Author: Dan Jerusalem

UAAP eligibility rules: Adapting to changing times

Founded in 1938, the UAAP has kicked off its 80th season, serving as an avenue for students to compete and showcase their skills in sports. Comparing the very first season to what the league is now, it is evident that much has changed since then. As the league continues to grow, its rules also reshape along with it, serving the needs of not just the universities, but of the student-athletes as well.

Longevity

Student-athletes competing in the seniors division may only suit up and play for their institutions if they are bona-fide college students of their university. In terms of age, one should not be more than 25 years by the end of a single season. This rule was imposed a season ago, with the previous edition allowing students to play up until they are 26 years of age.

“Applicable lang siya sa old students, meaning yung nandito na before binago yung rule. Once maubos yun [old students], the existing rule would be the not [more than] 25,” says Office of Sports Development (OSD) Director Emmanuel Calanog. Since this rule was imposed only a season ago, students who took part in the UAAP prior to the new rule are not covered.

The maximum playing years remains the same at only five years. However, it should be noted that athletes who have not made it to the final roster before the season starts will not have a year counted against them.

This commonly happens when athletes succumb to long-term injuries during the preseason. Kib Montalbo of the Green Archers and Desiree Cheng of the Lady Spikers have skipped a full season during their respective careers with DLSU after suffering from torn anterior cruciate ligaments. As they were left off the lineup, the pair did not lose a playing year.

Rules on foreign players

As for foreign student-athletes wishing to play in the UAAP, the two-year residency requirement remains the same. An exception to that rule however, is if the foreign player attends high school in the Philippines. “If he studied HS here for one year, he only has to do one year of residency. If he studied for two years, he could play already in college,” Calanog explains.

Furthermore, there is a ratio of one foreign player for every 10 Filipino athletes in the roster. However, the team can only field one foreigner at a time. In basketball, wherein a maximum of 16 players are allowed on the roster, each team can only accommodate one foreign player. In contrast to football, where each team may have as many as 20 players, two foreign players may be listed to satisfy the 1:10 ratio. However, each participating team can still only field one foreign player at a time.

The rules on foreign players have been a hot take, not just in the UAAP, but in other leagues in the country as well. In the UAAP, presidents of the member universities have been contemplating on excluding foreign students altogether. However, the Board of Trustees at the time recommended that the move be studied thoroughly to determine if it would really benefit the league. Since there has been no formal consensus, and to satisfy majority of the parties for the meantime, this stricter rule on foreign players was put into play.

Extending their stay

The UAAP allows student-athletes to play a maximum of five years in their respective sport. Given that most college degrees in the country take four years to finish, students commonly spread their academic units to extend their stay in the university. This is even more challenging in the case of La Salle since most degree programs only take three years to complete given the trimestral system. “So what we did as a policy of the office [OSD], we normally suggest or limit their enrollment to the minimum required by the UAAP, which is 12 units,” says Calanog.

The ploy has had its benefits for both the student-athletes of La Salle and the OSD. First, the athletes will be able to extend their playing years up to five if they wish to. Secondly, they are able to ease their academic workload. Student-athletes usually train for three hours a day, which is an equivalent of two subjects a day in La Salle. Taking less units helps them balance their academics and training. And as for the third reason, the OSD’s budget for scholarships are in fixed values and not in percentages. Because of this, the office can efficiently use its budget since scholarships are paid on the basis of units.

Senior high school dilemma

Both the juniors and seniors divisions have implemented stricter rules on eligibility over the years as a result of past controversies. For the juniors division, players have a total of six playing years from Grade 7 until Grade 12, with athletes who are beyond 19 years of age deemed ineligible. This poses a problem in the case of the DLSU-Manila campus wherein there are existing senior high school students who are at limbo.

They cannot play for the seniors division since UAAP rules state that high school students are not allowed to play at the collegiate level. They are also not allowed to play in the juniors division since De La Salle Zobel is the official juniors affiliate of DLSU.

Calanog clarifies and says, “I guess it will have to come from a decision from the Board Of Trustees, to change who will represent DLSU, because from the time of our acceptance, it is stated there that De La Salle Zobel was the junior team.”

Past controversies

Last 2004, a controversial issue erupted against La Salle after two of its players in the Green Archers were labeled ineligible for submitting fabricated documents. The Lasallians were crowned champions of UAAP Season 67 after defeating the FEU Tamaraws in three games and would eventually claim the runner-up trophy the following season.

However, the Green-and-White had to suffer the consequences when the PEP (Philippine Educational Placement) test of Mark Benitez and Timoteo Gatchalian III were found spurious. DLSU voluntarily surrendered the information after finding out that the test results were not authentic. The PEP test was used by DepEd (Department of Education) in retrieving out-of-school youth, to validate their knowledge and skills in the formal school system if they desire. La Salle had to return a runner-up trophy and was forced to cede the title to FEU. The league also suspended La Salle from participating in all events of the 2006 season as a penalty for fielding ineligible players.

In turn, the UAAP made a rule requiring PEP test takers to have one year of residency in order to double check the validity of the test. However, with the dawn of the K-12 implementation within the country, the rule was disregarded.

Moreover, La Salle raised the bar of sportsmanship and fair play after the string of unfortunate events. “DLSU became very strict. Remember during that time from 2006 up to 2009, we were lagging behind because of what happened? The admissions office became very strict in terms of applications even for athletes,” Calanog concludes.

