Watchful Waiting

It rained today.. First time in quite a while.. Kinda like this blog entry, hehe.

Seeing as I often tend to start my posts with a commentary on how long it has been in between blog entries, I shall put that aside and just jump into the thick of things.

The diplomate examination has come and gone, and I now find myself nervously waiting for the results of the test (which is slated to come out tomorrow according to the information pamphlet we were provided at the venue). However, I have decided to wait it out for tonight in the hopes of getting an early lead on the news, whatever the outcome may be..

 This "watchful waiting" reminds me of my two previous licensure examinations, for Medical Technologists and Physicians. The wait for the MD boards was obviously the more nerve-wracking of the two, considering the relative difficulty of the latter and what was at stake as compared to the former.

Taking the MT boards was never really a necessity for me since I was already in Medical School at the time, studying to become a doctor. However, I felt that I couldn't just let all those years go to waste. It is true that I chose Medical Technology as my pre-med course, but I guess I wanted it to be more than that.. I spent my years in college learning the finer points of diagnostic laboratory medicine at one of the finer institutions of higher learning to offer that course. The least I could do was to see everything through full-circle to do justice to all the effort my professors exerted in teaching me, as well as my own attempts to make sense of all the information I supposedly learned in school. :)

I've been keeping busy the past few days with the very un-academic task of clearing out (yet again) my old room which strangely becomes a storage area  whenever I turn my back for a few months without sleeping in it. :P I can't believe how much junk we've accumulated in a few short years.. :l Part of the fun of clearing a room is rediscovering old forgotten stuff and the satisfaction of tossing some of them out since they were old/useless/really dirty/broken/rotting away and just taking up space anyway.

I also had to clean out my closet and am now wondering what the hell do I do with all those blazers I had made through all those years in residency (not to mention my failed attempt at Neurology which involved an entirely different set.)

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A lot of hoopla has been generated by the forthcoming fight between two of the top draws of professional boxing, namely Pacquiao and Mayweather. I admit that I used to be a fan of MP when he was just a straight-up fighter winning bout after bout against notable boxers like Dela Hoya and Marquez (who I still consider a cowardly counterpuncher to this day). All that changed when he dicided to stick his nose where it didn't belong and inserted himself into the PBA as a PLAYING COACH! The nerve of the guy! I mean, fine, he may have the strength and stamina to keep up with the rest of the guys since he is an athlete after all, but his "forced" entry into the PBA (getting drafted in the FIRST ROUND pa kamo!) made a travesty of the league I had grown up watching and admiring. The thing that sickens me is that he was only able yo enter the PBA because 1) he's so goddamn popular and 2) he's so filthy rich that he can make the league do what he wants, even to accomodate hime just because he "knows" how to play basketball (Pacman knows?)

It's such a shame.. When I was a kid growing up, I saw the PBA as a league where the best of the best played. Being the unathletic bum that I was, I knew I had absolutely no chance of getting in, since it was all about strength, speed, stamina, talent etc.., Thus, I had a ton of respect for people who played in the league, because not everyone would be good enough to get in. Fast forward it to today, and Pacquiao has set a bad precedent by showing the masses who idolize him so much that if you have enough money, fame, or influnce like he does, a little problem like lack of actual basketball talent is not an impediment to playing in the PBA, nor is a lack of any real knowledge of professional coaching a detriment to being named as a coach for a professional team.Corollary to that, shame on KIA for pulling such a publicity stunt! You have tainted the sport forever. I hope you're happy.. :( Oh, and I'm never buying any of your vehicles when the time comes that I will have the money to buy my own..

Yeah, I know, it turned into a rant again.. I'm just so pissed at what the PBA has become.. I used to enjoy the league so much.. Back when the only foreign-sounding names you would hear would be the surname of a commentator (that's you Quinito) or the coaches, and you would only get foreigners during the other Cups. The All-Filipino was my personal favorite, as I found it more exciting. Yeah sure, the imports turned stuff up a notch, but it cheapened the game since most of the offense became railroaded through them for obvious reasons..

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The UAAP Womens Volletball Finals is in full swing, with Ateneo taking the first win over an injuy-riddled Lasalle squad. This is unfortunate since the Lady Eagles, having swept the Eliminations automatically hold a one game advantage over LaSalle in what the analysts have defined as "something like a Best of Five series where Ateneo is automatically up 1-0".

