A last look at NCAA Season 85 in song and word (I)
Sunday, 1 November 2009 2,494 Views / 59 Comments
NCAA SEASON 85 has, not surprisingly, turned out to be one of the most memorable to date for the obvious reasons, expected whipping boys and shocking storybook ending. After a long, record-breaking 96-game season, a final look at the year, both in song and word, wouldn’t hurt at all.
Part I delves into the bottom five teams in this season’s campaign.
Angeles University Foundation (2-16)
Song of their season: Madapaka by Parokya ni Edgar
Moment of the year: Losing 15 straight games, 14 of them by double-digits
Quote of the year: “May ibubuga pa pala. Basta nandun yung effort, kaya naman eh.†– Coach Eric Gascon after the season-ending win against Perpertual Help.
Nobody in heaven’s name expected the Great Danes to do well this season, although no one also expected them to be this bad. AUF lost to Mapua by 38, San Sebastian by 32, and Letran by 30 – and that was just in the first round. Man, was this team bad or what?
With only trigger-happy Limmuel Manarang and Patrick Musni the key cogs leaving the team after the season, there’s hope that the boys from MacArthur Highway can find their groove next season, should they still play NCAA ball. Being a guest team, that would all depend on the set-up for next year. While the troika of Matthew Carney, Aaron Santos and Guian Fuertez showed up on some afternoons, the Danes just didn’t have any bite in them. Want more proof? There’s a lot to choose from, but here’s one: Giving up 89 points a game, in a 40-minute game (not 48), is just darn ugly.
University of Perpetual Help System Dalta (3-15)
Song of their season: Huwag Mo Nang Itanong by The Eraseheads
Moment of the year: Beating Mapua, 72-71 in its first round encounter after trailing by as many as eight points with three minutes left
Quote of the year: “Well, this season like I said even from the start we didn’t really expect to win games especially with the lineup that I inherited…In less than a week, I’m going to start building up my team for next year. We are already going to prepare as early as that for next season.†– Coach Boris Aldeguer in a postgame interview after his team’s 67-59 second round loss to St. Benilde.
Take Aldeguer’s word for it. This year wasn’t going to be fun. To begin with, he lost combo guard Ronald Reyes to an ACL injury, then watched Cebuano playmaker Franz Dysam and high-flying Jonathan Belorio bolt for Letran. Sure, his Altas lost to AUF, which is the equivalent of committing a mortal sin in the NCAA. But what really killed Perpetual Help was the lack of support from the second-stringers.
Raffy Ynion, as expected, put in the numbers, while Chris Elopre was one of the league’s pleasant surprises. Besides them, nobody else was consistent. Nathaniel Salanga had a not-so-memorable final year, Robin Roño was like, well, Robin to Batman albeit not everyday and JM Sicat thought the season ended on August 12 [Where, against EAC, he exploded for 18 points. He then went on to score a combined grand total of 27 points in his next nine games]. Don’t ask why the Altas were this bad; it’s written all over Las Piñas.
College of St. Benilde (6-12)
Song of their season: Nanghihinayang by Jeremiah
Moment of the year: Winning their first two games for the second straight year, only to miss out on the Final Four for the seventh consecutive season.
Quote of the year: “I think that’s a decent finish [tied for sixth] considering all the problems that we encountered throughout the season. We lost key players.†– Coach Richard del Rosario after their penultimate game of the year.
The Blazers fielded in arguably their best team since that last Final Four appearance in 2002. While that isn’t really saying much since “main†hordes the more talented kids, CSB was truly one of the most disappointing teams of Season 85. The Taft outfit was pretty good when they were intact, as evidenced by that triple-overtime thriller of a win over Arellano where a guy named Jeff Morial exploded for 31 points.
