The EKWElizer

NCAA Finals: San Beda Red Lions goes B2B

OOZING with confidence and a remarkable winning attitude in Game 2, the San Beda Red Lions has duplicated a feat they did in 1977 and 1978 – another back-to-back titles.

San Beda College, as expected, took charge in the early part and never looked back en route to a 76-64 demolition of Letran College to retain its crown last September 26, 2007 in the 83rd NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.

Pro-bound Yousif Aljamal started on fire in the first half and third year Rogemar Menor did the finishing touches in the final two quarters to give the Red Lions 13 crowns since joining the country’s oldest collegiate league in 1924.

San Beda Red Lions NCAA Season 82 and 83 Back to Back Champions:

Aljamal, who will suit up for Talk N’ Text next month in the PBA, torched the Knights’ porous defense earlier by firing 12 of his 24 points in the first period with 10 rebounds, while Menor piled up 12 of his 25 points in the payoff frame to lead his team.

“This is really memorable for me,” said Aljamal, who registered two triples, shot 6-of-8 from the field and had 6-of-10 attempts from the foul line. “For my last two years, I haven’t felt that we could win back-to-back. I’m really, really glad about this.”

Aljamal’s three-point play provided San Beda a 20-12 advantage with 2:21 minutes to go, and then back-up Bam Gamalinda scored three straight baskets to wow the Red Lions fans and close the first quarter ahead, 26-12.

“This is like my junior days when we won three straight titles from 2002 to 2005,” said Menor, who awarded as the Finals MVP after hitting 2-of-3 from beyond the arc and firing 9-of-13 shots from the filed. “I’m hoping we could also make it three next year.”

Menor tallied 23 points to lead San Beda to a 76-68 win in Game one of its best-of-three championship series.

Letran tried its best to fight back in the second period, trimming the deficit to 30-20 after Rafael Jazul’s two consecutive treys with 6:55 minutes left before halftime. But Samuel Ekwe responded with two baskets to stretch the lead again, 34-20, with 5:14 minutes to go.

San Beda kept its 14-point advantage at halftime, 43-29, after Aljamal’s buzzer-beater lay-up.

The last time the Knights tied the count was during the first quarter when Raymark Gutilban hit a triple for an 11-all deadlock.

Guard John Melegrito scored on two straight lay-ups to cut the deficit, 47-52 – the nearest for the Knights in the second half – with 1:21 minutes to go in the third.

The Red Lions delivered the coup de grace by unleashing a crippling 16-6 burst, capped by Menor’s first 10 points in last quarter and wrest the lead for good, 71-55, with still 4:16 minutes to go. San Beda’s ruckus crowd were already jumping and celebrating.

“This is very sweet especially for me,” said San Beda’s rookie coach Frankie Lim, who was the top playmaker of the Red Lions when they won the 1977 and 1978 titles. “My players really worked hard for these back-to-back titles.”

“Letran fought hard, but our desire to win the championship was undeniable,” he added.

Although Aljamal and Menor were the only Red Lions who scored in double figures, San Beda’s unbreakable defense and ball-rotation proved to be the deciding factor.

The Red Lions had more assists than the Knights, 20-9. They also dominated on the defensive end with more steals (7-5) and blocked shots (9-2). San Beda’s gang rebounding, 50-38, was also the key to a series sweep.

Pong Escobal had seven points, while Gamalinda and Borgie Hermida finished with six points each. Escobal and Hermida merged for 12 assists.

Ekwe, the last year’s Rookie-MVP, had only four points but hauled down 13 rebounds and swatted away six Letran attempts.

Bryan Faundo and Rafael Jazul scored 17 and 14 points, respectively, for the Knights, and lost Dino Daa and Gutilban in the early part of the last quarter in foul trouble.

“San Beda took it away and we failed to extend the series for Mikko (Quinday),” said Louie Alas, the Knights coach. “We dedicated this game to him because this is his last playing year, but we failed.”

San Beda, with its two straight titles for an overall 13 crowns, has placed them No. 3 in the list of most number of Senior Men’s Basketball titles in the NCAA. First runner-up Letran stays on top with 15, followed by former member Ateneo with 14.

