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Always About the People
“Solid!” That was the only reaction, or lack thereof, that I could muster after that first breakaway slam of Kiefer Ravena’s UAAP collegiate basketball career over the outstretched arms of UST’s foreign center, Karim Abdul. Moments before, you could see Kiefer was going to go hard, as it was a one-on-one breakaway and he had the speed advantage over Abdul, who was hot on his heels. Little did I know that he was going to go for that highlight that would announce his entry into college basketball. That reaction, that loss for words, can pretty much sum up my past 10 years of covering college basketball for ABS-CBN Sports. They first asked me to write about my most memorable UAAP game coverage; but I must confess, I was never really good at remembering exact details of games, unlike some of my fellow sportscasters, or even coaches I know, who remember almost detail for detail, or play by play. My memories come in highlights, or sometimes even just flashes of good or memorable plays. I remember a 6’8”, 18-year old Ben Mbala, whom we first saw a glimpse of while Anton Roxas and I were covering the CESAFI league in the hot and humid Cebu Coliseum, sometime around 2012. He was playing for the Southwestern University Cobras, wasn’t as built and polished as when he was with DLSU, but you could already see the raw talent and athleticism. Fast forward a few years, I remember well how he took the UAAP by storm, with his monster dunks, and how he piloted La Salle to a championship while winning league MVP in Season 79. I remember the heralded rookie season of Kiefer Ravena in the men’s division, after a storied juniors career. Kiefer won Rookie of the Year honors and helped lead Ateneo to two more titles to round up their 5-peat, before it was Jeron Teng’s turn to lead the Green Archers to a championship over his elder brother Jeric and the UST Growling Tigers. I remember Bobby Ray Parks Jr. and his back-to-back MVP seasons. He was arguably the most complete college player during that time. It was painful to see his team fall short especially during his second MVP year. The Bulldogs made history the year after though, with Alfred Aroga, Troy Rosario, and Gelo Alolino now at the helm, winning the school’s first ever championship after more than forty years. I would argue that the past decade saw some of the brightest UAAP college basketball stars, both local and foreign, take to the hard court. It would almost be unfair to start naming them because I’ll surely end up leaving some names worthy enough to be mentioned. But we all remember Greg Slaughter, Ryan Buenafe, RR Garcia, Terence Romeo, Mac Belo, RR Pogoy, Roi Sumang, Charles Mamie, Alex Nuyles, Jericho Cruz, Papi Sarr, Jeron Teng, Jason Perkins, Aljun Melecio, Kiefer and Thirdy, Bobby Ray, Alfred Aroga, Kevin Ferrer, Karim Abul, Jeric Teng, Ange Kuoame, Matt and Mike Nieto, Paul Desiderio, Juan GDL, and the list goes on and on… all of them making their mark in the UAAP the past ten years. Aside from the highlights, there were the more mundane, behind-the-scenes memories, especially covering out-of-town games when we used to do the CESAFI and the PCCL. That was basketball coverage at its purest. There was a time we traveled to Lanao Del Sur to cover the Mindanao regional selection of the PCCL. Lanao was about another two to three hour drive from Cagayan de Oro along a dark highway with trees and mountains all around; and where there was only one mall in the entire town. Or when we traveled by van to La Union to cover the north regional selection of the PCCL… or even staying a whole week at the Cebu Grand Hotel, for the VisMin regional selection. Coverages then were bare bones: no real-time stats or live graphics, and I would even sometimes have to tally the points and rebounds of each player in-game on my notebook just so that I’d have some semblance of stats to mention on the coverage. Still, those games were so much fun because the players, getting their first shot at national TV coverage, would leave everything out on the floor. In a year or so, both the UAAP and the NCAA will announce their respective new homes, and new broadcast teams will have the privilege of covering the best collegiate basketball players in the country. That’s how the ball bounces. I’m a firm believer that in life there are seasons, and a perfect time for everything. I’m just thankful for the opportunities thrown my way. If you were to ask me why the coverage of the UAAP helped build the league into what it is today, my answer would be simple: it was always about the people. At the end of the day, what makes the UAAP and its coverage great are the stories of the people that play, coach, officiate, cover, and run the games. It’s not really about the championships or the awards, but rather the challenges, hardships, and journeys of each of the individuals that brought them there. And it is also about the directors, producers, cameramen, reporters and make-up artists that make sure that the audience sees what is supposed to be seen – the winning basket, a fan’s priceless reaction, the agony in defeat, and the glory of victory. It’s what Boom Gonzalez or Mico Halili would always say, that our job as anchors and analysts is to tell the people watching at home the story of what is happening in the game in the best way possible. I just want to tip my hat to all the people that allowed us to do our jobs the best way possible. From our directors, producers, cameramen, floor directors, fellow panelists, courtside reporters, league officials, statisticians, make-up artists, and all those people behind the scenes whom we worked with, know that we were able to give our best because of you; and the UAAP coverage will not be what it is if not for all of your hard work and dedication. It was, is, and will always be about the people. Marco Benitez was the team captain for the Ateneo Blue Eagles when they won the UAAP Season 65 men's seniors basketball title in 2002. Marco eventually covered collegiate basketball as analyst for ABS-CBN Sports starting in 2010. He is presently the President of the Philippine Women's University (PWU)......»»
