I have to admit, I didn’t
watch the Wednesday games with much intensity. I was, instead, focused on
twitterverse, where updates about the UAAP Board’s decision (read: reaction)
regarding the Temporary Restraining Order handed down by Judge Manuel Sta. Cruz
of Regional Trial Court Branch 226 and updates about decisions on personnel suspensions
and appeals were being shared.
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| Even Ray Parks's superb outing against UP was in the background as other pressing issues seized the imagination of UAAP observers. |
Thanks to the tweets of
fellow sportswriters, it was revealed that the UAAP Board honored the TRO, but
didn’t allow Mikee Bartolome (the plaintiff) to swim for UP. That was, of
course, in contradiction to what the RTC actually
wanted. Judge Sta. Cruz clearly stated that the UAAP should “cease and
desist from imposing the residency rule and allow the plaintiff to be eligible
so she can participate in the UAAP swimming competition this coming Sept. 19,
2013.”
Crystal clear.
But, still, the UAAP didn’t
budge.
And then yesterday the
Board saw
the light. According to UAAP Secretary-Treasurer Malou Isip, the Board had
to respect the TRO AND let Bartolome swim else be held in contempt by the
court.
Boom.
I am now hoping the
September 11 preliminary injunction hearing also ends up in favor not only of Bartolome
but all the student-athletes adversely affected by this unnecessary high-school-to-college
residency rule.
And regarding another
controversial front, the Board suspended coach Bo Perasol of Ateneo for one
game and banned De La Salle superfan JJ Atayde from ever watching live again
this season. Frankly speaking, I am quite surprised at this turn
of events. I expected the Board to give coach Bo a warning and, honestly, I
found the ban on Atayde a tad too harsh as well. Maybe a written/stern warning
would have sufficed? (As a side note, JJ Atayde’s more famous – or infamous –
relative, Tony Atayde, has just “retired”
his blog, the Green Mind)
Then again, perhaps the
Board just didn’t want things to escalate should a similar incident happen
again. I guess its decision was more preventive than anything else, and it’s
just unfortunate that coach Bo and Mr. Atayde were made examples.
Another surprise was
Charles Mammie actually being allowed to play for the UE Red Warriors. This
decision was handed out just in time, of course. Even DLSU coach Juno Sauler
confessed post-game how surprised he was that the “Mammie returned.” Despite
the unforeseen development, however, his team still won. I tell you, this La
Salle team is steadily improving, and it looks to be the biggest thorn on NU’s hopes
of copping its first Ray Parks-era title.
Speaking of Parks, man, he
was all-around awesome against the hapless UP Fighting Maroons, who, not
surprisingly, are still winless a few games into the Rey Madrid tenure. Parks
was super splendid in this win
for the Bulldogs, netting 30 points on 12/20 FG shooting, 10 rebounds, 5
assists and 1 block. Three-time MVP? As long as he doesn’t register a 0/20
night anytime soon, and as long as NU doesn’t tank in its last couple of games,
then I think he should get it.
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| Kyle Neypes helped NU nab the top spot. |
Helping him out were
Emmanuel Mbe, who registered 13 points on top of 14 rebounds, while Gelo
Alolino handed out 9 assists in another sterling show of playmaking. For most
other teams, Alolino would probably be seen as a top-tier scorer, but in NU his
job is mainly to distribute the basketball, and he has done that with aplomb.
Another guy who played
well was on the other end of the spectrum – Raul Soyud of UP. Soyud pumped in
17 points, 12 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 1 steal. He’s a pro-ready big man, for
sure, but it’s just too bad he’s stuck in a direction-less program. Sayang. Maybe the Maroons (or Mrs.
Gokongwei-Pe) should consider giving illustrious team alumni like Benjie Paras
and Ronnie Magsanoc tempting offers to get on board the hoops program. I can
see coach Ronnie being an awesome bench tactician and Benjie becoming an
amazing big man coach. That should be a start, right? Maybe they can also ask
coach Eric Altamirano if he can switch sides and return to his alma mater?
Heck, perhaps guys like Marvin Cruz, Pao Mendoza, or Toti Almeda can help. This
is the sort of situation that just needs a really BIG shot in the arm.
I think UP can also
benefit from joining “less competitive” offseason tournaments and win those,
just so the guys can actually feel how it is to win again. I mean, isn’t this
what the UE Red Warriors have been doing? They join smaller leagues, win, and
carry that winning attitude to the UAAP. C’mon, UP, we’re rooting for you!
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| Kyles Lao and the Maroons need a big lift next season. |
In contrast, a team that isn’t
in dire need of any intervention is De La Salle. As of this writing, the Green
Archers remain unbeaten in the second round. They are 5-0, and they should be
in prime shape as they take on NU next and then close the elims versus UST. The
Greenies are now at second place, and, by all indications, I think the FEU
Tamaraws will have a tough time trying to catch up to DLSU at this point (I am
picking Adamson to beat FEU tomorrow).
Sure, it took DLSU 45
minutes to beat
UE, but, hey, they were dominant in that OT session. Of course, it could
have just as easily been a loss had Roi Sumang hit BOTH his free throws in the
dying seconds of regulation, but, still, we have to give credit to La Salle. Coach
Sauler’s wards just stepped up in the extra inning, with Jeron Teng and Arnold
Van Opstal pairing up for 13 of DLSU’s 19 markers.
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| AVO stood his ground against Charles Mammie. |
I have been a huge Teng
critic, but even I have to admit he was sensational in this game. The former
Xavier Stallion hit 17 points on 6/12 FG shooting, grabbed 7 rebounds, had 4
assists, and yet he was just the second-best player on the roster!
Jason Perkins has become
the de facto go-to-guy for this team, and rightly so. The newcomer logged 22
points, hitting all three of his trey attempts, hauled down 9 boards, blocked 2
shots, and had just 1 turnover in 35 minutes of play. Perkins’s game just
screams of efficiency. Heck, this early, he might already be good enough to be
pegged a first-round PBA Draft pick. Another potential pro prospect is Almond
Vosotros, who has been on a tear, sniping left and right. He’s not really a
high-percentage shooter, but he hits about a couple of threes per game and
usually hits them in the biggest moments. He shot 12 times from beyond the arc
here and found the bottom of the net four times. Not bad. The guy leads the
league in three-pointers made per game (2.8) and total three-pointers made
(34). CANNOT LEAVE HIM OPEN.
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| Jason Perkins is the best newcomer this season. |
The results of this past Wednesday point me to a potentially
crazy wind-up to the eliminations. I won’t be surprised if DLSU upends NU on
Sunday (tying them at first place) and Adamson drops FEU. I expect UST to beat
UP and then Ateneo should bounce back over UE. Should all of these (practically
baseless and biased, mind you) projections hold true, then we will have DLSU
and NU at first place, FEU at third, Ateneo and UST at fourth, UE at sixth,
Adamson at seventh, and UP last.
It’ll be one of the wildest finishes ever.
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| Roi Sumang and the Warriors are part of an expected wild elims finish in Season 76. |
All images are by Jan Dizon/Inboundpass.com.
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