In short, Ateneo only has to win two games to claim the title, while LaSalle has to win three.

I have began following UAAP Volleyball ever since "little sister" came into out lives as brother's significant other. ;) We were eventually hooked and continued watching even beyond her playing years. :P

LaSalle is now looking at a 0-1 deficit and are playing without their star spiker Ara Galang who was injured in the final set of a do-or-die match against NU for a chance to play in the finals against ADMU. The injury (ACL, MCL, Meniscal tear) sidelines Galang for the remainder of the season, making this series apparently lopsided due to the obvious loss of firepower on the side of the Lady Archers.

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Wow, this was a long one. Hehe. ;) Hopefully I'll be online again in a few hours with some (hopefully positive) news

Tambakan

Uso na pala ang tambakan ngayon..

I just recently watched a replay of the World Cup semifinal match between hometown favorite Brazil going up against the ruthlessly efficient German team. According to the match report I read, it was a total rout, with Brazil bowing out of the tournament in the worst possible way, losing 1-7. This left the Brazilian home crowd anguished and in tears. Brazil is a football-crazy nation, and their projected chance of winning the cup this year was really good, so this was an epic letdown for them.

Anyway, since I knew what to expect, I just watched to see how Germany pulled it off, or  how Brazil let it slip away..

It was a massacre.. 5 goals in 26 minutes of play? Seriously? Man... :(

People who know me well know that I'm not really a big football man, but I felt really bad when I watched that.. It seemed so surreal.. In fact, I guess it was the most downright depressing thing I have ever witnessed in sports.. :(

UAAP Season 77 is finally underway, and the opening matches were, uh, somewhat disappointing.. 3 out of the four opening games were total blowouts.. I thought this was going to be a competitive year, with almost all the teams on equal footing? And UST lost badly as well.. Hay naku..

In other sports news unrelated to blowouts, the NBA player movement has begun. This year's crop of free agents appears very deep, which includes Miami's Big Three, and Carmelo Anthony. The biggest news I was able to get a hold of thus far is that LeBron James will now be coming home to the Cleveland Cavaliers. This has the shapings of a great team in the years to come, with James returning home to a team being built around last year's first pick Kyrie Irving.

A new season cometh..

Well now, it seems like the NBA and their players have reached an agreement about how to share the oodles of money they make each year, with a (possible) start of a new but shortened season slated on Christmas Day,

Whoop-Dee-Do! But then again, I don't really care anymore.. :|

As I had mentioned in a previous post, I have grown sick of this long labor impasse that has prevented the NBA from starting on time. All the anticipation is gone, and I've moved on to other things and realized that the NBA isn't really worth waiting for anymore.

Seeing as this wasn't the first time that the NBA went through a lockout in recent history, both sides could have taken steps much earlier to avoid this repeated incident which in the past hurt the league in so many ways: Among them, the quality of basketball suffered because of the scheduling, and casual fans were turned off and many have not returned since then.

Factor in my gripes about the league, and you have one disgruntled casual fan who will take his ball someplace else. Sure, I'll probably scan the league standings every once in a while just to see what sort of madness has been happening, but I don't think I'll even bother watching the playoffs and finals this time around.

Yet another RP team frustration..

I have to admit that I was a bit ecstatic over the news I saw the other day.

The Philippine Team made it to the Semifinal round of the FIBA Asia Championships!!!

To my dear readers who do not follow Philippine basketball, this particular tournament would serve as a passport to an outright berth in the 12-team field which will be competing at the 2012 London Olympics. As a consolation, the silver and bronze medal winners would have another crack at an Olympic slot as they will compete in an Olympic qualifying tournament pitting them against the runners-up from the different continents, with the top three from THAT tourney going on to fill the final 3 slots in the Olympics. For a graphical representation of what I'm talking about, click here.

Imagine my dismay when all my hopes were dashed when the team was totally overpowered by an upstart Jordanian team (which beat perennial powerhouse Iran in the quarterfinals). It was painful because the RP team was more favored to win, having previously vanquished the Jordanians during group play earlier in the tournament.

Despite the loss, the Philippine team still has a chance to advance to the International qualifiers, provided it beats the loser of the KOR/CHN semifinal game to get the bronze medal.