With the continuous efficiency of the UAAP in developing sportsmanship and camaraderie among the different universities, stricter rules were implemented to ensure that the standards of the league are met. Moreover, the stringent regulations also apply to avoid the recurrence of past controversies, to certify the eligibility of athletes, and to promote genuine competition for future years to come.

September 3, 2017
SEA Games: Lasallians to represent Team Philippines once more

The Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) is one of the most important events in the world of sports as it showcases the best athletes in the Southeast Asian region. The SEA Games, which will take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, will open on August 19 and conclude on August 30. Last year, the Philippines ranked sixth in the standings as the Filipinos garnered 29 gold, 36 silver, and 66 bronze medals.

Now on its 29th edition, the SEA Games has been around for 58 years since its inaugural edition in 1959 in Bangkok, Thailand. As for Malaysia, this will be its fifth time to host the SEA Games.

Donning the Philippine flag

For the biennial event, the National Sports Associations (NSAs) released a list comprising of 497 athletes, 21 of whom, plus two reserves, hail from DLSU.

Geuel Asia of the Green Spikers and Lady Spiker Kim Fajardo, UAAP Season 79’s Best Setter and Best Server, will represent the Philippines in the men’s and women’s volleyball tournaments, respectively. Reigning best receiver Dawn Macandili and 2016 Finals Most Valuable Player Kim Kianna Dy of the Lady Spikers were also placed in the reserves list.

Meanwhile, Michael Del Prado willv compete in the athletics championships. The Green Trackster accumulated two gold, one silver, and two bronze medals in his recent UAAP run.

Alyssa Leonardo of the Lady Shuttlers is set to compete with the national badminton team while reigning UAAP MVP Emy Dael and Jamaica Sy of the Lady Paddlers are set to compete with the table tennis team.

“This is not my first time representing the country, but it’s my first time to play [in the] SEA Games,” said Dael, who previously played in the international stage at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations University Games with fellow Lasallian Yan Lariba. The pair won the bronze medal in the women’s doubles event during last year’s offseason.

“It’s quite different since this is the event that the country is really preparing [for] and they have high hopes for all the athletes to grab a medal. It makes me feel nervous and grateful at the same time,” she added.

Meanwhile, Gabriel Moreno will be the only representative of La Salle in men’s archery. The La Salle Green Hills alumnus won the mixed international team event alongside Li Jiaman during the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics in Nanjing, China. Moreno also served as the country’s flag bearer at the opening ceremonies.

Raphael Mella of the Green Jins and Rinna Babanto of the Lady Jins will also banner the country in taekwondo. The former won a gold medal in the mixed pair poomsae and nabbed silver in the men’s poomsae event in the recently concluded UAAP season. Similarly, the latter won a gold medal in the individual women’s poomsae and a silver medal in the team women’s poomsae event.

Mella is not new to the international limelight, especially to the SEA Games, as he clinched gold alongside Dustin Jacob Mella and Rodolfo Reyes Jr. in 2015. In the same edition of the competition, Babanto took home silver in the individual category and bronze together with Juvenile Faye Crisostono and Jocel Lyn Ninobla.

“It is not my first time representing the country. Now being a veteran at it, I have already adapted to my sport’s international standards,” Mella said.

“We prepared early. Like for this year, we prepare even at the very start of the year and for the year’s competitions. Aside from our normal training hours, we have extra training hours during our team’s common time, to work on conditioning and the like,” Mella concluded.

Additionally, a total of eight players from the DLSU’s men’s and women’s football teams combined were called up to their respective national football teams. Yoshi Koizumi is the lone representative of La Salle in the men’s team while Sara Castañeda, Kyra Dimaandal, Kyla Inquig, Regine Metillo, Irish Navaja, and Inna Palacios of the reigning UAAP Women’s Football champions were called up to the Malditas anew.

All six Lasallians, namely Castañeda (Best Midfielder), Dimaandal (Best Striker), Inquig (Most Valuable Player), Metillo (Best Defender), and Palacios (Best Goalkeeper) received individual accolades and were included in the tournament’s Women’s Team of the Year.

“Like compared to the last year [the Asian Football Confederation Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers], in this year’s tournament abroad, my teammates, they were able to perform well,” said Castañeda. “So it was good that they were able to do that and hopefully, this year again, they’ll be able to show how us Lasallians play and will continue to bring out their best,” the incoming junior explained.

Last but not the least, Anicka Castañeda, the younger sister of Sara who is set to make her UAAP debut with the Green-and-White in February, was also called up to the national football team.

Alumni participants

Joining the current Lasallian athletes are the alumni who showcased tremendous play during their collegiate days and are hoping to make an impact on the international stage as well.

Former Lady Spikers Abigail Marano and Mika Reyes are set join Fajardo and company in volleyball while former Green Trackster Patrick Unso will join Del Prado in the athletics.

Like Leonardo, Carlos Cayanan, who once suited up for the Green Shuttlers, is set to compete with the national badminton team. Former Green Archer Almond Vosotros will be the lone Lasallian representative in the Smart Gilas Pilipinas Men’s National Basketball Team, which will seek to clinch the country’s 12th consecutive gold medal in basketball.

Taking home a gold medal is the absolute accomplishment for this coming SEA Games, although, representing the country is already a feat on its own. The 23 Lasallians are among a long list of athletes who have prepared almost their entire lives to reach this point and represent their country.

