ATENEO KEEPS TITLE AS UAAP CHAMPION...

JUST when everyone thought that the ghost of 2006 would haunt Ateneo de Manila University, the defending champions were there to exorcise them.
The Blue Eagles retained their UAAP men’s basketball championship with a convincing 71-58 demolition job of upstart University of the East in the deciding Game 3 at the Araneta Coliseum last October 8, 2009.
A close first quarter turned into a blowout as the Blue and White held UE to just eight points in the second period. Coach Norman Black’s troops unleashed a decisive 12-0 run to hike the advantage to 15 at the end of the first 20 minutes of action.
Despite losing his Most Valuable Player plum this season, Rabeh Al-Hussaini, a member of Season 72’s Mythical Five, silenced his critics with a strong double-double that gave the Red Warrior zone defense fits. He tallied 21 points and 14 rebounds in his last game as a college cager.
The former PCU Baby Dolphin said, “After Sunday’s loss, hindi talaga ako makatulog ng maayos. Actually, today, 6 a.m. na ako nakatulog kasi unexplainable yung feeling na do-or-die yung match, winner-take-all and last collegiate game ko na ito. That blowout loss really haunted me. I stood firm with my goal na hindi ako papayag na uuwi kami nang luhaan. May tiwala ako sa teammates ko. We had one mission that we were able to accomplish. Ang sa akin lang kasi, this is my last year, I don’t want to play with regrets kaya in preparation for this game, after practice, sinasamahan ko ng shooting drills.”
The Red Warriors eventually outscored the Blue Eagles, 17-16 in the third period but it was not enough as Ateneo continued its onslaught and established its biggest lead of 20. The Red Warriors’ missing link was Pari Llagas, who failed to score a basket in 27 minutes of action. A vital cog in Game 2, Llagas, also on his final year, went 0-for-7 from the field. His three points all came from the charity stripe. All in all, the Red Warriors shot just a shade above 30 percent from the field, a far cry from their 51 percent clip the previous game.
Jai Reyes also came up big in his final appearance donning the Blue and White as he canned 16 points and grabbed six boards. Al-Hussaini, who averaged 22.3 points and 11.7 rebounds in the Finals, was named series MVP.
Ateneo coach Norman Black said, “At the end of last season, I knew we’ll be a better team this year. We’ve been always positive. I’m glad the team handled adversity well. We were able to bounce back. Experience is the best teacher. With our 2006 loss in the Finals to UST, I explained to the boys who were a part of that squad that it’s something you never want to feel again, and I told the new boys that it’s a feeling they don’t want to feel. We came back today to win a championship. We didn’t want to throw away our season. We came more focused today.
We mainly dedicated the game to the seniors who will not be playing with us next year. Good thing is that, they were following me for most part. I really thought that from the team that we had last year, this year’s squad will be a better one. We’re losing Rabeh and Jai. Surely those will be big shoes to fill but this will give the younger ones in the team the chance to play.”
The Blue Eagles last won back-to-back titles in 1987 and 1988, and waited 14 long years before clinching another title in 2002 against archrival De La Salle. In 2006, Ateneo blew a 1-0 Finals edge against a surprising University of Sto. Tomas five. Last season saw the Katipunan qunitet clinch its fourth UAAP title at the expense of De La Salle University.
UE, on the other hand, failed to end a 24-year title drought. Rookie head coach Lawrence Chongson said, “We lost to a better team today. Maybe we were just pretenders, and probably they were mentally and emotionally [more] prepared than us. Probably my boys were not ready enough to tackle a big game like this. I knew they were to bounce back but we tried our best to fend them off. It’s still a consolation to get the second place. We’re disappointed of course because we set out to win the championship this season. Siguro hanggang dito lang talaga. As a rookie coach, this team brought me to the finals and I’d have to thank them for that.”
The Ateneo Blue Eaglets, meanwhile, gave Loyola Heights a double celebration as they took Game 3 of the juniors finals against De La Salle Zobel, 61-58. Ael Banal paced the back-to-back champions with 16 points, while Kiefer Ravena was named Finals MVP.
The scores:
Ateneo 71 – Al Hussaini 21, Reyes 16, Buenafe 10, Baclao 8, Salamat 7, Long 7, Salva 2, Monfort 0, Austria 0.
UE 58 – Lee 21, Espiritu 16, Acuña 8, Lingganay 5, Zamar 3, Llagas 3, Flores 2, Reyes 0, Duran 0, Ayala 0.

Smart gilas joins PBA...

