Sports Eye
Fiery UPang five
By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.
I’AM an avid follower of the University of Pangasinan quintet since 1970’s under the presidency of George Rayos. The UPang five then called “Greyhounds” was under the tutelage of my townmate, the late Jorge Monje, formerly from Infanta, Pangasinan. I always follow their games as far as Baguio City when the city of pines was still a part of the Ilocos Region Athletic Association (IRAA) Meet. Their perennial archenemies in the region were either the St. Louis University or the University of Baguio. Here in Pangasinan, it was Luzon Colleges (now the University of Luzon) in the annual inter-collegiate basketball tournament called MCAAD (Metro Colleges Athletic Association of Dagupan) which they used to dominate.
I became even closer to them when I was hired by UPang in 2005 as its sports consultant and the UPang five was called then as “Webczars” under then new owner Cesar Duque. It was then when they won the annual PRISAA Inter-Collegiate Basketball Tournament against their arch-foe the University of Luzon Golden Tigers of Renato “Jack” Vidal. I believe that was the best formed squad that UPang ever produced starred by sharpshooters Bryan Santillan, Terry Torio, Renato Soriano, Virgilio Olero, Albert Carcha, to name some, and mentored then by then greenhorn coach Angel Gumarang, bagging his first tiara (at once) in the tertiary level.
When PHINMA bought UPang, the institution’s quintet was referred to as “Flames” with Sta. Barbara-born Jay Ronquillo as tactician head. When Gumarang and this writer’s services were not renewed, Gumarang shifted his caging steer to the Lyceum Northwestern University Dukes of Atty. Gonzalo Duque. Yes, Gumarang not only won the Pangasinan honor but also propelled the Dukes to a silver medal finish in the 2011 National PRISAA Games hosted by our province Pangasinan. Yes, this silver finish was the highest achievement by any Pangasinan contingent in the history of the annual PRISAA National Games in basketball competition, bettering the third place finish of UL in 2009. The Dukes feat was not surpassed or equaled, until now.
The UPang boys of Ronquillo are on the surge and I saw them how determined they are to win this year’s Universities Colleges Athletic Association Inter-Collegiate Basketball Tournament. After watching their two skirmishes against the Philippine Colleges of Science and Technology (PCST) Topnotch which they both won by a hairline (81-79 and 91-90) and lost to Dukes in their first meeting by ten points, 76-66, but avenged that setback last October 6 by two points, 69-67, I still believe that the biggest headache for the Flames to win this year’s diadem are defending champions Dukes who topped the elimination round despite suffering their first letdown against the Flames. (See related story on this page).
The two title-contenders who have identical record of eight wins with a single loss will enjoy the twice-to-beat-edge and have to wait the result of the AIE College-PCST clash which is being played during these hours (Thursday) while I’m writing this piece. The Dukes will play the loser of the AIE College-PSCT scrimmage and the winner to battle Flames in the semifinals. Dukes and Flames will enjoy the twice-to-beat-edge which will start next week. Jon Cansino of NABRO who handles the officiating said the semis most likely to start on October 16 at Dagupan People’s Astrodome.
PCST who both entered the UCAAP and the PRISAA tourneys is not a patsy squad. The boys of former PBA players Christian Calaguio and Jun Marzan lost to the Flames twice with a total of three points and gave scary moment to Golden Tigers during their second encounter in the elimination round 79-78 but not without each foe a hell-of-a-fight. The Calasiao based Topnotch have only eight formidable dribblers while their top opponents got the better bench.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; ‘And He repays those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack with him who hates Him; He will repay him to his face. DEUTERONOMY 7: 8-9
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