Dammit. First the Azkals lost to Kuwait, and now Smart Gilas loses to Jordan.. I'm starting to get a bit annoyed at these Arabs.. :P

We Are Basketball | FIBA.COM

http://www.fiba.com/
The homepage of International Basketball. I can't believe I just discovered it recently. :P

A little bit of everything..

Let's start things off with a little UAAP..

We've been seeing an influx of athletic black guys boosting the frontlines of the different teams. You've got Emmanuel Mbe for NU and Hippo Nuondou for FEU to name a few. UST in particular boasts of a first year player that goes by the name of KAREEM ABDUL. Well, give him a couple of years and hopefully he'll begin dropping those skyhooks. :P

I know it may seem a little late, but who the hell names their kid RYAN ROOSE?

The Adamson Falcons seem to be looking pretty good this year. I have them pegged to take it all this season, or at least have an epic showdown with Ateneo during the finals.

On a side note, Jet Manuel (UP) has been playing really well this season, along with former King Stallion Jeric Teng (UST). Luceat Lux boys!

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Inaanak number 2

I'm a godfather again. Good buddy Reg asked me to be a godparent for his little girl Rachel. :D I have to say I'm quite honored to have been selected for the role. I intend to be a good godfather, not just in name, but with a share in the responsibility of the upbringing of the child to be a good person in the future. :)

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Despite bowing out of contention for the World Cup after losing to Kuwait with an aggregate score of 1-5, the Philippine Azkals have captured the imagination of the nation and swept the country in a football frenzy that I have never seen before. Heck, it made me a believer myself (despite my disdain for the low scoring of soccer). Through their apparently miraculous run, and the help of some clever marketing, more than a few Filipinos have been captivated by the ideas of Filipinas Futbol. Expect a surge in soccer team memberships and equipment sales. : On a more serious note, the Philippines has now taken a much needed step towards seriously aiming for excellence in another sport besides boxing and (no matter how futile) basketball. I hope this won't be just a fluke, and will spur further growth in Philippine sports.

Shoot-em-up

I just came from the "old school", having been given the opportunity to pick up the basketball again and just shoot at will. I was in no shape to run the floor so I politely declined when my friends asked me to join them. I was content to just hold the ball in my hands and squeeze in a few shots while the players were at the other end of the floor.

The TV commentators say that one way to get a shooter going is to get him to the line and make free throws, as the psychological edge of seeing your shots go in would presumably help them get back in rhythm. I guess that can apply to anyone else who has ever picked up a basketball. Whether its at practice or at an actual game situation, seeing your shots go in gives one a momentary high (ok, so maybe I'm exaggerating here, but it does feel good, right?). Despite not having touched a basketball for about a year, my free throws still fall for me, and I was able to make a pair of threes as well. :P

I went there not only for the hoops, but also to be in the company of friends and batchmates. Iba pa din yung kasama mong lumaki eh.. In the midst of our conversation, Jonas told me that "Pag nandito ka sa Xavier, makakalimutan mo lahat ng problema sa asawa, girlfriend, trabaho, etc. Talagang basketball lang.." (or something like that) You know what, I'm inclined to believe him. When you're there, you just PLAY, without a care in the world.. For those brief hours of release, the worries of the world do not bother you, as you immerse yourself in the purity of the sport..

Two statements ring true here today:

1) Basketball is Brotherhood

AND

2) There's no place like HOME

:D

It's over! LA wins 4-1!

The NBA season is finally over. Now I've one less excuse to just sit around and waste half a day.. :P Kudos to the Lakers for adding yet another championship to the legend of their storied franchise. I know I have this tendency to root for the underdog, and this series was no different. The Magic put up stiff resistance, but their lack of experience was underscored during key moments involving plays which cost them dearly.

In the end, I'm also happy for the Lakers, since Kobe was finally able to get that monkey off his back and win a championship without the Big Diesel, kinda like the way Garnett silenced all the haters when he finally got his long-awaited championship with Boston last year. :D

There's talk going around of yet another Laker dynasty in the making, but with the competitiveness of the league today, I seriously doubt that possibility. Besides, since Kobe already got his, I think other guys should get a crack at it as well. :P

Confessions of an avid basketbolista

As I have mentioned in an earlier post, basketball is my preferred sport. I have dabbled in other ball-sports like soccer, table tennis, and golf, but nothing seems to compare with shooting the ball through an elevated basket. This got me thinking as to why that is so. In order to understand my preference, I shall also briefly discuss some of the other sports and why they don't really measure up (according to me).