CEC Dragons to hold tryouts on March 9
CEBU CITY, Philippines– The Cebu Eastern College, CEC Dragons will conduct tryouts for its basketball teams on March 9, at the CEC gymnasium in downtown Cebu City. CEC is one of the touted high school squads in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (Cesafi) basketball tournament. There will be three age groups open for tryouts.....»»
Mustangs stomp on Cobras in Sinulog Cup 2024 cage wars
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Cebu Roosevelt Memorial College (CRMC) Mustangs survived a nail-biting duel against the Southwestern University-Phinma Cobras, winning 84-80 on the second day of the Sinulog Cup 2024 Basketball Tournament on Wednesday evening, January 17, 2024, at the Cebu City Sports Institute gymnasium. It was a sweet revenge for the Mustangs after.....»»
Sinulog Cup: Mustangs secure 84-80 victory vs Cobras in thrilling match
CEBU CITY, Philippines— The Cebu Roosevelt Memorial College (CRMC) Mustangs survived a nail-biting duel against the Southwestern University-Phinma Cobras, 84-80, on the second day of the Sinulog Cup 2024 Basketball Tournament on Wednesday evening, January 17, 2024, at the Cebu City Sports Institute gymnasium. Seeking revenge for their previous loss, the Mustangs, now equipped with.....»»
SWU Cobras beat CRMC Mustangs in their last Cesafi season game
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Southwestern University (SWU)-Phinma Cobras, the former Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc., (CESAFI) men’s basketball champions, may had a forgettable season, but they made sure to wrap it up by putting up a good fight. The Cobras may not be the same as its 2019 championship team, but the boys of head.....»»
UC routs Benedicto College, grabs the No. 2 spot in Cesafi semis
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters finished their elimination round campaign in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (Cesafi) Season 23 men’s basketball tournament with a dominating win against the Benedicto College Cheetahs, 76-57, on Saturday, November 25, 2023. The UC Webmasters wrapped up the elimination round with an unprecedented franchise.....»»
Cesafi: UC Webmasters end elims round with match vs Cheetahs
CEBU CITY, Philippines– The University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters cap off their two-week break with their last remaining Cesafi elimination round game on Saturday, November 25. The erstwhile Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (Cesafi) Season 23 men’s basketball league leader will take on newcomer, Benedicto College Cheetahs in a game that will determine if they.....»»
Cesafi: Bogo-based squads eye crucial wins on Thursday
CEBU CITY, Philippines– As the Cesafi basketball elimination round winds down, Bogo City-based squads, the Cebu Roosevelt Memorial College (CRMC) Mustangs, and the City of Bogo Science and Arts Academy (CBSAA) Trailblazers gun for crucial wins tomorrow, Thursday, in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc.’s (Cesafi) basketball tournament. Games would be held at the Cebu.....»»
CEC, USJ-R clash in crucial Cesafi HS basketball game on Tuesday as playoffs loom
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons eye to grab the No. 4 spot in the high school team standings of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (Cesafi) basketball tournament as they face the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Baby Jaguars on November 14, 2023, at the Cebu Coliseum. CEC and USJ-R’s.....»»
CEC Dragons torch USPF Baby Panthers in Cesafi HS basketball tourney
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons continue to make their presence felt in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (Cesafi) high school basketball tilt after taking down the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Baby Panthers, 77-68, on Saturday, November 11. The win momentarily put the CEC Dragons at the fifth.....»»
USPF nips CIT-U, now 4-1 in Cesafi college hoop wars
CEBU CITY, Philippines—The University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) Panthers earned a hard-fought 77-65 victory against the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats in the Cebu School Athletic Foundation, Inc. (Cesafi) men’s basketball on Saturday, October 28, 2023, at the Cebu Coliseum. The win improved USPF’s record to four wins with one defeat, while they.....»»
UV eyes tie of Cesafi men’s basketball lead
CEBU CITY, Philippines—The formidable University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers gun for a tie at the top spot of the college division’s team standings in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (Cesafi) basketball on Saturday, October 28, 2023. The Lancers, the defending men’s basketball champions, take on newcomers Benedicto College Cheetahs at 5 p.m.....»»