Morial was one of three Blazers “lost†during the season. After going 0-for-6 in 31 minutes in St. Benilde’s rematch with Arellano, he was never to be seen again. The official line was that he, along with Ilie Johnston and Chuck Dalanon, were saddled with injuries. Whatever the reason(s) is (are), it’s just a pity that a pretty good team like CSB played pretty bad basketball. And of course, another bad season gives both the alumni and student body yet another reason not to watch Blazer ball.
Emilio Aguinaldo College (6-12)
Song of their season: Hallelujah by Bamboo
Moment of the year: The Generals’ 86-81 win over old UCAA and NCRAA foe Arellano, which served as payback for their first round loss.
Quote of the year: “Beating the big teams is what inspires us to play basketball.†– Coach Nomar Isla in a pregame talk before facing San Beda in round one of the eliminations. Forty minutes later, EAC lost by 31.
After beginning the year 0-4, including that mortal sin of a loss to AUF, things looked shaky in the red half of San Marcelino. But if there’s anything Isla is good at, it’s motivating his players. That was on display as the debuting Generals won five of their final seven games while giving squads like Letran and San Sebastian a serious scare.
EAC has a lot more reason to praise the high heavens since only Ruel Jabaybay will be leaving the squad after the season. So, that’s more Argel Mendoza for all you saluting-during-the-alma-mater-hymn folks. Or, shall we say, less? Watch out for Jeffrey Lapitan, Neil Tuazon and another scoring machine in Roy Villegas next year.
Mapua Institute of Technology (6-12)
Song of their season: Hari Ng Sablay by Sugarfree
Moment(s) of the year: Losing six games by seven points or less
Quote of the year: “It looked like a habit for us to lose in the endgame but we learned a lot from those losses.†– Coach Chito Victolero after snapping a school-record 10-game losing skid.
You sure did, Chito. The Cardinals’ season can be divided into two: The first 13 games, which saw them go 1-12 (with the six close defeats mentioned all happening in that time span), and the last five games, all of which were won quite convincingly.
Lest be called the Adamson Falcons of the NCAA for its hard luck and late-game blunders, Mapua has to be given credit for pulling through in the end. Despite being a veteran-laden squad, a lot of those so-called veterans (see Macky Acosta, Paul Cinco, Erwin Cornejo and Rodel Ranises) never had the chance to play during former coach Leo Isaac’s tenure. This may partly explain the mishaps early on, but a couple of better breaks could have had the Cards hunting for a Final Four berth. At least, they nab sixth place and the PCCL wildcard berth via the quotient system. Yes, that good old silver lining.
(4 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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Mabuti naman nagkaroon ka rin ng article Mr. Soler.
iniisip ko kasi minsan na mamatay na ang site na ito because the writers just wont write anymore.
At least meron na.
Nice article, hehehe, quite funny too.
Mapua, hari nang sablay, ahhehehe.
But wait, I thought that it was the EAC Generals who are bound to go to the PCCL (or whatever it is called), not Cardinals.
Again, nice article.
yeah, EAC is in the sixth place as I saw at the NCAA website
this article is good but wait can you check the final and official positioning.
thanks
SALUDO Heneral
Sir Christian,
how would you assess the entire NCAA season in terms of officiating this year? Do you have any idea what will happen next NCAA season?
I’m excited if there will be a regular 10 team roster… considering the x and o that happened this season.
@More Money…Pacquiao: Thanks a lot.
@gerald: Mapua is 6th, not EAC. As per Joe Lipa, PCCL Commissioner, Mapua will play in the Manila zonal B against La Consolacion, Central College of the Philippines and the nCAA South runner-up.
@macky: In the long run, a 10-team field will help the NCAA. It may not have looked good this year because of the lopsided results, but thee bottom 5 will be better next year.
Mr Soler,
When will the import of the EAC Generals Romeo Fortue play. I can still remember the NCAA Primer when they showed him. Hes a Cameroonian, right, and plays guard I believe.
the deal between dlsz and coach boris is that the zobel alumni will chip in so dlsz will retain the services of boris exclusively if the jr archers win this year’s championship vs ateneo. looks like dobol time si boris.