In the Locker Room:

Individual scores

SBC 76: Menor 25, Aljamal 24, Escobal 7, Hermida 6, Gamalinda 6, Ekwe 4, Taganas 2,
Tirona 2, Marcelo 0, Tecson 0, Lanete 0, Maggay 0.

Letran 64: Faundo 17, Jazul 14, Melegrito 8, Guevarra 6, Quinday 5, Daa 4,, Gutilban 3,
Dangcal 2, Foronda 2, Cabonce 2, Del Rosario 1, Reposar 0.

Quarter scores: 26-12; 43-29; 57-49; 76-64.

The NCAA Final 4 Preview – Red Lions vs. Cardinals

September 12 will a day of reckoning for 4 semifinalists. Only two will remain to dispute this year’s plum. Who will they be? Let’s take a look at the first two protagonists.

San Beda College Red Lions vs. Mapua Institute of Technology Cardinals (0-2 elimination round)
Mapua Cardinals

The moment these 2 were matched up everybody conceded that the Red Lions will eat the Cardinals alive. Don’t trust your conscience yet. The Cardinals are peaking at the right time and they are learning to play as a team. Even Coach Frankie Lim acknowledged that Coach Leo Isaac is a good coach if not, in my opinion, an excellent mentor to lead the Cardinals to the land of milk and honey. The Cardnilas have yet to show their potential but they have to do it as soon as they hit ground with the Red Lions. The main man chores will definitely go to combo guard stud Kelvin de la Pena. De la Pena will be surrounded by supporting casts namely: Jerby del Rosario, versatile Sean Co, Neil Pascual and Hermes Sumalinog. Jonathan Banal is usually in Coach Isaac’s starter list but I reckon, Banal will most likely be the sixth man for the Cardinals for this series, in a game like this, the Cardinals will have to start strong and Coach Isaac might initially stick with his veteran core. Teree Guillermo will most likely get his chance to show how good a shooter he really is. The Cardinals cannot afford a let down on offense if they want to keep up with the Red Lions. But who knows, lady luck might be on thier side, and a possible upset looms over this series.

San Beda Red Lions

During the absence of Yousif Aljamal, the Red Lions have proven that they can win shorthanded. There is no doubt the Red Lions boasts of a formidable line-up this year. Coach Frankie Lim’s usual starting five combination of Borgy Hermida, Pong Escobal, Ogie Menor, Yousif Aljamal and Sam Ekwe, after 2 games of waiting, will be back in this series. I might be pushing the stock of the Red Lions too much if I ask you how can the Cardinals match-up with the Red Lions in this series. We already know the Red Lions can go 9 to 10 deep – Raymund Maggay, Garvo Lanete, Riego Gamalinda even Chico Tirona and Jay-R Taganas might be given some minutes to give the others some time off the court. Last year, other teams used to double team Ekwe and that paid a lot of dividends for the rest of his teammates. Since he has possessed an array of shots just a foot away from the shaded area, I believe, and Coach Lim and the rest of the coaching staff should be confident about this, that last year’s ploy to contain Ekwe with double coverage will work for the Red Lions’ advantage. And this will pose problems for the Cardinals’ defensive rotation.

Pick: San Beda College in one (1) game.

The San Beda-Letran post game brawl

In the aftermath of NCAA senior game between San Beda and Letran game last Friday at the Big Dome, hell broke loose.

Fans of both schools, calling each other names, threw popcorns, soft drinks, fries and even ice teas showing their displeasure after the game.

Where is the love? You might be smiling or laughing because that phrase is a title of a song. But I’m serious.

Thier respective fans even engaged in a fistfight, running around the areas of the Araneta Coliseum. Now you can call a La Salle-Ateneo rivalry history, maybe forgotten.

San Beda fans, by my side just near the Letran bench, were booing the Knights and even castigating them with unsympathetic words during the game.

The Letran fans, however, retaliated too. Of course a normal reaction.