August 7, 2017
FilOil: DLSU edges LPU, moves one step closer to defending preseason title

It was a nail-biter yet again between the DLSU Green Archers and the LPU (Lyceum of the Philippines University) Pirates in the semifinals of the FilOil Flying V Preseason Premiere Cup as La Salle was able to come away with a win to advance to the finals, 100-99. Aljun Melecio led all scorers with 30 points on 50 percent shooting while Ricci Rivero was able to contribute 27 points on 12 of 19 field goals. Meanwhile, Ben Mbala chipped in a double-double of 26 points and 16 rebounds.

It was Santi Santillan, however, who put La Salle back in the preseason finals. With 10 seconds remaining in the game, Santillan was able to convert a layup despite getting fouled and converted the bonus free throw.

LPU’s CJ Perez had another dominant performance with 24 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists in their losing effort.

First half

It was a strong first quarter for the Green Archers as they banked on balanced scoring and a consistent defensive effort to take a comfortable lead. Melecio started out the first period in rhythm, scoring seven points to lead La Salle over LPU in the first quarter, 23-15.

It was a different story, however, come the start of the second period. A 6-0 run propelled the Pirates to within two points at just the 8:50 mark of the quarter. LPU would continue its offensive spark as the Pirates were able to grab the lead for the first time at the 5:52 mark, 31-30.

Although Mbala would continuously get La Salle going, scoring six points in the painted area in the second quarter, La Salle simply had no answer for the Pirates’ three-point shooting, wherein they made five in the second period alone. Lyceum would end the first half with the lead, 47-45.

Second half

Melecio led the third period which went in favor of the Green Archers, scoring back-to-back jumpers followed by a layup from Santillan. Meanwhile, Perez and Marcelino converted a jumper and three pointer, respectively, for the Pirates. With 7:17 to play in the quarter, Mbala sparked a 10-0 run for La Salle, which he capped off with a layup. Melecio ignited a three-point shootout with LPU’s Wilson Baltazar and Ralph Tansingco. Jasper Ayaay managed to trim La Salle’s lead as he converted free throws although it was not enough as the third period concluded in favor of DLSU, 77-73.

Similar to the third quarter, the final period saw the Green Archers take an early lead as Melecio and R. Rivero scored off of a three-pointer and jumper, respectively. On the other hand, Perez helped keep the Pirates within distance. R. Rivero was called for an offensive foul and Perez swung momentum to LPU’s favor afterwards as he converted six points from the free throw line alone.

Harry Nzeusseu scored off a foul and made the bonus free throw to tie the game, before Caduyac gave the Pirates a two-point lead from a transition layup afterwards. With 10 seconds remaining in the game, Santillan also scored from underneath off a foul and converted the bonus free throw to give La Salle a one-point lead. The Pirates were unable to recover as La Salle sealed a 100-99 victory.

Ayo rues bad officiating

Throughout the preseason, head coach Aldin Ayo has voiced out his displeasure over the league’s officiating. “Nagtatrabaho kami buong taon tapos sila [the referees] sisirain lang nila.” (We work hard throughout the year and the officials just go in and ruin it), says Ayo. “It’s unfair for the team and for the fans watching,” he added.

Next up for the Green Archers are the San Beda Red Lions whom they will face on Sunday, June 25, at 4 pm in the FilOil Flying V Centre for the preseason title. Both teams previously faced off in the elimination round with the Red Lions taking an 82-80 win. However, Ayo remains optimistic about the upcoming match, saying that they will give their all.

“When you were nearly removed from the tournament and when you are given the chance to come back, you make sure to make the most out of it,” he concluded.

The scores:

DLSU 100- Melecio 30, R. Rivero 27, Mbala 26, Santillan 9, Caracut 4, Baltazar 2, Tero 2, Go 0, Tratter 0

LPU 99- Perez 24, Baltazar 19, Tansingco 15, Ayaay 13, Nzeusseu 7, Caduyac 6, JC. Marcelino 5, Pretta 5, JV. Marcelino 4, Ibanez 1, Liwag 0, Cinco 0

Quarter Scores: 23-15, 45-47, 77-73, 100-99

June 23, 2017
FilOil: La Salle grabs fourth win against gritty Red Warriors

It was a tight match between the DLSU Green Archers and the UE Red Warriors as both teams fought hard until the dying seconds of the game, with La Salle edging out UE in the end, 77-71. Justine Baltazar led La Salle in scoring with 15 points and three blocks. Meanwhile Santi Santillan recorded a double-double with 12 points to go along with his 14 rebounds.

On the other hand, Aljun Melecio recorded 14 points on four made three-pointers, one of which sealed the game at the 1:25 mark.

Meanwhile, UE’s Alvin Pasaol was the main thorn in the Green Archers’ side, as he put up a game-high 30 points and nine rebounds. The Red Warriors, however, received their fifth loss in seven games.

First half

It was a dismal start on both ends of the court for the Green Archers. Play after play, La Salle would have a difficult time finding its rhythm as the suffocating defense of the Derek Pumaren-led Warriors forced a number of difficult shots and turnovers for the Green-and-White, ending the quarter, 20-11, in favor of UE.

It was a complete turn around, however, come the start of the second quarter as six Green Archers were able to contribute in scoring, with big men Santi Santillan and Justin Baltazar leading the way with nine and six points, respectively. La Salle’s defense amped up as well, as it was the Red Warriors this time who were limited to just 11 points in the quarter. The Green Archers, meanwhile, had 22 points to grab the lead at the end of the first half, 33-31.