Basketball is king here in the Philippines, with Boxing probably approaching a close second thanks to the efforts of a certain "Pacman" who elevated the sport to greater heights. Then again, the "pound-for-pound king" also shoots hoops in his free time. :P

In a nation wherein the average height of the population is shorter when compared internationally (especially against basketball powerhouses in Europe and the Americas), Filipinos have grown to embrace basketball as their own. Almost everywhere you go, you would see a basketball court, from private villages to crowded streets!

I guess some of it could be attributed to American colonial influence, but if that is the case, then how come we aren't playing baseball or American football as well? With that out of the way, we now delve into the more practical aspects.

First off, basketball doesn't need a great deal of space. You could play a decent half-court pickup game with just the hoop and an area with the width of an average city street (like those roadside courts that come alive when there's no incoming traffic but suddenly cease activity when a pesky car passes by). Although aspiring 3-point shooters would never prosper in these situations, you can still play the game with hard drives to the basket and the occasional kickout for the short-range jumper. Basketball's rules also allow for these half court games, the luxury of which can not be found in most other sports, except for probably Squash/Raquetball/Pelota, which I like to call "half-court tennis' :P

It is also a team game, with lots of people (ideally) getting touches of the ball and getting their share of involvement in the game. Since Pinoys generally enjoy hanging out with friends, team sports may appeal more to a greater chunk of the population. (I'll have to admit that I'm biased toward team sports, not just coz I don't have great individual talent, but I like the spirit of teamwork and cooperation).

I also like the scoring system in basketball. You have your basic shot for 2 points, regardless if it's a jumper, layup, or dunk. 3 points awarded for anything beyond the arc, and a point for every freee throw made. This makes scoring seem more rewarding, and leads can evaporate in a few minutes with a few threes made. Those 1 point free-throws, as trivial as they may seem, have often spelled the difference between victory and defeat.

There's also the simplicity of the rules that makes it easy to learn. In a basic street game, the only rules you MUST remember are: 1) outside, 2) traveling, 3) fouls. Everything else is pretty much arbitrary unless you opt for a more complex game or in are in a more serious setting like barangay leagues.

It's this same set of rules that keeps the game really dynamic. The time limits imposed on game play (24 sec shot clock, 5 sec inbound, 8 sec half court, 3 sec in the paint) keeps the game fluid and ensures that the game would not be all about controlling possession for a greater chunk of the game clock, which made for a very boring game.

Now that I've made my arguments, lets look at the other sports in comparison:

Soccer

Ok, so the world loves soccer, as evidenced by the world cup mania that sweeps the globe every so often. People really go all-out on this one, a prime example would be the seemingly bloodthirsty hordes of fans at those English Premier league games :P Some local sports analysts have speculated that the Philippines stands a better chance at winning soccer at the international level because height is not that great of a factor. Be that as it may, a decent socer game requires a rather large area. I don't think people would be really happy playing soccer half court. :P Soccer also requires a goalie, a guy that just stands around waiting for to ball to come his way and hopes that he will be quick enough to stop it from entering the goal. This kind of specialization of positions limits player involvement in the game. Another thing I don't like about it is that it can get really BORING. I mean, I know its really hard work getting the ball across the pitch and evading defenders all the way, and I have nothing but respect for the ballhandling skills of soccer players, but the game really drags on and on. It takes so long to get the ball across the big field, only to have the scoring attempt thwarted by the goalie or defense, or the play may be good but the ball misses the goal completely, and all for just a single point!!! I've seen soccer matches end in a draw of 0-0 or wont by a single point like 1-0. The point production is not commensurate to the effort the players put in! Besides, if the score is indeed just 1-0, then they only remember the guy who scored that one goal, and chances are the goalie will get most of the blame. Kinda defeats the purpose of having a team, doncha think? :P

Hockey

A little similar to soccer in the fact that the goal needs a specialized defender, but the game is far more dynamic and a lot less dragging since the rink is smaller, the goal is smaller, and the players skate on ice! :P Its also a more physical game with all the body checks flying around, and fistfights that the referees allow until one person falls on the ice. Woohoo! :P Too bad this is a tropical country. :P