We are only human. The law of Karma will take over. It’s a vicious cycle of i hurt you, you hurt them and you hurt me.

Late in the game, some fans of San Beda were booing and insulting the Letran team were one of the coaching staff reacted.

Mel Alas, the brother of Knights’ head coach Louie, also a former Adamson University and Las Piñas College mentor, was the coaching staff I’m referring to. He was pacified by his elder brother Louie and asked him to let it go.

After the game, Mel was insulted and even challenged by that certain San Beda fan. But he never listened to his brother. He tried to confront the fan but madness broke out from the stands. That even sparked the commotion between the fans from both schools.

Fr. Mateo De Jesus, president of San Beda College, called upon his fellow Bedans to calm down.
Some Bedans listened but didn’t.

The action resumed until those wide bodied Araneta security guards used their brute strength to separate the Letran and San Beda fans.

After five to 10 minutes, the Management Committee Chairman of host JRU Paul Supan and Henry Atayde of Saint Benilde went immediately to the press room to express their sympathy to the ugly turn of events.

They said they already got the list of the people involved and they will be banned for the rest of the season. They did not mention any single name. But anyway, let’s wait for further investigation.

Let’s stop fighting, let’s watch and support our team peacefully. Just a personal friendly reminder from us.

Ringside 109, who’s accountable?

It was San Beda vs. Letran. Before the start of the ball game the NCAA member schools initiated ceremony to signify their togetherness. San Beda and Letran exchanged tokens – the Animo San Beda scarf and the Letran jacket. And so the game went on.

During the 3rd Quarter, while I was seated in the front row at Ringside 109 while enjoying the game, Mel Alas apparently caught fire with someone from the stands. And he was really upset. I have never seen Mel Alas in that mood except when he was coaching the Adamson Falcons in the UAAP but that’s another story. Sources said that someone threw something at him. Nothing big, but enough to catch his attention.

Letran Coach Louie Alas tried to pacify his brother. So far, he succeeded, and so we believe. Coach Louie asked the San Beda fans in R109, without pinpointing at anyone, and generally asking politely to impede whatever they intend to do next. And so the game went on peacefully with everybody enjoying the action. But eventually, the Knights would loose to the Red Lions in another classic encounter.

Right after the game all hell broke loose at R109. While I was at the dugout preparing to take a post game footage on the winner coach, I heard riot noise. I ran out and saw pet bottles, popcorn, empty cola cans and some coins were being thrown at the Letran Knights coaching staff and even players. It was a sight not to see. At the same time a nightmare in a time were hooliganism was a fad in the NCAA.

Now who’s responsible? From the San Beda spectator to Mel Alas, who should be responsible? Araneta security? the spectator? We can always point to whoever, but we know in our conscience who should take responsibility. Between the Letran Coaching staff and some players and the San Beda spectators, who should take responsibility? Araneta security, NCAA Mancom, spectators, who?

The NCAA Mancom’s treatment on this is – it happened right after the ball game. Probably the highlights of that incident that happened at the Palace in Auburn Hills between Detroit and Indiana are now running thru your mind. And it is true that there is a demarcation line between the spectators that pay to watch the game and the people that give you entrainment, in this case, the teams on the basketball court. You can even call it the 38th parallel. But whatever you call it, there is a clear boundary.

According to the NCAA Mancom, since there are no rules and penalties for this kind of “melee”, the Mancom will follow their line of thinking, for the sake of consistency, their reprimand on the previous incident that happened between Coaches Lim and Vanguardia – a STERN WARNING.

Too bad somebody got injured. But according to league sources charges will not be filed, maybe that someone knew they should take responsibility of the what ifs? – What if I just sat there, watch the game and keep the pockets to myself? Plus all the what ifs. The security was able to round up some of the spectators, got their names and will be banned from watching the games live in any venue. So how will this affect security? Thousands of fans will enter the venue how will and can you identify them? What will be your security strategy?

College Basketball, combining passion and tradition, is a sensational ride to experience. Emotions run high because you believe and fight for something – your school alma mater, your school spirit. But if your concept of school spirit is to translate your emotion to anger and your means to express those feelings is to turn to violence, man, get a life, you are in the wrong business.

