And then there were only three

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.  
  


 

BY the time you read this piece, the second qualifying round of the Universities Colleges Athletic Association (UCAAP) Inter-Collegiate Basketball Championship would still be in progress. The University of Luzon (UL) Golden Tigers and University of Pangasinan-PHINMA Flames will tangle with each other this week to notch the second and last slot for the championship and finally to face the Lyceum Northwestern University Dukes in the Finals.

UCAAP rule says the champion of the league (with only three teams involved but all renowned champions in the province tertiary caging) will advance to the next joust to face the Ilocano school champion either from San Fernando City of La Union, Vigan City of Ilocos Sur, Laoag City of Ilocos Norte or Baguio City of the Cordillera region. The Dagupan squad, if lucky, will collide with the winner of central Luzon before going to Manila to clash with southern Luzon and Manila cadet squads and (if lucky again) to battle against the country’s titan teams like multiple national champions Ateneo de Manila, De la Salle University, University of Santo Tomas, Far Eastern University, University of the East, National University, among others, of the UAAP bloc and Letran College, San Sebastian College, Arellano University, San Beda College, to name a few, of the NCAA faction for the Philippine Colleges Champions League (PCCL) crown. Only16 teams that passed the elimination round throughout the entire archipelago will qualify for the national tournament. In short, the PCCL tourney is the meeting of all colleges’ champions in the country.  Unlike the Dagupan PRISAA tilt that lured six teams and being played almost the same days of the UCAAP games, UCAAP attracted only three teams but all of them are big names in college caging and the three already tasted the Region 1 tiara.

Meanwhile, gaffes in officiating and enforcing rules are to be expected in every basketball tourney. The first and foremost to be blamed are the referees, table officials as well as the commissioner of the league. You can’t make any game perfect, just like what was seen in the more seasoned PBA league that recently saw scuffles, suspension and fines among players. This is also happening in the ongoing UCAAP tilt. There were squabbles among players in the skirmishes last Wednesday and Thursday because the referees failed to control the match. Players almost came to blows on both occasions. Of course, these will reflect on the image of the commissioner who is the highest official of the tournament. It’s important that the commissioner swiftly and fairly acts on any wrongdoings of the players, coaches as well as the errors of the referees and the table officials to pre-empt any violence.

I watched the first three games. The opening day was okay but second day was marred by tardiness of the three referees headed by Danny Villanueva and Ric Bautista that delayed the game for almost half an hour.

“Similar situation happened on the third day… two of the table officials, Enan Mangonon and Ming Lomibao, as well as the commissioner Cris Calagiuo came late that delayed the game for 25 minutes,” Ceralde complained. “They are the officials and should know that they should be the model of the league and must demonstrate the needed discipline themselves,” he added.

I believe him. I’ve been a competitive athlete for 32 years as well as an organizer of 175 cycling races, basketball, marathon, chess, dama and table tennis and never ever came late at the starting line or before the game starts. The discipline I keep enabled me to reach my constant goal – to give honor to this province whenever the opportunity arises. To God be all the glory.

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My heartfelt congrats to our local duathlete Robino Javier of Urdaneta City for finishing second in the “Active Health Duathlon in Clark” held last September 8 won by Manileno and national champion August Benedicto. Javier clocked the 6-km run, 40-km bike, 4-km run in one hour, 38 minutes and 25 seconds or was one minute, 56 seconds off the winner Benedicto. The national team member Javier, 28, failed to participate in the Dagupan duathlon event held last September 1. Mabuhay ka, Binong, and keep up the good work. The province needs you.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: And Jesus Christ said “Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets. But I say to you who hear: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.” LUKE 6: 26-28

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