Second half

Pasaol quickly tied the score at 33-all as he knocked down a floater 20 seconds into the third quarter. He followed it up with a turnaround fadeaway shot a minute later to give UE its first lead of the half. The Lasallians countered with Ben Mbala and Melecio leading the way. Mbala made four free throws while the former DLSZ standout rattled in a three-pointer from the right elbow to give La Salle the lead at 40-35.

Both teams exchanged leads throughout the third quarter with different players contributing at the offensive end. Andrei Caracut made one of two free throws with 4.5 seconds remaining in the third to give the Green Archers a 55-53 lead, but UE’s Mark Olayon beat the buzzer to tie the game at 55-55.

The Green Archers unleashed a 6-0 run to start the quarter strong with Ricci Rivero, Abu Tratter, and Baltazar each making field goals from under the basket. Pumaren quickly called a timeout to stop the run and it worked wonders for UE. Pasaol converted two straight three-pointers to tie the game at 61, but Baltazar made a reverse layup to regain the lead for La Salle. Pasaol continued his fine form as he scored five of his team’s last 10 points of the game but still came up short. Melecio made a go-ahead three-pointer at the 1:25 mark of the quarter to seal the win for La Salle after Caracut tied the game at 71-all.

DLSU will next face its archrivals, the ADMU Blue Eagles, on June 11, at 5 pm in the same venue. “Maganda yun. Crucial din yung laro na yun para sa amin. Wala pa namang assured sa quarterfinals. Come Sunday, we’re expecting a hard fought game,” head coach Aldin Ayo concluded.

The scores:

DLSU 77 – Baltazar 15, Melecio 14, R. Rivero 13, Santillan 12, Mbala 9, Caracut 6, Tero 4, Tratter 4, Gonzales 0, Go 0

UE 71 – Pasaol 30, Olayon 13, Acuno 6, Maloles 5, Magbuhos 4, Conner 4, Manalang 2, Derige 2, Varilla 2, Cullar 1, Bartolome 0, Abante 0

11-20, 33-31, 55-55, 77-71

June 4, 2017
FilOil: Green Archers overcome Lyceum in overtime thriller

What looked to be just a regular blowout game on a Saturday afternoon turned out to be an overtime nail-biter as the DLSU Green Archers overcome a huge deficit to beat the Lyceum Pirates in overtime, 121-119. “They gave us a dose of our own medicine,” said head coach Aldin Ayo on the game against Lyceum. La Salle now holds a 3-1 win-loss record in the FilOil Flying V Preseason Cup.

Forward Ricci Rivero scored a team-high 23 points alongside five rebounds, two assists, and two steals. “He had that last season, ang problema lang talaga, hindi pa niya na-aabsorb yung sistema and yung adjustment niya from high school… He has matured a lot.”

Five other Green Archers scored in double figures in the winning effort. Ben Mbala and Aljun Melecio, contributed 19 points each while Santi Santillan added 17 points. Kib Montalbo and Andrei Caracut added 16 and 14 points, respectively.

First half

It was a sluggish first quarter for the Green Archers as they went scoreless for the first three minutes of the game. Their defensive effort was equally subpar, allowing the pirates to score eight points on them in that same time frame.

The Green Archers started to find their rhythm in the seven-minute mark, highlighted by Santi Santillan’s and-one opportunity. The Pirates meanwhile, started getting hot as well as it became a trading of baskets for both teams on the offensive end for the rest of the quarter, with Lyceum edging out in the end, 32-27.

La Salle started the second period well with balanced scoring coming from Montalbo, Santillan, and Mbala. It was the same story on the defensive end of the court, unfortunately, as La Salle could not contain the offensive onslaught of the Pirates, ending the half trailing, 52-48.

Second half

LPU started the second half strong as it began to build up its lead against the Green Archers with a 13-2 run. Santillian broke the dry spell for the Green-and-White as he made a lay-up to give La Salle its second field goal of the quarter. The Pirates’ lead ballooned to double digits as the Green Archers had a hard time containing the offense of Lyceum, with Raymar Caduyac, Harry Nzeusseu and CJ Perez leading the way. Justine Baltazar converted a lay-up to trim the deficit to 12 with 17 seconds left in the quarter, but Jeffry Santos nailed a three-pointer to give Lyceum an 87-72 lead heading into the final quarter of regulation.

The biggest lead of the game came at the 9:54 mark of the fourth quarter when a goaltending call was called on Mbala following Jayvee Marcelino’s lay-up attempt. Tensions were raised when an unsportsmanlike foul and a technical foul was called at the 9:18 mark of the final canto. One of the Marcelino brothers was called for an unsportsmanlike foul after hitting Andrei Caracut on the face, while Mbala was called slapped with a technical for trash-talking.

The raucous seemed to fire up the Green Archers, however, as they slowly began to trim down the lead. The Lasallians got their first lead of the half when Mbala made a fastbreak layup after stealing the ball near the halfcourt line. Almost a minute later, a technical foul was called on Lyceum Head Coach Topex Robinson after complaining at the officials on a play wherein Rivero seemed to throw the ball at an opponent’s head after diving for it.