According to the NCAA Mancom, they have warned the Araneta security personnel about an instance like this might happen. They even requested ropes and some kind of equipment to aid them in their crowd control efforts. But I guess the security personnel took it for granted and R109 turned out to be a UFC Ringside venue without the barricades.

But again, who is accountable?

Ekwe powers San Beda to victory, routs Perpetual

Defending NCAA champion San Beda Red Lions, in full control all-throughout the game even without starting forward Yousif Aljamal, routed the University of Perpetual Help, 96-79, last August 29 in the 83rd NCAA men’s basketball at The Arena in San Juan City.

Inspired by the ruckus crowd, the Red Lions, behind Samuel Ekwe’s 10th double-double, got an early huge edge and never looked back to post their 10th win after 11 games to maintain the No. 1 spot.

“My teammates played well despite Yousif’s absence,” said the 6-foot-8 Nigerian Ekwe, who recorded a career-high 26 points on 12-of-19 shooting from the field along with 14 rebounds. “We just wanted to prove that we’re champions.”

San Beda’s last game in the elimination round will be against Letran on Friday and, still, it would play without Aljamal.

San Beda officials decided not to freeze the 6-foot-4 forward as part of their agreement with the NCAA Policy Board after the court case against the country’s oldest collegiate league was dropped by San Beda.

Even without the PBA-bound Aljamal, San Beda stayed invincible earlier as it posted a 30-15 bubble with 1:27 minutes left in the first period after Ekwe’s three impressive dunks – one against two defenders with 4:32 minutes to go for a huge 23-9 lead.

The Altas, through Mike Kong’s attempt to keep the game close, moved to within 38-46 with 5:14 minutes left in second period after connecting three straight unanswered baskets.

But the Red Lions headed by the trio of Ekwe, Menor and Escobal merged in the remaining minutes of the 2nd quarter with an 8-0 blast to close the halftime at 54-38.

San Beda turned the third quarter into a highlight reel, with Ekwe and Menor having great finishes. The Red Lions stretched their advantage to 80-57 at the end of the third period and they were never threatened the rest of the way.

“It was a must-win game for us,” said SBC mentor Frankie Lim. “I told my players before the game not to relax especially without Yousif. I’m happy with their performance because they really work hard.”

Guard Pong Escobal nailed 18 points, while Rogemar Menor added 15 points and Chico Tirona produced 10 points for San Beda.

Rommel Balboa led the Altas, now at 3-8, with 19 points, while teammate Mike Kong added 14 points.

Individual Scores:

SBC (96) – Ekwe 26, Escobal 18, Menor 15, Tirona 10, Hermida 6, Lanete 6, Gamalinda 4, Taganas 4, Marcelo 3, Caram 2, Maggay 2, Taupa 0, Padilla 0.

Perpetual Help (79) – Balboa 19, Kong 14, Lee 8, Dysam 7, Galabin 6, Manuel 6, Reyes 6, Liaz 5, Ynion 5, Febrian 3, Salanga 0, Mejos 0.

Quarter scores: 32-21; 54-38; 80-57; 96-79.

Hail San Beda, hail the NCAA

Sanity finally prevailed.

I’m very satisfied to hear last August 28, that San Beda initiated a public apology to its fellow NCAA member schools for camaraderie and brotherhood of the oldest collegiate basketball league.

Congratulations to the Policy Board Chairman and JRU President Vincent Fabella and other school members for accepting San Beda’s apology, initiated by none other than its President Fr. Mateo De Jesus.

San Beda was among the founding members of the NCAA which started way back in 1924. It was an unselfish act and a true professional Catholic institution. Here’s some wine glass for you father.

If all our political leaders will be like Father De Jesus, I’m sure there would be peace and progress in the country.

Whoever cast the first stone, whether San Beda or the NCAA Man Com or the NCAA Policy Board, the San Beda rector threw back bread. He let somebody slap his face then offer the other cheek.

