on the track and field team for La Salle during the NCAA just don't ask what year.