Santi Santillian gave the Green Archers a 107-104 lead with 32 seconds left to play, but Jasper Ayaay converted a free throw to cut the lead down by one. Montalbo lost the ball in the next possession and that proved to be a vital turnover as Jaycee Marcelino made two free throws to send the game to overtime.

Overtime

10 seconds into overtime, Ben Mbala scored on a layup to put La Salle up by two, 109-107. Lyceum responded by attacking the paint and drawing fouls, with four of their 12 points in overtime coming from the free throw line. Respective slashers Jaymar Perez of LPU and Ricci Rivero of DLSU showcased their athleticism in attacking the paint as both scored five points to even the game up at 115-all with 2:34 left in overtime.

With Lyceum not looking to give this game easily, La Salle’s Andrei Caracut sank two straight three pointers to put the final nail in the coffin for Lyceum. Although the Pirates managed to score four more points, it was not enough as La Salle took their third win of the preseason while Lyceum succumb to their first loss in four games, 121-119.

To call this game a thriller is an understatement as both teams played with a chip on their shoulder. Three players fouled out, two of which were La Salle’s Mbala and Melecio. Meanwhile technical fouls were given to both Lyceum’s head coach Topex Robinson and Jayvee Marcelino.

Next up for the DLSU Green Archers are the Flying V Thunder, which will be a tuneup game this coming Sunday, 5pm at the Filoil Flying V Centre. Former team captains of the Green Archers Jeron Teng and Thomas Torres will go against their former team in this much anticipated game.

The scores:

DLSU 121- Rivero 23, Mbala 19, Melecio 18, Santillan 17, Montalbo 16, Caracut 14, Baltazar 6, Tratter 5, Gonzales 2, Go 5

LPU 119- Perez 25, Ayaay 22, Nzeusseu 18, Caduyac 14, Marcelino Jayvee 13, Marcelino Jaycee 8, Baltazar 8, Tansingco 6, Santos 3, Marata 2, Ibañez 0, Serrano 0, Liwag 0

Quarter scores: 27-32, 48-52, 87-72, 107-107, 121-119 (OT)

May 19, 2017
By the numbers: UAAP 79 first semester

After months of grueling battles, UAAP Season 79 has reached its halfway point. DLSU is currently in its bid for its fourth overall General Championship (GC) and is also seeking to earn back-to-back titles. With the team from Taft gearing for another championship, The LaSallian gives an overview of the Green-and-White’s numbers so far this season.

GC Overview

149 – The total number of GC points DLSU has gained throughout the UAAP season so far. This puts the Lasallians at second place, behind UST who has put up 161 points so far. The team from España holds a 12-point advantage over the Green-and-White. UP, on the other hand, trails in third place with 123 points.

13 – Number of wins the DLSU Green Archers had in the elimination round. This marks the only time since Season 65 that the Men’s Basketball Team won 13 games. La Salle, however, failed to conclude that season with a championship. Rivals ADMU Blue Eagles edged the Green Archers in three games in the Finals.

3 – The total number of championships won by the teams from Taft so far. The three title finishes came from the tremendous efforts of the Lady Paddlers, De La Salle Taekwondo (DELTA) Poomsae Team, and the Green Archers. The Lady Paddlers earned their third straight championship, while the poomsae team improved on its third-place finish from last season. The Green Archers acquired another well fought championship over the Blue Eagles and stepped up their game to improve on last year’s fifth place finish. The three teams contributed a combined 45 GC points overall.

Moreover, the first runner-up finishes of the Green Tankers, Green Paddlers, and Lady Archers were beneficial to La Salle’s cause as well. The three teams managed to take home 12 GC points each.

4 – Four teams have bagged second runner-up finishes in the first half of UAAP 79. Although two places short of a championship, the third-place finishes of the Lady Spikers (beach volleyball), Lady Tankers, Lady Shuttlers, and the Green Judokas proved to be valuable contributions as they took home a combined 40 GC points.

Individual Awards

3 – The number of honors Ben Mbala earned this season. In his first season as a Green Archer, the Cameroonian earned a Mythical Five selection and took home the Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year awards.

3 – The number of Rookie of the Year (ROY) honors taken home by La Salle so far. Aljun Melecio of the Green Archers, Andrew Siasico of the Green Paddlers, and Carlo Dionisio of the DELTA Poomsae team made huge strides in their breakout season and lived up to expectations.

Two Lasallians also took home the MVP award in the first half of UAAP competition. Other than Mbala, Lady Paddler Emy Rose Dael also took home the honors. Last season’s ROY in Women’s Table Tennis filled in the shoes left behind by Yan Lariba and led DLSU to another title.

Other notable statistics

2 – The number of rule changes this UAAP season. Effective last 2016, the UAAP came to an agreement to remove the thrice-to-beat advantage of teams who sweep the elimination round.

The team that would finish with a perfect record would automatically receive a spot in the best-of-three finals series. This rule is valid for all events except for football.

Moreover, the traditional singing of the school hymns is now conducted prior to the pre-game warmups instead of at the conclusion of games.

5 – The Green Paddlers won five knockout matches to secure a spot in the Finals. They eventually settled for second place after bowing to the UST Growling Tigers.

The UAAP has not yet concluded as there is still much to play for in the second semester. The Lasallian athletes who have yet to compete will not only look to win their respective tournaments, but contribute to La Salle’s bid for another GC trophy.