MANILA, Philippines – The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas submitted its 18-man lineup for the PBA Philippine Cup, including three collegiate players on Serbian coach Rajko Toroman's wish list.
SBP executive director Noli Eala said Ateneo's Rabeh Al-Hussaini, University of the East's Paul Lee and Cebu's Junmar Fajardo were included in the Smart Gilas roster, although the SBP has yet to reach an agreement with these players.
Japeth Aguilar, the controversial 6-foot-10 center, was also on the Gilas lineup, which is all set to test its mettle against the 10 PBA teams when the Philippine Cup fires off October 11.
Aguilar is under fire from Burger King, the ball club which made the former Western Kentucky University slotman this year's No. 1 overall pick in the PBA Rookie Draft.
”We hope to gain mental toughness, more maturity, competitive games and exposure,'' said Eala.
Gilas, a squad made up of collegiate standouts, thrashed the PBA-backed Powerade Team Pilipinas, 98-69, in a charity game Monday night, gaining the respect of the teams in the professional league.
”Winning will be a bonus. But we'll give all of them a good game,'' said Eala.Coached by Toroman, whom the SBP hired as project director for the national team, Gilas is seeking to grab the lone Asian slot for the 2012 London Olympics through the 2011 Fiba-Asia Championship.
PBA chair and BK team manager Lito Alvarez said he wouldn't allow Aguilar to suit up for Gilas in the PBA should the 22-year-old continue to snub the three-year, P8.7-million offer of the Whoppers.
Counting on the SBP's stand that it will not sign up Aguilar until the player comes to terms with the Whoppers, Alvarez said they would discuss the matter with the federation before the week ends.
Should they fail to reach an accord, Alvarez said he would elevate Aguilar's case to the PBA Board of Governors.
Skipper Chris Tiu, co-captain Mark Barroca and American CJ Giles, the team's candidate for naturalization, will spearhead Gilas along with Dylan Ababou, JVee Casio, Aldrech Ramos, JR Cawaling and Mac Baracael.
Other Gilas players included in the lineup were RJ Jazul, Rey Guevarra, Maggie Sison and Greg Slaughter.
Eala said the SBP would persuade Al-Hussaini, Lee and the 6-foot-9 Fajardo from the University of Cebu, to join the Gilas program in the PBA and eventually the team's long-term preparation for the 2011 Fiba-Asia Championship.

From: GULF DAILY NEWS: Juan Paolo Gozum died

A FORMER Bahrain resident was among the almost 300 people killed in the Ketsana Typhoon, which ripped through the heart of the Philippines capital Manila, it emerged yesterday.
Juan Paolo Gozum, 25, died in Marikina City in Metro Manila during the peak of the storm on September 26, according to his employer, website development company Web Dot Com.
Mr Gozum, who worked as a website developer for the firm, had attended Bahrain's Sacred Heart School in the 1990s before returning to his native Philippines.
Speaking to the GDN, former schoolmates of Mr Gozum said he was fun-loving and energetic.
"He was always fun to be around," said a former peer, who didn't want to be named. "He was energetic and always lively and in the middle of everything."
The company website described Mr Gozum as a dedicated employee and part of the 'Web Dot Com family'.
"He was a dear friend and brother to all of us. He will be missed," it said.
According to information reportedly given to the company by his family, Mr Gozum was most likely trapped inside his house when the flood started rising.
"The currents brought by the flood could have made it impossible for him to escape and go to higher grounds. His body was found under the stairs the next day," said the company.
Web Dot Com has appealed for donations to its specifically established relief fund.
It said 50 per cent of whatever is collected will be donated directly to Mr Gozum's family, while the other half will be used to procure food, water, clothes and medicine for the rest of its staff and other victims of the typhoon.
Manila experienced its worst flooding in 40 years from the Ketsana storm.

Complaint filed vs. Ateneo for fielding ineligible player- inboundpass.com

Complaint filed vs. Ateneo for fielding ineligible playerby inboundpass

ATENEO de Manila University, despite booking a seat in this year’s UAAP Season 72 Finals, is in hot water as it may have used an ineligible player the past three seasons, including its championship run last year. This controversy could lead to possible sanctions from the UAAP.
Atty. Levito Baligod filed a complaint with the UAAP board on Tuesday, alleging that Jobe Nkemakolam was not qualified to enter college. Attached to the complaint was substantive documentary proof that Nkemakolam was not eligible to be admitted to the tertiary [or college] level.