Baseball

The Americans and Japanese are really nuts about the sport, and I recall watching Japan vs USA events on ESPN. This is another sport that requires a great deal of free space. Though there are some really fantastic moments like when you score a double or triple play, or when a runner steals home, this kind of action is few and far in between. With this kind of sporadic excitement, it makes me wonder how these Americans enjoy this stuff. I mean, at least the ball is always moving in soccer! Its also fairly common to see top-caliber active baseball players who are really out of shape, and don't look like athletes at all. :P Also, the specialization in positions (fielder, pitcher, catcher) doesn't guarantee team involvement, and I think its only the pitcher who gets really really tired during these games. The concept of hitting one out of the park is pretty cool though. :P

Cricket

I don't really know much about the sport, other than that it originated in England, is played in the English colonies, and provides a peaceful(?) means for India and Pakistan to go at eadh other without starting a nuclear war. :P I have tried on numerous occasions to understand the game, but so far I've been unsuccessful. :P It appears to be some kind of predecessor to what eventually became known as baseball in America. As far as I've been able to understand, these cricket events may last for a few days at a time, with scores running up to as high as 500+! It requires a great deal of space, and has these specialized equipment standing at the edge of what I'd like to call the "pitching area" called wickets, the purpose of which still eludes my understanding despite having read the wiki.. :P In summary, it's an ancient form ofbaseball played by the English (using something that looks suspiciously like a fraternity paddle) with long-drawn events over the course of a few days running up ridiculous scores of up to 500 something. Oh, and I haven't mentioned that its like baseball, where the guy with the bat runs after hitting the ball, but instead of running to a set "home-plate", he just runs back and forth between the two wickets as fast as his little legs could carry him. No wonder the scores run up so high. :P

Volleyball

Volleyball can be a very competitive and exciting sport, and can also get very "interesting" during the summer months. :P Problem is, it also requires quite a bit of space, and can get really boring if not played at a higher level (varsity, international, etc). I also guess there's that extra difficulty of trying to control the ball without holding it that throws some people off. Its a team sport, with everyone playing an active role in both offense and defense, so the team spirit is there. Scoring is also exciting, because the points run up every time the ball touches the floor, so the game doesn't get draggy. And also (tips hat to "little sister" :P), competitive volleyball players have some really mad skills, and they can jump really high too, which I respect as a baller. :D

American Football

Now here's a game I would have liked to play if ever we had it here in the Philippines. I'm not talking about the locally-available flag football, I'm talking about the real deal, with all the big armor and the bone-breaking physical contact! :P Space is a big issue, and the equipment is really expensive too. The danger from injuries is also worrisome. Despite the fact that the plays revolve around the quarterback and the positions are highly specialized, participation on the field is not limited, as a break in the offensive line may ruin the entire play, or good coverage on a wide receiver may result in an interception. In short, nobody stands around just doing nothing while the ball is in a different part of the field. The scoring system is kinda neat too, giving different increments to different methods of scoring. I feel it adds a certain depth to the game.

Rugby

Supposedly the primitive version of American football, I feel that this is the one sport that the English got right, although the rules still confuse me, especially the "human tower" thing they do to catch the ball and the "traveling huddle" from which the ball pops out of. It requires an insane amount of field space, but you save a lot on safety equipment 'coz there aren't any!! :P Oh yeah, and I have no idea how scoring goes, since I hardly ever get to see this sport on TV. :P It's hardcore football with no armor, less rules, and pure mayhem!! :D

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So there you have it. I've exposed my biases for and against certain sports to justify my preference for basketball. :P I apologize if I haven't been very thorough with the facts. Just a random guy posting his own opinions. :D

STALLION PRIDE: And so the hunt begins once again....

Taken from the AAXS website

I smell another championship looming... :D See you on the court...

*Note that King Stallion Jeric Teng outscored the entire opposing team, 52-43!!

Luceat Lux!!

Xavier wins in Tiong Lian Opener

12 January 2009 | 1:11 PM
culled from YEHEY.com

Xavier School opened its title-retention bid in the Juniors Division of the 39th Metro Manila Tiong Lian Basketball Association tournament with a lopsided 120-43 victory over Hope Christian High School Saturday night (Jan. 10) at the Uno Gym.

It was so hard to create an interesting story line to this (mis)match. The revenge factor was not even an afterthought, even if some would like to believe it was a payback for the Golden Stallions’ loss to Hope Christian during the Coca-Cola Summer league some months ago.