March 7, 2017
Sauler vs Ayo: Analyzing greatness

Three seasons ago, a young assistant coach by the name of Juno Sauler was given the head coaching job of a somewhat promising DLSU Green Archer squad just three weeks prior to its opening game. La Salle had suffered an early semifinals defeat the prior season against its archrivals, the ADMU Blue Eagles. Then led by a young Jeron Teng and a number of championship-hungry veterans, the team started off slow and unimpressive in 2013, ending the first round with a subpar 3-4 win-loss record.

Most of the criticisms were targeted at the rookie coach as the Green Archers were on the brink of missing the playoffs. With a two-week break to make way for the 2013 FIBA Asia Championships, La Salle, then under the guidance of Sauler, was able to finetune its system. The Green-and-White would then go on a seven-game winning streak to end the elimination round with a 10-4 record. The team from Taft was ultimately crowned champions after defeating the UST Growling Tigers in three games in the Finals.

Impressive as it was, the legendary run by Sauler would never be replicated. After missing the playoffs in 2015, Sauler would vacate his position and La Salle would eventually hire former Letran Knights coach Aldin Ayo. As promised, Ayo brought his “mayhem” style of play to the court from start to finish, finishing the elimination round with a 13-1 standing. La Salle would then march unblemished towards the championship, sweeping ADMU in the Finals.

To analyze the dominance of the Green Archers in their two most recent championships, the squad’s two title-winning editions are compared in terms of depth, offense, and defense.

Team depth

Even before the season started, the current Green Archers were already the talk of the town, not only because of their new burly coach coming in, but also because of the team’s talented roster. Jeron Teng and Thomas Torres were named captains for the season. Veterans Jason Perkins and Julian Sargent also provided leadership throughout the campaign.

Season 79’s batch of rookies also gave the team a great lift off the bench as Aljun Melecio, the former UAAP Juniors Most Valuable Player (MVP), stood out the most. The blue-chip recruit from De La Salle-Zobel finished his first season in the Seniors Division with Rookie of the Year honors, following in the footsteps of teammate Andrei Caracut, who won the award the previous season.

Providing the biggest impact for the team this season was Cameroonian Ben Mbala, who was setback for three years due to residency requirements. Although not a rookie, Mbala was a massive presence for the team as he finished the season with a double-double average on points and rebounds, thus earning himself the MVP award.

Completing an effective one-two punch alongside Mbala was Teng, a member of this season’s Mythical Five. He was a consistent scorer throughout the season and provided crucial baskets. His heroics, particularly during the Finals, allowed him to also take home his second Finals MVP.

The 2013 Championship team did not receive the same hype and fanfare as La Salle’s most recent team, but it also showcased an outstanding set of players. It was then bannered by future PBA (Philippine Basketball Association) players LA Revilla, Norbert Torres, Arnold Van Opstal, and Almond Vosotros. The Green Archers then snuck into the top-two at the end of the elimination round. They eventually bested UST in the Finals.

Complementing the veterans then were Mythical Five member Jason Perkins, veteran guards Luigi De La Paz and Oda Tampus, plus a young upstart from Bacolod named Kib Montalbo. Montalbo, Teng, Torres, and Perkins were the four holdovers from the last championship team. Aside from Teng winning the Finals MVP in Season 76, Van Opstal also took home the Most Improved Player award.

Offense

Sauler’s offensive tactics mainly relied on traditional post-up play inside. Ayo, meanwhile, would mainly get his offense going on the fastbreak coming off forced turnovers. Both coaches had the luxury of employing reliable big men throughout the season. Sauler had the likes of big men Van Opstal, N. Torres, and Perkins. Ayo had Mbala, Tratter, Perkins, Prince Rivero, and Justine Baltazar.

Both teams can also play an inside-outside strategy wherein the guards can space the floor when the big men have difficulty scoring inside. Vosotros, Revilla, and Matt Salem were the main threats from three-point territory for Sauler. Meanwhile, Ayo had the likes of Caracut, Melecio and Jollo Go.

Revilla was then the lead playmaker, as T. Torres eventually stepped up to fill in his shoes. One advantage of the 2013 team against its most recent counterparts was in terms of taking care of the ball. Sauler’s squad only averaged 15.7 turnovers per game, while Ayo’s team averaged 23.7. Both teams also shared the ball well with the former and latter averaging 13.4 and 14.6 assists per outing, respectively.

Defense

On the other end of the court, Ayo employs his trademark full court pressure, as Sauler utilized a half-court defensive scheme. Sauler and his team held their opponents to only 68.9 points per game on 37 percent field goal shooting, while forcing 13.9 turnovers a game. N. Torres and Van Opstal then anchored the La Salle defense with their heft and length. Revilla led the team’s perimeter defense with his leadership and experience.

Ayo’s “mayhem” system, on the other hand, requires a team-oriented approach to pressure their opponents’ ball handlers. The Green-and-White, under his guidance, limited its opponents to 73 points per game on 40.8 percent field goal shooting. From their aggressive style of defense, they forced their opponents to commit 26.9 turnovers per game. His frenetic style of play has proven to be successful in both the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) and the UAAP.

The Green Archers back in 2013 only lost LA Revilla as he opted to forego his fifth and final playing year. In their title defense, they bowed out of the Final Four versus the FEU Tamaraws in a heartbreaking fashion and settled for third place. As to the recently crowned champions, the departure of key players Teng, T. Torres, Sargent, and Perkins will prove to be the biggest test for DLSU in UAAP Season 80. It is up to Ayo to guide the likes of Mbala, Montalbo, Melecio, and company to lead the team’s campaign in keeping the championship in Taft.

