85th NCAA: New faces greet the league (Part II)
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 06/26/2009 8:04 PM
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(Second of a two-part series)
The Blazers are blazing no more
College of St. Benilde appeared headed for a big season last year when they roared to a 2-0 (win-loss) start only to drop 10 of their last 12 outings to finish a disappointing sixth place.
And to add insult to injury, one of these wins included one over the Lions, who were forfeited despite blowing the Blazers with a 20-point margin.
The culprit: Ekwe wore a wrong set of uniform.
Now coached by Richard del Rosario, a former pro known for his defense and good work ethic, the Blazers would have an opportunity to erased that stigma with a better effort this year.
And the Taft-based school looked headed for good times this year as William Johnston, Anjelo Montecastro, Jacob Manlapaz, Robbie Manalac, Jeff Morial and the energetic Chuck Dalanon have all matured since last season.
Credit that to del Rosario, who have instilled the same defensive attitude that helped him last long in the PBA where he helped Sta. Lucia snare a title.
“I’m optimistic we’re going to perform better this year,” said del Rosario, who took over from Gie Abanilla.
The Stags are going to be up there
Gone are coach Jorge Gallent and the exciting pair of Jason Ballesteros and Jim Viray.
Enter former PBA MVP Ato “The Atom Bomb” Agustin and the Pampanga boys.
Agustin, one of the PBA’s finest shooters, was called upon to handle the coaching chores for a school that last clinched a title seven years ago.
And he is bringing along some talented Pampanga natives Calvin Abueva, Dexter Maiquez, Ronald Pascual and 6’6” Ian Paul Sangalang, who have proven their ways in the Stags’ second and third place finishes in the Nike Summer League and Fil-Oil/Flying V MVP Cup.
The group will join the veterans of the team Jimbo Aquino, Gilbert Bulawan, Pamboy Raymundo, Dave Najorda and Raymond Maconocido, part of the team that played for Gallent a season ago.
“They say we’re strong,” said Agustin. “But the pre-season is different from the real thing, we’re just going to hope for the best.”
The new-look Cardinals
Although coach Leo Isaac had left to coach a PBA club and Filipino-Canadian Kelvin dela Pena, Neil Pascual and Ian Mazo gone, the Cardinals remain a potent force.
Allan Mangahas, who came out the top rookie last year, will have to carry most of the lead particularly those left by the versatile, talented dela Pena.
And that’s a heavy load we’re referring to.
Leading by example. Scoring. Rebounding. Orchestrating.
Defending. Stealing. Making the extra pass. You name it. Dela Pena can do all these things and more.
“It’s a responsibility that he (Mangahas) must assume, its his time to shine,” said Victolero, who is also coach Koy Banal’s assistant at Magnolia Ice Cream.
Jason Pascual, Mark Sarangay and Mark Acosta, who were part of Isaac’s rotation last year, will also need to work harder as well as former San Beda players Kevin Ray Espinosa and TG Guillermo.
“I keep telling my players that if they want to make a good impression, this is the season to show it,” said Victolero.
The Knights and three aces
Letran literally has three aces up its sleeve.
The Knights will have Alas patriarch Louie and sons Kris and Kevin playing together this season that should help their bid of reclaiming the varsity crown they last won four years ago.
“It’s a different feeling having my sons play for me, I’m just hoping for the best,” said Alas, who steered the Muralla-based school to titles in 1998, 2003 and 2005.
Kevin, the youngest of the three, had actually trained in La Salle for two months but decided to join his father at Letran upon hearing the team would be undermanned this season with Smart Gilas Pilipinas standouts RJ Jazul and Rey Guevarra the only remnants from last year.
“He was supposed to play for La Salle but left because he wants to help me so I respected his decision,” said Alas.
Alas, however, knows they have a tougher road ahead this season because while the other teams underwent some major changes, the Knights got weaker on paper.
“We’re weaker in terms of manpower,” said Alas. “If we can play as a team and come up with the defense that we’re know for, I think we’ll have a chance.”
Reymar Gutilban, Kirk del Rosario, Jaypee Belencion and John Foronda are the other veterans Alas is pinning his hopes on.
And if the Alas brothers would blend in well, the Knights would have a strong chance to mix it up with the heavyweights.
The Bombers are ready to blow the opposition
This early, teams including San Beda picked Jose Rizal as the team to beat this year.
How can they not when the Bombers retained nearly the core of the team that nearly unseated the Lions last year if not for the deciding Game Three defeat that still reeks of stench particularly on the side of Kalentong.
Add to that the 6’7” Cameroonian Joe Etame, who will join countryman Nchotu Njei to form a strong one-two punch for the Bombers.
Jose Rizal coach Ariel Vanguardia, however, said Etame would need to sit down for another week to allow his left knee injury he sustained last month to heal.
But when Etame’s looming scary presence returns, he will be tasked to man the slot and defend against the biggest threat of all—San Beda’s American center Sudan Daniel.
“He (Etame) rebounds and blocks well and can play defense. It’s interesting to see him play against Daniel,” said Vanguardia.
Aside from Etame, Jose Rizal will have skipper Mac Cagoco, John Wilson, big James Sena, Marvin Hayes, John Agas and Ildefonso Bulangis, Jr. staying on to help fulfill the dreams of the Bombers in ending a 37-year title drought.
And this means trouble for the other teams.
A new Lion King
San Beda will have American Sudan Daniel as its main man after its key starters Nigerian Sam Ekwe, Pong Escobal and Ogie Menor have gone their separate ways.
The 6’8” Daniel have shown he has more offensive and defensive punch, athleticism and quickness than Ekwe that should serve the Lions well as they go for a four-peat this season.
With Daniel manning the post, San Beda ruled the Nike Summer League and finished a strong semifinalist in the Fil-Oil-Flying V MVP Cup that further reinforce the experts claim that its is still the team to beat.
The Lions are gunning for a 15th title that would put them the second school with most championships behind the 16 crowns by the Letran Knights.
The departure of Escobal and Menor should also open the doors for Borgie Hermida, a talented point guard who has the ability to make things happen especially in clutch situations.
Hermida has toiled behind the shadows of Escobal and Menor, the former already in the pros and the latter aspiring to be one, and this is the time for him to shine.
“We’re ready for war,” said team skipper Bam Bam Gamalinda, who along with Jay-R Taganas, Ed Tecson, Jake Pascual, Dave Marcelo, Enrico Tirona and Garvo Lanete are the holdovers from last year’s triumphant squad.
And of course, it is interesting to see coach Frankie Lim and son Jose Carmelo play together.
Prediction:
San Beda, Jose Rizal and San Sebastian are cinch to make the Final Four. The last ticket to the semis will be a toss-up between Letran and Mapua. If teams don’t pay extra attention, Arellano U could gatecrash into the Final Four. In the end, it will be a San Beda-Jose Rizal championship sequel. The ending would be the same—San Beda beating Jose Rizal via the full, three-game route for a four-peat feat and Title No. 15.
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