CIT-U snaps three-game losing skid with a win over Verallo
CEBU CITY, Philippines— After three disappointing defeats, the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Wildcats finally earned their first sweet victory in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (Cesafi) men’s basketball during their game against neophytes, the Felipe Verallo Foundation College (FVFC) Blue Dragons, 83-71, on Sunday, October 15, 2023, at the Cebu Coliseum. The Wildcats, who became viral for their 74-point loss,75-109, against the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters earlier this month, found their winning ways on Sunday with rookie John Rey Guinita leading them with 26 points. Guinita perfectly balanced his scoring after he tallied 13 points in each halves of the game. Edwin Charles Jao contributed 14 points, while Jim Brent Taala added 12 markers, nine of which came from beyond the arc. The victory improved the Wildcats’ record to one win and three losses, while the Blue Dragons of head coach Titing Manalili fell to a 0-4 (win-loss) record putting them at the bottom of the team standings. Francis Earl Solis scored 14 points for Verallo, while John Gellego added nine points in their losing efforts. CIT-U has a chance to grab a back-to-back win as they take on another newcomer, the Benedicto College Cheetahs, on October 21, while Verallo returns into action on the same date against the formidable USJ-R Jaguars. CEC 65, CIT-U WILDKITTENS 44 Contrastingly, CIT-U’s high school squad bowed down to the Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons, 65-44, also on Sunday. Caelan Mack once again topscored the Dragons. This time he tallied 17 points, while Xerxes Duran scored 14 points. Jyle Roa added 13 markers and Lybron James Lamo chipped in 10 markers for CEC. Ezekiel Zamora scored 12 points for CIT-U, while teammate Sam Kyle Aballe had eight points in their defeat. CEC improved to a 4-1 card to stay at the No. 3 spot in the high school team standings, while the Wildkittens dropped to the sixth spot with a 1-2 slate. USC 64, DBTC 57 On the other hand, the University of San Carlos (USC) Baby Warriors ended their four-game losing skid by beating the Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC) Greywolves, 64-57, in the other high school game on Sunday. The win improved USC’s record to 1-4 slate, while DBTC’s losing woes continued as they dropped to a 0-5 card. Kent Dave Chavez unloaded 18 points, while Bhenz Daug contributed 10 points for USC. Jefferson Villareal spoiled his 17-point outing.....»»
Cortes, Rasmo, top-notch coaches, square off in Cesafi college hoop wars
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Two of Cebu School Athletic Foundation Inc’s (Cesafi) top basketball coaches will clash in the college division tomorrow, Saturday, September 30, 2023, at the Cebu Coliseum. The reigning Cesafi men’s basketball champions, the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers will take on the newcomer, the University of the Philippines (UP).....»»
SWU in return to Cesafi: ‘We just want to be able to compete’
MANDAUE CITY, Cebu—While everyone’s excited to see the Southwestern University (SWU)-Phinma Cobras return to the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) men’s basketball competition, coach Mike Reyes wants to temper expectations. The Cobras, the 2019 men’s champions, will be returning from a leave of absence but Reyes says there’s not much to expect from the […] The post SWU in return to Cesafi: ‘We just want to be able to compete’ appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Dragons, Cobras bag crucial wins in Cesafi eSports
CEBU CITY, Philippines— The Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons and the Southwestern University-Phinma (SWU-Phinma) Cobras snatched crucial wins Saturday in the ongoing Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) eSports League (CEL) at the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) Innovation Laboratory. The Dragons drubbed the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters-Main, 2-0, in their best-of-three match in […] The post Dragons, Cobras bag crucial wins in Cesafi eSports appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Cobras to face Skyblazers in CBAA finals in 40-above category
TAGBILARAN CITY, BOHOL — All roads lead to the finals of the Cebu Amateur Athletic Association Basketball Alumni Association (CBAA) Basketball Tournament, over the weekend at the Cebu Eastern College (CEC) gymnasium. Old rivalries between CBAA teams will be revived in the much-awaited finals showdown in both the 40-above and 50-above divisions of this basketball […] The post Cobras to face Skyblazers in CBAA finals in 40-above category appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Cesafi basketball all-star game lineup bared
CEBU CITY, Philippines—The cast of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) All-Star Basketball Game was officially revealed on Wednesday, November 30, 2022. The Cesafi All Star Game is slated on December 3, 2022, at the Cebu Coliseum. In the college division, Team A will be headed by University of the Visayas’ (UV) head coach […] The post Cesafi basketball all-star game lineup bared appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Jaguars maul Warriors, grabs No. 3 spot in Cesafi College hoop wars
CEBU CITY, Philippines— The University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars secured the No. 3 spot in the men’s college standings of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) basketball league after manhandling the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors, 82-58, on Saturday, November 19, at the Cebu Coliseum. The Jaguars now have four wins and […] The post Jaguars maul Warriors, grabs No. 3 spot in Cesafi College hoop wars appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Baby Webmasters torch CEC Dragons in Cesafi high school basketball
CEBU CITY, Philippines— The University of Cebu (UC) Baby Webmasters dominated the Cebu Eastern College (CEC) Dragons, 77-60, on Thursday in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc (Cesafi) high school cage wars at the Cebu Coliseum. John Linares had a blistering game, pouring 22 points to lead the Baby Webmasters while Allen Ray Gako scored […] The post Baby Webmasters torch CEC Dragons in Cesafi high school basketball appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»