@ tongpats,
Off topic, pero si Dino Aldiguer ba, marunong magcoach?
Dino is probably the greatest collegiate basketball player in the Philippines not to ever made it (big) to the PBA.
Ang dami niyang achievements, sobrang dami, just too many to mention, both at the De La Salle Green Archers in the UAAP and the then Welcoat Paint Masters at the PBL, yet walang napala sa PBA.
@More Money…Pacquiao: Fotue can’t play anymore. He was deemed ineligible for Season 85 and can’t suit up anymore.
@tongpats: I’m not sure if Aldeguer will still call the shots for Zobel next year. I’m certain, though, that he’ll do so for the Altas.
nice article mr.soler!! u’ve scrutinized them well haha!! i wonder when will part_2 come…ÜÜ
@ Mr. Christian Soler,
Thanks for the reply, pero sayang naman, after the residencies, wala lang pala after all. Do you know why he was deemed ineligible? And can you tell us, hehe?
I guess that he played professionally back at his home in Cameroon. Just a simple, free guess.
Gandang gabi sa lahat.
Congrats to the Ateneo De Manila Blue Eagles for defending the University Games in Iloilo City.
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs100.snc3
/16738_1170495219703_1147657833_30451011_1982598_n.jpg
@more…pacquiao
bro, dino is not in the short list for boris’ replacement. ato b. is there but don’t think he’ll accept.
hi.. mr. christian soler.. ask ko lng po.. next ncaa host db san sebastian.. any news kung may magaling na rookies next year ang baste.. btw.. nice article..
sir did fortue left already for Cameroon?
diba 1 year lang naman makakapaglaro na yun? Sa NC season 86 he’ll suit up daw sabi ni Coach Nomar. Sino po etong mga to “Watch out for Jeffrey Lapitan, Neil Tuazon and another scoring machine in Roy Villegas” pwede mo bang isummarize sila. kahit mga cues lang.
Can they recruit some players from EAC-Dasmariñas?
thanks and more power
Mr. Christian Soler
Just want to ask, how will you rate Mapua Cardinals next season? Si Soriano lang po yata yung mawawala at babalik na si jonathan banal…
Dapat mag recruit ng maayos ung AUF kung gusto nilang masali sa NCAA.. Daming talents sa Pampanga… HAHA.. Sana bumalik na lang PCU, para naman malakas lahat ng team.. Tpos, ung AU at EAC, isali na, naprove naman nila na kaya nilang lumaban.. Mas masaya pag 10 ung teams..
@batangbaste: Thanks. So far, the only new recruit I know of is ex-Adamson Falcon Rey Gorospe. He’ll play next year.
@gerald: I know Fotue can’t play anymore, but he’s still here. Villegas is a guard from UE High, but a transferee so he sat out this season. Tuazon is a Fil-Am, 6’4 while Lapitan is a legit 6’6.
@king_cardinal: Yes, only Soriano will be leaving the team. The Cards look solid for next year. They have a Fil-Nigerian from Baguio, and Banal will be back. All around, a top five team.
hmmmm… kahit ganun lang AUF sana ndi sila matanggal… i’m from Tarlac and i know a lot of people who watch the great danes… besides,another chance shouldn’t hurt the league…
im also looking forward to our team’s improvement next season… i hope that that Fil-Nigerian import is a pivot man… a decent one… i still think that sarangay nor J.Pascual can fill that spot satisfactorily… another dependable 5 and J.Banal teaming up once again with the snake, with the rest of the guys gaining more experience, i wouldn’t be so suprised to see us in the FF again next year…
Ano!?!? Rey Gorospe, Formerly from the Adamson University Falcons will suit up at the University’s College neighbor?!?! Hehe, well, who am I to question that anyway.
Mr. Soler,
I once watched a game live between the San Beda Red Lions and the Arellano Chiefs, and in attendance, I saw Huge Africans men.