Though no official recommendation from his fellow Policy Board members, De Jesus had ordered the Red Lions not to allow Aljamal play in San Beda’s remaining elimination round games as peace offering.

Everybody was satisfied during the ABS CBN’s press conference at the ELJ building last August 28, when San Beda and the NCAA shook hands for bringing the game back to where it really belongs – basketball court – and not in the court room.

I’m sure this is a great challenge for Frankie Lim, the Red Lions mentor, and San Beda when they meet Perpetual and Letran without starting forward Aljamal.

But I know San Beda will stay competitive, with Bam Gamalinda, Rogemar Menor, Raymond Maggay and Dave Marcelo expecting to fill the shoes of Aljamal.

Well, everybody has learned its lesson well. I hope we did learn something from this experience. The action initiated by all parties is a good example.

Collegiate Basketball: What a Mess!!!

I have written in the past about how inept the UAAP has become. I am not talking about the individual member schools but rather the way it is being run. It has become very obvious that the system by which it operates is very subjective and does not consider the welfare of the league as a whole but rather what’s best for the individual members as seen by the members of the all powerful UAAP Board.

The UAAP Commissioner’s position is a joke, the officiating is on the same level as a barangay league where all a person needs is a whistle and he is considered a referee, eligibility documents have become as easy to manipulate as Recto diplomas, rules that need to be interpreted every time a protest is made and host of other controversies that are just simply swept under the carpet. This is what the UAAP has become!

On the other hand, I was under the impression that the NCAA was better managed, more pro-active and more cohesive in its objectives. But they have had their share of controversies from alleged game fixing to large scale eligibility fraud that led to the suspension of PCU.

Recently, more bad news rocked the NCAA. First, Yousif Aljamal was suspended by the NCAA Mancom for applying and being drafted in the recent PBA draft without advising the NCAA. This suspension was to have been effective until the end of the season. Right before the SBC – JRU game, San Beda gets a TRO on the same day that the NCAA Mancom reduces the suspension to just 3 games. Bringing the judicial courts to the basketball court is a bomb waiting to explode. What made matters worse is that there is a perception that JRU is using its being this year’s host as a leverage to manipulate the Mancom. It was also reported that San Beda might even bolt the NCAA.

As if that were not enough, the SBC – JRU game turned out to be a wild, raucous and violent encounter. From the opening whistle, JRU played rugged and many may say violent basketball. The encounter did not end with the final buzzer but extended to a corridor tiff between SBC coach Frankie Lim and JRU coach Ariel Vanguardia. It was an ugly sight, any which way you look at it.

I am pretty sure that just like in the UAAP, the schools involved in the NCAA controversy will point fingers at each other. However, I see the events plaguing both leagues as a symptom of a bigger problem.

It is about time that all the stakeholders in collegiate basketball get together and decide how to finally straighten out their act. I believe it is about time that all school leagues be put under the Samahan ng Basketball ng Pilipinas. This should encompass all basketball leagues from grade school to college. This will definitely streamline, not just the leagues in general, but even player development in particular. This will allow the SBP to have a very comprehensive database of players from the grade school to the collegiate level. Eligibility documents should go through the SBP. Player development and maintenance of statistics can be done on a long term basis.

If a league does not join the SBP, then its players should not be considered for national teams or even the PBA draft. A Filipino player should have a least 4 years of SBP eligibility before being considered for the PBA.

The time has come to clean up the mess. PLEASE!

Childish Bedans; lost Man Com

It is too harsh to currently judge the oldest collegiate league.

Not for the sake of giant-TV network ABS CBN, but for all the people that support the league in thier lifetime. It doesn’t even come close.

I know most of you will not like this piece, but this is how i see it and my point of view right now regarding some issues especially on Yousif Aljamal, my favorite San Beda player who was picked No. 8 by Air21, and also my favorite team in the PBA.

All the negative issues surrounding the NCAA right now came from one source – San Beda’s decision to use a 72 hour TRO (Temporary Restraining Order) to block the Management Committee from suspending Aljamal.

Some of you will not like this but this is true.