January 30, 2017
Keith Uy and Carlo Dionisio: New kicks for La Salle’s Jins

Two places short of a championship during last season’s taekwondo tournament, both the DLSU Green Jins and Lady Jins hope to bounce back and reclaim the throne this coming Season 79. Aside from ending the season with Kyle Arsenal being named Rookie of the Year for the men’s division, prized rookies such as Keith Uy and Carlo Dionisio have been added to the roster to compete for the upcoming tournament. With experienced veterans, rookies, and a formidable coaching staff, the DLSU Jins are a team to look out for.

Passing the torch

Brothers Kris and Kyle Uy have already made their mark in the Philippine National Team and the UAAP, respectively. Although it’s usually the two brothers who come to mind when talking about the Green Jins, Keith is more than ready to make a name for himself.

Just like his brothers Kris and Kyle, Keith, a product of Northgate High School, had a respectable run competing in the United States of America as he was also part of the US Junior National team. His brothers decided to play for the Green-and-White primarily because of their father being a Lasallian. Soon after, Keith made the decision to do the same. “I came to La Salle because my dad is an alumnus, and also Kyle and Kris are fighting for the La Salle team so it’d be cool if [we were] all on the same team,” he adds.

As a student of La Salle, Keith is currently taking up BS Marketing Management. Although the demands of college life are a bit harder compared to high school, Keith mentions that he’s adjusting as the weeks go by.

A new challenge

As the reigning MVP for taekwondo of the 91st season of the NCAA Juniors Division, all eyes are on Dionisio as he makes his way to the UAAP. The La Salle Green Hills (LSGH) alumnus had his eyes set to play for DLSU, his siblings having played for the Green-and-White as well.

Having Roberto “Kitoy” Cruz as his coach since he was six years old, one would expect that his transition to the collegiate level while having the same coach would be a breeze. Nevertheless, Dionisio admits, “[The] biggest challenge this season siguro [is] yung pag adjust sa way I play. Kailangan ko talaga mag adjust sa bigat ng mga sipa ng mga opponents ko and the way na maglaro sila.” With the way Coach Cruz and Coach John Paul “Japoy” Lizardo are preparing the team, Dioniso expects that both the Green Jins and Lady Jins will stand on the top of the podium this season.

Taking up AB History, Dionisio makes sure that he finishes all his homework during school hours to be able to just sleep when he gets home. He jokes that the team needs all the energy they can get to survive morning training.

Rookie jitters

Anxiety is a normal response from rookies going through their first collegiate season, and that holds true for both Uy and Dionisio. “Di pa ako ready na ready, pero pinaghahandaan ko talaga ito nang mabuti,” says Dionisio about his preparations for Season 79. Keith feels the same way, but mentions that the training in Manila is similar to what they do back in the US, which somehow mitigates the nervousness. “One thing I really liked about the La Salle training is it is very close to the way I train back home. Biggest difference is the heat here, sobrang init here.”

Carlo, being a part of the Philippine National Team, and Keith, for the US Junior National Team, are no strangers to competing on the big stage. Also, with Coach Cruz and Coach Lizardo, two of the most decorated practitioners in Philippine Taekwondo, guiding them, they are confident about putting up a fight and bringing the title to Taft.

October 22, 2016
The evolution of the UAAP

The University Athletic Association of the Philippines, or more commonly known as the UAAP, entered its 79th season last September 3. A huge sporting event that has stretched throughout the decades, it has, no doubt, experienced its fair share of major changes and improvements in its system, especially with the rotation of host schools.

Going through the history

Established in 1938, the UAAP started out with only four schools: University of the Philippines, University of Santo Tomas, National University, and Far Eastern University, which was called Institute of Accountancy back then. The league featured sporting events such as basketball, volleyball, swimming, football, baseball, and track and field. In the first season, UST managed to win in football and swimming while FEU grabbed the throne in basketball.

For the years to come, the UAAP would continue to add more sporting events and schools as it transformed into the country’s most popular collegiate athletic association. In terms of sporting events, Tennis was added in 1949, followed by Softball in 1953. Table Tennis was included during 1978, while Chess was added the season after.

The combat sports of Taekwondo, Judo, and Fencing came during the late 80s and 90s, providing a different sight in the UAAP. Lastly, Beach Volleyball and Ballroom Dancing were introduced in 2007 and 2016, respectively.

Four more schools received permanent memberships to complete the UAAP cast of eight members. These schools are Adamson University and University of the East in 1970, Ateneo de Manila University in 1978, and lastly, De La Salle University in 1986.

Senator Pia Cayetano’s Student-Athletes Protection Act of 2014 changed the culture of the UAAP and student-athletes forever. Before the law, high school student-athletes would have to serve two years worth of residency if they were to play for a different member school of the UAAP upon entering college, a rule that was implemented last 2013. With the act put into place, however, student-athletes may choose which school to represent without the hindrance of residency requirements.

Of dance sports and competition formats

The UAAP has used the Final Four competition format since 1993-1994. The top two teams after the elimination round receive a twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinals over their lower ranked counterparts. In Season 77 however, the twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four was scrapped for the men’s football tournament.