Xavier went full throttle with its full-court trapping defense from start to finish, resulting in numerous Hope turnovers and easy fastbreak baskets by the Gold and Blue.

Xavier got off to a 5-0 start and never trailed thereafter. It grabbed a 29-7 lead after the first 10-minute quarter and enjoyed a 66-22 advantage at halftime.

If this were a baseball contest, the game would have been called off right then and there (without the second half) under the “mercy” rule. Hope, after all, scored only 43 points for the entire game and Xavier surpassed that mark as early as midway through the second quarter.

The game, played like those in the playgrounds with a lot of running and gunning, thus went on and Xavier owned a 93-32 edge at the end of the third quarter.

Xavier hit the century mark, 101-35, on a pair of free throws by prolific-scoring Jeric Teng, and took its biggest lead, 80 points (120-40), with a minute and 40 seconds remaining on a three-pointer by Teng.

Jeric, the reigning Tiong Lian scoring champion in the Juniors Division, wound up with 52 points, 13 rebounds and five assists. He went 6-for-16 beyond the three-point arc in the freewheeling game that was completed in less than 80 minutes.

Two other Xaverians finished with double-digit scores – Ian Umali, 16, and Jose Anton Manuel, 12. Nel Lim had nine.

Jeron Teng, Jeric’s younger brother, contributed eight markers while Donal Ong added seven.

Jeron, who was elevated to the Juniors ranks after a sterling performance in the Aspirants Division a year ago during which he powered the school past Chiang Kai Shek College for its sixth consecutive championship while averaging a whopping 34.1 points a game, including a high of 55 against St. Stephen’s High School, was inserted into the starting lineup alongside Jeric.

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*GO, XAVERIANS!! GO GO XAVERIANS GO!!!!!

The waiting game plus UAAP roundup

Ok, I got that out of the way..

Just finished the examination for residency applicants. 100 item exam, 40 pts generalities, 60 pts specialty. It was a real hoot answering questions about the field I was interested in, but it also made me realize how little stock knowledge of Neurology and Psychiatry I had. Oh well, I guess that's why you go into training right? =D I just hope I didn't mess up that exam TOO much, or else I'd be out of a job even before I started.. =P

I'm really excited about residency. Although training at UST has it's famous downsides (hehe), I'm still looking foward to doing the stuff I really want to get into, and not be bothered by those other disciplines that I didn't really want to go into.

Now for the Sports Segment..

UST suffered a heartbreaking loss yesterday against the De La Salle Green Archers in what could have been an overtime game in the making. A lucky putback by rookie Maui Villanueva off an LA Revilla miss withe 0.2 seconds of game time remaining sealed the victory for the Archers who got away with a score of 81-79. Sadly, this loss meant that the 2006 Champion UST Growling Tigers have seen their hopes of making the Final Four dashed as they drop to a 5-7 win-loss card with only 2 games remaining for the season.

I've always wanted to do a UAAP team-by-team analysis, so here goes:

• Ateneo De Manila Blue Eagles

Riding on the stellar performance of Rabeh Al-Hussaini, arguably the most dominant big man in the UAAP today, the Eagles are sitting atop the standings with a commanding 11-1 record. With their only loss coming from a first round shocker against the FEU Tamaraws, the Katipunan-based squad is poised to take it all as we begin the later stages of the tournament. With Chris Tiu and Al-Hussaini, two of the league's leading scorers in their roster and a host of , the Ateneo juggernaut rumbles forward towards what seems to be an inevitable finals appearance.

• Far Eastern University Tamaraws

With the return of their injured leader, Mac Baracael, the Tamaraws are riding an emotional high closing out the elimination round of the tournament. Fresh from their victory over the vaunted DLSU Green Archers, the Tams are clicking on all cylinders towards their first Final Four appearance in the last 3(?) years. Under the watchful eye of coach Glen Capacio, the Tams are presently tied in second place with DLSU with two games remaining against the struggling UP Fighting Maroons and the UE Red Warriors. Armed with one of the deepest benches in the league, all eyes will be on FEU as they attempt to solidify their hold on second place and hopefully march into the Final Four with a twice to beat advantage.