Baligod presented a slew of evidence such as a certification from the Commission on Higher Education dated September 3 stating that Nkemakolam “has not met the academic requirements to graduate from high school, hence, he is not qualified for admission to college.” The document was signed by Lilian B. Enriquez, Officer-in-Charge, Director III.

Baligod said he discovered the information by accident while pursuing a background check on Nkemakolam. The lawyer also disclosed that his client is Dr. Mylene Santos, who confirmed that her daughter is bearing a child that the ex-Blue Eagle fathered.

Nkemakolam, on record, was stated to have attended high school at Reedley International School before joining Ateneo in 2003. However, Baligod said, “Reedley even disputes that Jobe graduated from their institution.” He further added that “it’s now incumbent upon [the] UAAP to verify or validate the basis of Ateneo in claiming that Jobe had graduated from Reedley, when in fact Reedley has no record.”

Aside from the CHED certificate, Baligod also presented a certificate from Reedley issued to the Department of Education dated July 9, 2009 verifying that Nkemakolam attended Reedley for two years, Grade 10 (2002-03) and Grade 11 (2003-04). However, no record stating attendance in Grade 12, the equivalent of fourth year high school, was available.

The letter of complaint, as forwarded to the UAAP [a copy of which was obtained by inboundpass], was given to UAAP Board President Anton Montinola of Far Eastern University, this year’s UAAP host. Montinola was not available for comment.

Ricky Palou, Ateneo’s representative to the UAAP Board, released a statement saying, “as far as we know, as far as we are concerned, Jobe graduated from Reedley. They can even check with Reedley. Obviously, some parties are out there trying to discredit us.”

UAAP Board members who did not want to be identified had various reactions to the issue. One said that “the complaint is worth looking into,” while a fellow member commented that “if this is substantiated, if it’s beyond reasonable doubt, this is very serious.”

The league is no stranger to such controversy. De La Salle was suspended for one year and returned its 2004 championship and 2005 runner-up trophies for the two years it fielded ineligible players. The two players, Mark Benitez and Tim Gatchalian, were found to have fake PEP Test results.

Marc Barroca’s Official Statement – according to DZSR 918 Sports Radio

Marc Barroca’s Official Statement – according to DZSR 918 Sports Radio
Got this tweet from @donbonscoforum as he Re-Tweeted the release from @hoopstalk918 which i know is a radio sports talk show on Sports Radio 918am. I’ll take it as it is as I have worked with DZSR before and they are a highly credible organization.
So here is Marc Barroca’s Official Statement verbatim -

AKO PO AY LUBOS NA NALULUNKOT SAPAGKAT HINDI NA AKO MAKAKAPAGLARO SA FEU AT SA UAAP, GANOON PA MAN, NIRERESPETO KO PA ANG DESISYON NG FEU PARA SA SABI PO NILANG KAPAKANAN NG TEAM AT NG UNIBERSIDAD. NAIS KO LANG PO NA MALAMAN NG LAHAT NA MALINIS ANG KONSYENSA KO AT WALA PO AKONG ALAM NA MALING GINAWA ETO PO ANG AKING MENSAHE

1. SA AKING MAHAL NA CAOCH AT MINAMAHAL NA TEAMATES, KUNG DI KO NAABOT ANG ANG INAASHAN NINYO SA AKIN

2. KAY SIR ANTON AT SA FEU, BIGYAN NYO PO AKO NG PAGKAKATAON TAPUSIN ANG AKING PAG-AARAL SA FEU BILANG SKOLAR, DAHIL ITO PO ANG AKING BANAL NA PANGAKO SA AKIN INA NUNG AKO PO AY LUMISAN SA ZAMOBANGA PARA MAKIPAGSAPALARAN SA MAYNILA.

3. SA SBP, BIGYAN NYO PO DIN AKO NG PAGKAKATAON NA MAGLARO SA SMART GILAS PILIPINAS PARA MAKAPAG-SILBI SA BAYAN. ITO LANG PO ANG AKING NINANAIS NGAYON AT SANA WAG NAMAN AKO PIGILAN NINO MAN.