Undefeated teams at the end of the elimination round of their respective events were rewarded a direct spot to the finals and a thrice-to-beat advantage. Another change for the current season, however, is the scrapping of the aforementioned advantage in the finals, which was introduced in 2008. Instead, in such situations, the finals will continue to be a best-of-three series.

Competitive ballroom dancing was also included as a demonstration sport this season. The event was held during the season’s opening day at the Quadricentennial Pavilion of UST in Sampaloc, Manila, where UP gained the honor of being the first champions of the newly added sport as they swept both the Standard and Latin American Categories. Coming in second in both categories was UST, while DLSU and UE placed third in the Standard Category and Latin American Category, respectively.

Singing of school hymns

Besides the addition of the dance sport, a number of changes have been implemented into the events’ systems. One such change involves the singing of school hymns. As a tradition, the school hymns of the competing teams are sung in all UAAP games. However, instead of performing the practice at the conclusion of a match, like in the previous seasons, the school hymns will be sung before the official warm-ups start. ADMU and DLSU however, deemed that their respective songs, Blue Eagle the King and the La Salle Victory Song will be sung in lieu of their respective school hymns.

Changes for this season have received both positive and negative reviews. Despite all of the controversy, particularly with the singing of school hymns, however, fans will still be treated to another adrenaline and action packed edition of the UAAP.

October 8, 2016
Alex Depante: Once an athlete, always an athlete

With three UAAP General Championships in just four years, it can be said that La Salle has entered an era of consistency and potential dominance in the realm of sports. While it is obviously the result of the athletes’ sheer hard work and determination, there are other factors at work that deserve credit as well.

One such factor is the tremendous job done by the likes of La Salle’s own Alex Depante Jr., who currently serves as the Athletic Services Coordinator for the Office of Sports Development (OSD). From sponsorships all the way down to supplying water bottles, Depante’s job revolves around handling the basic needs of the student-athletes.

Humble beginnings

Depante’s path to La Salle began whilst playing volleyball for Lourdes School of Quezon City. A competition was being held and his team was trying to impress recruiters from DLSU. His team ultimately won the championship, but Depante mentions that as much as he wanted to play for the Green-and-White, the opportunity to study there was his main ambition.

Depante spent five years in La Salle, and played the same number of UAAP seasons while juggling the demands of his chosen degree, BS Legal Management. “During my time it wasn’t called Green Spikers. So just guess na lang the year. I played for 95-99 [1995-1999]. I played for five UAAP seasons. I never won the championship”, he adds.

After his stint with La Salle, Depante immediately worked after graduating in 2000, landing a job in the advertising industry. “Pagathlete ka kasi, if seryosong athlete, hindi ka sanay sa bisyo. Sa industry lalo na sa advertising, kadalasan you need to do all those things just to close a deal. Parang ang hirap, hindi ko kinaaya,” Depante says on his departure from the industry.

As the saying goes, when one door closes another opens, and this was definitely the door Depante had been eager to knock on. Looking back, he says, “Nung 2001 nagcoach ako for [La Salle Green Hills. Si Sir Nong [Calanog] yung boss ko nun. President na si Br. Bernie [Oca] nun. Mas winorkout ko yung craft ko sa coaching, nagcoach ako sa GH and Benilde at the same time. Best years of my life.”

Changing times

Having once played for the varsity squad, the OSD official couldn’t help but compare this generation’s athletes with his. He recalled how little publicity their team’s games received from the general public, with the spectators mostly consisting of the players’ family and friends. In addition to this, Depante also observed how different the motivations were between today’s players and the players of the past.

“We never asked and we never even demanded for perks. Ngayon may jacket, may training shirt ka. Noon basta mahal mo yung ginagawa mo,” Depante says, adding that some players tend to take for granted the privileges they are given by the OSD.

Depante does concede that current student-athletes are probably undergoing even bigger stresses than they ever did during their collegiate careers. Not only do they have to deal with their studies and trainings, but they also have to maintain a good image since they have now turned into media figures due to extensive media coverage.

Challenges

Being in charge of providing the athlete’s equipment and other needs is no easy task. It’s not enough that the players are given their athletic wears, but their preferences must also be met. This can be troubling for Depante and his department, as not all varsity players can be accommodated when it comes to specific demands.

“Yung challenge siguro mameet mo yung requirement nila. At the same time, satisfied sila. Not actually satisfied but happy sila. Para hindi nila masabi na kaya kami natalo dahil pangit sapatos,” he remarks.

La Salle’s sponsorship contract with Nike enables the OSD to give the student-athletes basic equipment of arguably the highest quality. But problems can arise when certain sports require even more specific things, which may not be covered by the Nike contract. Even worse is when certain players demand more than what can be given to them.

“I think mas challenging minsan or mas irritating when you encounter student-athletes who are not appreciative of what they’re actually getting,” said Coach Alex, whose department consists of just a few members.

Leaving a legacy

Besides his ultimate personal goal of someday winning the lottery, Depante hopes that by the time he finishes his work with the OSD, he would’ve made a big difference in the way things are being done in the office. He wants to set the bar for the future members of the OSD, hoping that they would try to emulate the successful model that he and his contemporaries have been doing over the past few years.

“Siguro generations from now, kung ano man yung nabigay namin. Or kung paano kami to be of service to the teams. Sana yung kultura na yun ma-carry on kahit retired na kami. Kasi sa tingin ko, mahirap higitan yung standards na sinet namin,” Depante proudly says.

August 29, 2016