One was to tall, probably 6’6 but thin.
The other was quite smaller but more massive in size, probably standing at 6’2.
I think that they are the Arellano’s imports.
Can you clarify this Mr. Soler and tell me when are they eligible to play.
Wala na si Giorgio Ciriacruz eh, the team’s best player and starting Center.
Para silang Doughnuts next year, butas sa gitna.
Wrong Grammar!
I once watched a game live between the San Beda Red Lions and the Arellano Chiefs, and in attendance, I saw Huge Africans men.
What I meant was:
I once watched a game live between the San Beda Red Lions and the Arellano Chiefs, and in attendance, I saw two huge African men.
Hayun, na clarify nah.
@ SIR CHRISTIAN SOLER
sir cno po mga new recruits ng mapua pra sa nxt season? slmt po..more power to inboundpass.
Fil-Nigerian pala ung nakita ko na nagpa-practice with the team.. Hindi pala foreign player.. Thanks Sir Christian Soler.. At least, All-Filipino pa rin ang Cardinals, hindi tulad ng iba na kailangan pa ng mga imports.. HAHAHAHA..
@mapuan, nope, the player from Baguio plays more of an SF than a C. Our school’s hunt for that elusive quality big man continues.
@king_cardinal, aside from that Baguio player (who I thought was a pure-blooded Filipino who is just dark skinned), the Cards also have a pure-blooded Nigerian practicing with the team who will be eligible after 2 years. again, too small to play C in my opinion (just as tall as Acosta), and still very raw as of the moment, based from what I’ve seen in one of their practice games.
@king_cardinal
meron din kayong “pur-blooded nigerian”! Kaya sampal sayo yan na di lang JRU at SAN BEDA ang may import! yan kasi ang hirap sa ibang tao. NCAA allow foreign players kaya ngayon pahiya ka kasi may import na rin kayo! In the first place, ano naman ngayon kung may import? kanya-kanyang strategy yan. Baste and our school doesn’t have an import pero nakasama kami sa F4 pero sa amin its just a plus point, di na namin kailangang ipagdikdikan na wala kaming import. Di na rin dapat ipamukha sa Beda na talo sila sa all filipino dahil nga that’s their strategy para magchampion. we have all the right to recruit. Ok? So tigilan na yang topic about imports at nasusuka na ko kakaulit niyo. crab mentality nga naman…tsk tsk!
may recruits na agad mga school natin, pero prone naman sa injury. although maganda instinct nila during pregames and camp wala din during season.
Kuya Soler, can you give us some previews about NCAA 86 schools. The in and out rankings and who are the prospects that you believe to show more than the words.
Lastly what will hapen to AU, AUF, and EAC application to become legitimate member school of the premiere league.
Good day!!
AU at EAC sana regular members na next year tapos magkaroon ng dalawang guest teams para sa try-outs para sa Final slot ng regular member for NCAA. Yung AMA Titans, STI Olympians, PCU Dolphins (yeah, bring them back), CEU Scorpions o kaya kahit yung UM Hawks (former member of NCAA several decades ago) eh mukhang ayos naman. Wag na AUF…Wahahahahaha.
@knightlife
Anong tawag sa yo? Ikaw rin pinagmamalaki mo na nakakapasok kayo F4 kahit walang import… HAHA.. FYI, Simula nang first year ako, pasok sa F4 ang MIT.. Last season lang sila hindi pumasok kung kelan graduating ako.. Ayoko rin sa mga imports, pero diskarte na nga ng school yan.. Nagiging tamad lang ang mga local players kasi alam nila na may import na maaasahan.. Anyway, goodluck sa lahat ng teams next season…
VIVA MAPUA!!!
@ Gerald,
Premiere League daw o. Oldest League is more appropriate.
@ knightstrike,
AMACU Titans and STI Olympians have a very good Senior’s Basketball program. But I once heard that they have no Juniors program.