4. GOODLUCK AT PRAYERS PO SA FEU SA NA IBINIGAY SA AKIN NG FEU NA MAKAPAGLARO SA UAAP, BILANG PAGTATAPOS, AKO PO AY 23 GULANG LAMAN, BUT I WILL AND MUST MOVE ON. MATATAG NAMAN ANG AKING KALOOBAN NGAYON, AT NANINIWAL AKO SA PAGSUBOK NA ITO AY MAGIGING MAS MABUTI AKONG PLAYER. HINDI PO AKO AAYAW, HINDI PO AKO TITIGIL MAG-SUMIKAP – MARC BARROCA

If you read into this, one would look at the guts of this kid to insist on finishing his studies at FEU. Would a guy who is guilty major wrongdoing have the guts and the face to still go to school and face ridicule? that up to you all to decide, to each his own interpretation with this situation.
I just want to share also this reply i got from someone who says knew Marc growing up in Zamboanga, you feel for his family now.
from clie -

hi , i am sad that one of my kababayan from zamboanga is in hot seat, i just want to share this short history how he learned basketball, Andy Barroca started as a running athlete, he is my kuyas playmate in our local barangay ,they use to laugh on how he plays kasi he is old na, when he learned playing hoops…Anyway according to my kuya it was his ability to run fast and eagerness to learn the game. Andy played in a muddy hoops area , until 12 noon.Just shooting, and learning. until he was discovered…It sad to know with all his efforts, to be in the league controversies arised.

His friends from ayala zamboanga city, his side car bicycle friends .Wearing his jersey…
This is another tale of , loss in the Uaap.
——————
All of you can judge all you want either way, you are all entitled to that. As for me, i still need to see solid evidence either way to give my full opinion on the matter.
For now what we know for sure is Barroca will no longer play for FEU. Period

What Will Happen to Andy Barroca?- Tony Atayde

What Will Happen To Andy Barroca?
by Tony L. Atayde2
For the last 3 years Far Eastern University has been plagued by doubtful events involving key players. First it was Gerilla, who was unceremoniously cut from the team after suspicions of unscrupulous behavior were discovered.
Last year, it was the unfortunate and dastardly shooting of Mac Baracael that shocked the entire league. Up to today, nothing and no one has been even slightly uncovered anything regarding this criminal act.
Now the case of Andy Barroca, a player who was expected to tear up the league especially after his tremendous showing during the Smart Gilas games, is the talk of the the Final Four. As of today, Barroca is not even sure if he will suit up for the Tamaraws for their Final Four game against UE.
Allegedly, there were very strong suspicions that Barroca was deliberately playing below his usual level in the last FEU game against Ateneo. FEU needed to win by 5 points to secure the no. 1 slot in the standings. After 3 and 1/3 quarters, FEU was up by 18 but collapsed and saw Ateneo steal the game and the no. 1 spot from them.
Apparently, the play of Barroca elicited suspicion from the FEU Management and Coaching Staff. He scored only 8 points and his lackluster performance; especially in the 4th quarter was not something that the coaching staff felt was something that was normal behavior for Barrroca.
Is the suspicion justified? Is Barroca getting the short end of the stick here? Did he really tone down his game and allow Ateneo to catch up and eventually win the game?
In all this, I believe that Barroca is being treated unfairly. If there is no solid proof of the allegations, then the suspicion is not enough. All players have bad games and this could have just been the case with him. He has steered the Tamaraws to the longest winning streak of the season and I don’t think one game can change that.
Besides, Barroca was not alone on the team. Cawaling, Ramos, Cervantes and Garcia were also responsible for letting that 18 point lead slip away. Why put the blame solely of Andy Barroca?
If the allegations are true, then it is the responsibility of the FEU management and coaching staff to obtain undeniable proof and if that is obtained, then he should be punished to the full extent of the law. It is sad to note that FEU has not even had the slightest progress in the Baracael incident, which almost cost him his life.
However, if these are all just suspicions, FEU will be destroying the future of this young man. Barroca has a bright basketball future ahead of him. He showed his ability to play international competition with Smart Gilas. Even foreign coaches and players were extremely impressed with him. He has a definite lucrative PBA spot awaiting him. However, all this could be lost if FEU decides to take him out of the team based on suspicions alone.
In fairness to FEU, they still have not made a decision on the matter and there are heavy deliberations on the actions to be taken. This situation is not easy for FEU and they have to do this in a fair and sober manner. I am sure Mr. Anton Montinola will decide in a fair manner regading Andy Barroca.
If these are all suspicions, his reputation will be forever tarnished and will always bring doubts to any team that may want his services. His whole basketball career is now in the balance. It is common knowledge that players suit up for the UAAP and the NCAA with the goal of making basketball their career. They don’t go to school to be engineers or accountants but rather go to school to show their wares and eventually end up in the PBA.
If the allegations against Barroca are true then it stands to logic that the gambling syndicate would be behind it. If this is true, then Barroca is more a victim than a culprit. After what happened to Baracael last year, who allegedly did not want any part of the gambling syndicate, Barroca may have feared for his life too. If the gambling syndicates were behind it, then Barroca is not the problem but the entire league is to blame for allowing this open secret to keep thriving.
I have always liked Barroca and I honestly do not believe that he would involve himself in game fixing. I hope that the FEU Management and Coaching Staff handle this matter fairly, after all, the future of a young man with so much potential is at stake.