• De La Salle Green Archers

Fresh from their nailbiting victory over the UST Growling Tigers, the Archers are neck-and neck with FEU in their pursuit of the elusive number 2 spot in the final four, with Ateneo already having a virtual lock on first place. Despite a rookie-laden lineup, coach Franz Pumaren's charges have shown time and again why they were the champions of the previous season. Getting stellar numbers from team captain Jayvee Casio, steady veterans Peajay Barua, Rico Maierhofer, and even bonus minutes from rookie surprises LA Revilla and Maui Villanueva, the Archers are ready to make a serious run to defend their championship.

• University of the East Red Warriors

Rounding up the top 4 on the present standings, coach Dindo Pumaren's Red Warriors are showing a lack of consistency, especially when compared to their sweep of the eliminations last season. In order to solidify their place in the semifinals, every game is a must-win for the hard-pressed squad from Recto, including a probable deciding match against the desperate UST Growling Tigers. Using a full court press similar to what La Salle executes so well, the Warriors' defense has proven time and again the dictum that "defense is the best offense". Boasting one of the most athletic frontlines in the league composed of Hans Thiele, Elmer Espiritu, and Pari Llagas, and supported by the steady backcourt leadership of James Martinez and prolific scorer Marcy Arellano, UE is still very much dangerously in the hunt for the title.

• University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers

With a heartbreaking buzzerbeater loss to DLSU, the Tigers are staring elimination in the face. Caught in a situation where their fate lies in the outcomes of games of other teams, coach Pido Jarecio's stalwarts must win their last 2 remaining games while at the same time hope that the UE Red Warriors drop their assignments in order for the Tigers to have a chance to break into the Final Four. Despite the heroics of reigning MVP Jervy Cruz day in and day out, the Tigers have found it dfficult to get the all important wins against the stronger teams, especially during tight endgame situations. UST is a fairly young team, with 7 rookies in the rotation. However, the forthcoming graduation of Tiger veterans Japs Cuan and Dylan Ababou would leave a large void which would prove difficult to fill indeed.

The Growling Tigers need to find their range from beyond the arc. If the established shooters like Francis Allera and Kasim Mirza would make those long threes just like their 2006 championship run, combined with Jervy Cruz's regular monster performance in the paint, UST would prove do be a really difficult team to defend. It's just unfortunate that Cuan never developed an outside shot which would have greatly helped in extending the opposing teams' defense. This could have freed up the middle for more high-percentage shots taken much closer to the basket.

It's unfortunate that UST started the season on a sour note. Key personnel were nursing injuries acquied before the start of the season, and floor leader Japs Cuan was out for about 4 games due to a knee injury which has affected his game ever since. The rookies have a lot of growing up to do if team Espana intends on making the final four in season 72.

I'm sorry about the obvious bias. But then again, TOMASINO AKO!! MAY PRIDE! MAY PUSO! AT PALABAN! Go USTe!!!

• University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons
  

After an energizing opening-day win which snapped a 14(?)-game losing streak, the Fighting Maroons seemed to have lost steam and can only sit and watch as teams charge past them in heartbreaking blowout losses. A talented but undersized lineup boasting high-caliber players like Magi Sison, Mike Gamboa, and former Xavier standout Woody Co has ptoven to be inadequate in the face of tougher opponents in this highly competitive league. With the lack of offense seen from UP, one can't help but wonder why former rookie hotshot scorer Migs De Asis is stuck on the bench and is hardly ever used. It is the opinion of this writer that better personnel shuffling by rookie coach Aboy Castro would have proven to be of great benefit to the struggling team of the State university.

• National University Bulldogs

The Bulldogs have had another bad season, with endgame problems haunting them every step of the way. A surprise victory over the highly-touted FEU Tamaraws during their last game of the first round gave coach Manny Dandan's boys something to look forward to. Floor leader Jonathan Jahnke with agile high-scoring big men Edwin Asoro and Raymond Aguilar found it difficult to close games down the stretch, and wound up getting blown out in the endgame on a number of occasions. As a team, NU is still apparently groping for form. It has a pretty solid lineup which has the capability to really win games, but for some reason, they just frustratingly come up short.

Whew! There! I know it isn't perfect, but I gave it my best shot. Hehe

I'm sorry to admit the fact that most of my data is sorely lacking. I guess I haven't watched enough games this season, due to the rigid(?) review for the boards I put myself through. Its really tough being an avid UAAP fan to purposely avoid watching the games, even though the sacrifice is to serve some higher purpose..

I'll try to give a more in-depth analysis of some teams in particular interest to me at another time.