In my opinion, dapat kunin iyung schools na laging pinipirata, like the EAC Generals, Univ. of Manila Hawks, among others.
mr. soler i tink gud song title for d JRU is AFTER ALL THIS YEARS hehe or TROUGH THE YEARS PERO KABLIKTARAN NUNG MEANING NUNG SONG hehehehehehe
for those who ask recruits:
Red Lions will put 3 new plyers in the line up; a twin aussies ( i am not sure if they are fil-aussies) and a african. I heard it from my sister who happened to be studying in san beda.
@ mr, christian soler:
good day
do you have any news about the 2 aussies of san beda? Are they really fil-assuies?
@Real Red
AMACU Titans and STI Olympians can just easily partner with a school that has a high school sports program. Look at St. Benilde? They partnered with La Salle Greenhils (yeah I know they have the same management or something but still…).
@Mr. Omania
Probably Fil-Aussies. I live here in Sydney and from what I have seen, University/Collegiate basketball is not being develop that much compared to ours over there. In order for an Aussie to be able to really play University/Collegiate basketball, they have to go abroad. Especially if they have Filipino blood in them. We Filipinos really like basketball, heck we even consider it as the unofficial national sport of the Philippines. =p
@ Christian
Ask ko lang po, What happened to HARDBALL?
When ang part II?
GO USTe!!!
@ Chris Soler
Another great article Chris. I have to agree with you on the Cardinals having a good chance of barging into the Final Four next season. Only Randolph Soriano will be leaving the team and he’s not a vital cog. He’s not even a key player for them this season. Okay, he averages a good 18min/game, but those are 18 unproductive minutes. He’s a point guard that has a 1:1 assist to turnover ratio, 1.6ast/game to 1.5to/game. He averaged 2.6pts/game that comes along with 2.3 fouls. I’ll give it to him, for a guy his size (5’10) to be able to grab 3rebs/game in 18mins is good. He had 4 or more rebounds in 7 of the 14 games he played in. His leadership? Not much. The only thing that the Cardinals will surely miss about him is his long locks, sideburns and goatee.
@ Chris Soler
I don’t see their recruit from Baguio making a big impact next season. He’s got the hops but is still pretty raw.
Aside from the comebacking Jonathan Banal, another player that can make an impact for them is Jumel Chien. He’s currently serving his residency and will be eligible to play next season. He’s sort of having a comeback in the NCAA too. During his rookie year in Season 82, he showed a lot of promise. He was a key player and primarily served as back-up to Jason Castro in PCU’s runner-up finish that season. As luck would have it, PCU was suspended in Season 83 and he suffered an ACL injury a week before NCAA Season 84 started. With PCU’s withdrawal from Season 85, he was recruited by some colleges and universities but he opted to go to Mapua. He can still play 3 years of ball for the Cardinals. He’s versatile and I see him being a contributor right away playing more off-guard/small forward and at times shifting to play point. Is this the break he long waited for?
It is intriguing to see how Banal and Chien will bounce back from their injuries and long lay-offs. Will they be the same players they once were? Can they live up to the potential they showed during their previous NCAA stints?
@ Chris Soler
If Mapua wants to book a Final Four trip, Sarangay must learn how to rebound. 5.2rebs/game for a 6’6 dude? Geez. He’s always out-rebounded by guys 3-4 inches shorter than him. AU’s Bimbot Anquillo is 5’1 yet he averages 2.3rebs/game.
Interesting stat:
7 rebs – Mark Sarangay’s season-high
8 rebs – Bimbot Anquillo’s season-high
Enough said.
@sobrang cheesy: Yes, Arellano’s got at least one foreigner. I just don’t know if he’s already eligible for Season 86 play.
@batang mapua: Last I heard, 6’4 ex-Letran Squire John Emmanuel Castillo is still with the Cards. So is swingman Ding-Dong Lamosa and Jumel Chien, the ex-PCU Dolphin from Iloilo.