Here's to Mark Barroca- Rick Olivares...

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Here's to Mark Barroca...
Several people asked me what I thought about the accusations that FEU's Mark Barroca has been throwing games. I answered every time out that I'd be really surprised if he does. And if he did, I'd be very cross at him.But I know that he doesn't and never will.He was on FEU's Team B with his current batch of teammates when their 2006 squad was blown up in the off season. That team was blown up because management felt it wasn't good enough to challenge for a title. It was deemed that the players on Team B were not only better than the UAAP team but ready to contend for a title in the years to come. It was only in 2007 when JR Gerilla was thrown off the team and Jeff Chan forever banished from the Morayta campus. And Barroca, like the others were there when Mac Baracael was nearly killed.Don't tell me that those lessons aren't learned. He is signed to Smart Gilas and Oracle. He knows he is set if he plays his cards right. While in Jakarta with the Smart Gilas team I was privy to one session where the players openly talked and teased one another about basketball; game fixing included. I thought that Mark gave a very passionate diatribe on shady dealings and being unhappy about losing. I thought it was rare for an athlete especially one who isn't very good at expressing himself to wax eloquent. And I respected him more for that.
He is so excited about the future. In fact, of the Tamaraws team, it is only him and Aldrech Ramos with a sterling class attendance record. He really wants to move up and learn. Before I packed my bags ahead of the team and left for Manila, he sought my advice because he wanted to ask his girlfriend togo to Corregidor. He wanted to know more about the island fortress from me. How he knew that I've been there twice I'll never know. I don't think he even goes here to Bleachers' Brew. The reason why he was very successful with Smart Gilas and Oracle is that he has the ball in his hands all the time. He plays lots of minutes and clearly wants the ball come crunch time. With FEU, it's another story. Glenn Capacio said prior to the start of the current season, he'd give the ball to RR Garcia while turning Barroca into a shooting guard. How many point guards do they have -- five or six? Barroca will never be the shooting guard that Ben Fernandez is. Plain and simple, iba yung laro.On a lighter note, Capacio also joked that he is the only one to be able to stop Barroca; something he jests about even in the presence of his prized guard.The truth is Barroca finds FEU's offense (even before the arrival of Garcia) to be restrictive. Having said that, he totally enjoys playing for Gilas. It's hard for him to be effective when the ball is in Garcia's hands. I've seen him play bad games for FEU, Oracle, and Gilas and he always bounces back. I've been inside their locker room and at their practice and have made many friends on their team. I may not know as much as the others but from what I know, it isn't so.At the start of the season, I was worried that he would suffer from fatigue. I even voiced that concern to their trainer on several occasions. During the summer, he was playing and practicing for FEU, Oracle, and Gilas. I wondered if he would one day collapse from exhaustion. In Jakarta, after matches his arm would be real sore. In fact prior to one game, he couldn't lift his arms because they were leaden. One time an opponent from Kuwait took a shot at him. He was already in pain yet he was taking shots from a guy he can twist like a pretzel six ways 'til Sunday without breaking a sweat. Obviously binawian niya ng mas matindi (it almost sparked a rumble). Siya rin yung tinitira ng kalaban and they geared their defense to stopping him.I understand that FEU officials are meeting right now -- around noon time of this post -- to deliberate on his case. If this is true (and I know he has not admitted to anything) then it's really disappointing. But this Tamaraws team are like brothers having been together solidly for three years now. I know that JR Cawaling is upset at the accusations hurled against his teammate. It's totally not fair.Like I said, I don't believe it and so do many others. If it does turn out to be true, then how crushing is that? He would be a great ham artist. I just hope this is resolved because this isn't simply one person's future but could also affect their program once more. I mean why would someone want to play for a school that blames players after they have a bad game? You should see that school in Taft. They're doing a good job of that.By the same token, players on other squads are reported to be doing some shady things. Even in Ateneo, over the years, there rumors of players (just a few mind you) who were throwing games. But they were just that. Rumors. Although some will say otherwise but never show a shred of evidence.Man, all this is making my head spin.

Good luck with it, Mark.
Posted by Rick Olivares