I understand most of you… Most of you do not want to see the Red Lions playing without Aljamal, a 6-foot-4 forward blessed by a sleek perimeter touch and uncanny leadership.

For me, San Beda can still defend its title even without Aljamal. San Beda’s roster is deep and has many weapons. I’m referring to Dave Marcelo, Bam Gamalinda, Roger Menor and Raymond Maggay.

These guys are capable of taking over Aljamal’s absence.

Anyway, from my observation last week, the TRO is not the best option. But patience. I’m hoping San Beda will learn from this because being a Benedictine learning organization: Patience is a virtue. There are also rumors San Beda will bolt out of NCAA but I don’t think this is even true.

The NCAA Policy Board, on the other hand, had reduced the penalty on Aljamal if ever there was no TRO. The revised penalty will only be a three game suspension and will no longer be the remainder of the season.

But San Beda, fielded renowned lawyers that refused to accept the suspension, and instead, it filed for a TRO.

For Man Com officials, they were lost and confused over the weekend especially chairman Paul Supan. They didn’t know how to react on certain reports and scenarios that had transpired.

Speaking of scenarios, an off-court wrestling-punching-kicking or lets just plainly say – fighting -almost happened between Jose Rizal University Coach Ariel Vanguardia and San Beda Frankie Lim last August 21.

They almost went berserk in the corridor… Just like John Cena and Randy Orton of WWE, but the two aren’t wrestlers but coaches.

The Man Com sent a stern warning to both coaches. If they do it again they’ll be automatically suspended.

Frankie said: “I’m just protecting my players.”

Ariel said: “he bumped me, he bumped me.”

Aside from the Lim-Vanguardia tussle, two pretty usherettes have filed for acts of lasciviousness against a diehard San Beda alumnus. The two pretty ladies claimed they were sexually harassed by this person.

And Mr. Paul (Supan) came to their aid.

Anyway, let us hope that the NCAA can overcome these challenges hurled at the league the past week.

Action Overload at the Arena

WORSE has come to worst.

San Beda’s Frankie Lim and Jose Rizal University’s Ariel Vanguardia, coaches of their respective teams in the NCAA, have almost given the oldest collegiate league its brightest color this season.

After 40 minutes of physical action on the hardwood between the JRU Heavy Bombers and the NCAA defending champions, San Beda Red Lions, they accidentally confronted each other when Lim allegedly collided with the shoulder of Vanguardia while on his phone texting as they crossed paths at the corridor of the Arena.

“He bumped me! He bumped me,” said Vanguardia, who was restrained by two security guards of The Arena as he tried to get closer to Lim. “He was the one who started it and I didn’t do anything to him so I’m really shocked.”

Lim, exchanging harsh words against Vanguardia, was pacified by league commissioner Chito Narvasa and assistant Al Francis Chua, while Management Committee Chairman Paul Supan pacified Vanguardia.

http://www.inboundpass.com will try to contact Lim and Vanguardia for more comments about that ugly post game incident.

If not for the the Arena’s on duty security personnel and from the looks of thier encounter, the two coaches will most likely exchange punches or even engage in a wrestling match.

They almost locked horns in the third quarter of their game when Lim attempted to confront Vanguardia.

Lim said Vanguardia is allowing his players to intentionally hurt his players.

Both coaches continued to exchange harsh words, despite being separated by referees and officials.

“I just want to protect my players,” said Lim. “I do not mind if they play physical, but not like that.”

“Kung gusto nila ng ganung klase ng laro, suntukan na lang.”

The NCAA Man Com and the Commissioner’s office are expected to summon the both coaches as soon as possible to hear both sides. They might be suspended for one-game for this infraction.

At the same day, two usherettes had filed a complaint to a nearby police precinct against one spectator, a certain Wilson Reyes, 26, for committing acts of lasciviousness. The day started with San Beda’s TRO.

San Beda secured a 72-hour Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) from the Manila Regional Trial Court (MRTC) to allow Yousif Aljamal to play after joining the PBA draft last Sunday without permission to NCAA.

The Policy Board had decided to suspend Aljamal for three play dates for violating that existing rule.