@Mr. Omania: San Beda has two Fil-Aussies from the Queensland Institute of Sport. Also, coach Frankie Lim is eyeing three recruits from the juniors (Art dela Cruz Jr. is one of them). Watch out for Jaypee Mendoza as well. He played for the RP Nokia Youth Team and is a transferee from UE.
@the professional scout: Thanks a lot. Yes, I think Chien can make an impact. However, that 2-3 position isn’t the problem for Mapua. They need a solid point guard and center. With Banal back, the 1 is solved. For the slot, I’m actually looking at Dodoy Equipilog to pull through. He bolted from UP just two weeks before Season 85 kicked off and is still raw, but has a bigger upside than say, Sarangay or even Jason Pascual.
I haven’t seen the recruit from Baguio play yet, though. The Cards won’t lose a lot with Soriano gone, but need more consistent play from the backcourt (TG Guillermo and hopefully swingman Kevin Espinosa).
@ Chris Soler
Chien is from Escalante City in Negros but played high school ball in Iloilo for powerhouse Iloilo Chinese Commercial High School. James Yap and Ken Bono head the long list of standouts the school’s basketball program has produced. James Yap was the one who recommended Chien to the said school. Justin Chua of Ateneo and Leo Canuday of Adamson also had stints with the school.
Ironically, Equipilog is also an Ilonggo and played for University of Iloilo before transferring to Letran High School. He has the potential. Him developing into a decent big man, just like Acosta and Pascual will be a big help.
With regards to Lamosa, he is in stiff competition for a roster spot. Mangahas, Guillermo, Cornejo, Ranises are most likely the fixtures at the 1-2-3 positions. Add Banal and Chien into the mix and that’s a deep rotation. Then there’s Kevin Espinosa who at times plays the 3 too. Rookies Maniego and Stevens are also there.
And Sarangay? One word, BUST.
@professional_scout: Yup forgot to mention he’s just like James Yap…from Escalante.
It’s very early to predict teams’ lineups. A lot of defections occur, sometimes in the course of the summer. Some instances:
- Anjoe Latonio and Clarence Foronda were actually playing Fr. Martin ball for Letran before they bolted for FEU.
- Marty Pearce (or Pereabras) played for UST in the off-season before leaving for FEU.
- Dodoy Equipilog’s move to Mapua from UP.
- Jonathan Belorio’s departure from Perpetual Help to Letran.
- Mark Anthony Bringas leaving SSC-R for FEU.
This also explains why it’s so difficult to make season previews for next year. We usually do so around late May or even early June (for the NCAA).
@Christian Soler
Any news about Tampus and Khobuntin of Letran? Are they going to stay or are they going to transfer to a different college/university?
tampus will be going to NU.(malaki offer) and khobuntin to FEU.
@patron
mukhang malabo si tampus na mag stay sa letran ang balita ko sa la salle sya maglalaro, si khobuntin baka mag stay pa.
malabo talaga si tampus mag stay sa letran, dami siyang takers. maganda offer sa kanya ng NU, awaiting dlsu’s counter offer. si khobuntin wala masyado school interesado sa kanya. malamang letran lang yun. si tampus,agovida,saret marami gusto kumuha. sa huli pera pera ang labanan. mahirap buhay ngayon, parents malaking bagay sa desisyon ng bata. hindi sapat ang full scholarship lang these days.
Oo nga eh, mukha ngang di mag-stay si Tampus. Daming recruiters, pero sana kahit slim chance eh mag-stay siya. Sobrang kailangan ng Letran ng players for next season. Sana manaig yung dugong Arriba at tulungan niya ang Seniors next season. Pati na rin si Khobuntin. Pag-nagkataon, Tampus-PG, Kevin Alas-SG, Kristoffer Alas-SF, Tampus-PF, Foronda-C, di na rin masama for next season…