10 Things I Miss About You

1. The drums. Swear, I miss the banging. Even if it makes me incapable of hearing anything else I sure miss the drum beats.
2. The cheers. Oh, the cheers. Some so darn good I always feel like joining in. My side or not, sometimes I don't care. Unfortunately there are also some so ridiculously-sounding and composed that I have no other choice but roll my eyes and pretend there is nothing to see and hear.
3. The cheerleaders. I'm a frustrated cheerleader. I've had opportunities to become one, mind you. Had I known back in freshman year that the dance troupe I was being asked to audition for by my PE teacher is the same group that does the cheerleading, I wouldn't have said no. Then by senior year at my second school, pep squad coach came up to me and asked if I wanted to join the team after an almost perfect I-don't-think-I-can-ever-do-it-again cartwheel I did at the gym. The mat on the floor made me do it, okay. It was there and screaming to be used. I acted on sheer impulse. Too bad her recruitment spiel included a "you don't have to do PE if you join the squad" line. I was on my last term then, woman, there really is no more PE . I just waited for my last term to do that last PE because of scheduling hassles. I graduated a month later. So I miss them cheerleaders. The performances that put a smile on my face or a frown as the case may be, I want to see them live again. Those sprinkled around the venue for ultimate cheer-leading purposes I think I can forgive you now for shouting right at my ear a couple of times.
4. The groupies. I hate to admit this but I sort of miss them. They are one of my pet peeves mainly because they take away my concentration. No point listening to them converse with each other as they will only make you be concerned of your own mental health.
5. The girlfriends. They can be a source of irritation, along with the groupies, just by being there. And also because they act like you're going to steal their man, er, boy, whatever. I do have high respect though to a few who do not call attention to themselves. Additional points to those who understand everything there is to know about the reason why they are there.
6. The alumni. They led me to where and what I am today. They made me question my loyalty and how far I was willing to go. My deepest admiration to certain groups I call the regulars, for being there all the time no matter where the venue is or how small the stakes are. But what I really miss about them is how they behave when things don't go their way. The look on their faces when a supposedly inferior team does what is unthinkable to them, is priceless.
7. The schools. There is nothing more satisfying than to check out the competition's home base. They say understanding leads to acceptance, true that. Personally, it's easier to accept a loss if I know what they have at home that we don't. You gotta blame it on something. Better to point at some thing rather than on someone.
8. The players. I always wonder if they ever get sick of each other's faces. They live together at the dorms, they train and practice six days a week, they even go to the same class, and then they would hang out during free time. And it's not just among teammates, they even get along with other players from other schools too. The brotherhood amazes me. Another thing about them, I take pride in knowing a player before they hit it big. Not big-superstar-MVP-big but big enough to be recognized anywhere he goes. That's when you catch them at their humblest and most natural. Because sad to say, things would change once people they aren't acquainted with start to approach and ask for photo-ops. And the thing about meeting young players is you know a potential head case when you see one.
9. The coaches. Sometimes when I get bored during games I people watch, more like bench watch. Who else would you notice first but the coach. I find them entertaining. How they react to calls and botched plays to how they give or yell instructions amuse me to no end. Coaches from the professional league lack gentleness that is so evident in every college coach. Which makes perfect sense since the coach in the pros is doing his job and the players too are being paid to do their job. A varsity coach on the other hand treats his players as his own children, hence the gentleness. He knows that he can make or break those kids with anything that he asks and tells them to do. It's a big responsibility on the part of the coaches but to help mold young, talented and decent athletes is always a good thing, right?
10. The atmosphere. It's different. A lot more exciting and interesting to watch, that's college basketball. It has been over two years since I last went to a live game and although the idea brings painful memories (the reasons I will explain at length in another piece) I still want to be back. I miss the live games. PBA games are fun but college ball is ten times more fun. I can attest to that. Playing for school pride is much more noble a reason than bonuses and contracts. Not that college basketball doesn't offer those but school pride more than anything is what matters most come game time. There's also the simple joy of watching young dreamers realize their dream. It is fulfilling even as a fan to see players you used to watch playing college ball make it to the pros. They made it through and you are one of the firsts to see them play.

So when will I be back to watch? Soon. I hope.

Si Rey Evangelista... bow

Since he has decided to move on (and get a life away from us), I am republishing a piece (with very minor revisions) originally written for his birthday six years ago.

* * * * * * * * * *

Si Rey Evangelista... bow

A college ball player just recently asked me: "Ano gusto mo talaga sa isang player?" He was of course on a fishing expedition, wanted me to say things that best describe him. I gave him the following answers: a hardworker, one who doesn't curse and one who doesn't make reklamo all the time.

He met the first and the last but can't argue with me as to my second criteria. I did catch him twice. He said he didn't mean to, it was an expression. Precisely, I told him, and it's bad.

I've been watching basketball for as long as I can remember and cursing is... part of the game? I think it's a guy thing. And I don't understand it.

I honestly can't think of anyone else who meets my idea of an ideal basketball player but Rey Evangelista. And I'm not exaggerating. Totoo po, promise. I mean, you see the guy on court, he hardly even say anything. Mahirap basahin. You don't know what's going through his mind. Which is good for the team but sometimes I wish he smiles naman a bit. Para lang may variety ang facial expressions. Parang emoticons, maraming choices.

Kuya Rey (I think I've already asked permission for this) first came to my senses in 1993. September 18, 1993 to be exact. It was UST's last game in the eliminations of UAAP's season 56. Saturday afternoon's classes were to be suspended, the memo said Friday morning. Walang klase! Ang saya! Only we realized later wala pala talaga kami pasok kasi Sabado. It wasn't clear to me then kung bakit and ano meron. I thought it was the championship game, hindi pala. They're gunning for a sweep. Say what? Just go and watch, I was told.

Good thing I did.

It was my first UAAP game and it was awesome. In all aspect. S'yempre panalo kami! I will never ever forget that day. Walang pasok the following Monday and Tuesday. Ang saya-saya! We had an overdose of Tiger power. They're everywhere. Posters and banners congratulating them mushroomed all over campus. I finally learned the names behind that historic sweep, thanks mainly to the Varsitarian Special Edition. (Sayang talaga, I just got rid of my copy two months ago. You look... young pa naman do'n. Very young.)

Kuya Rey left us after that year and would resurface, hah, with my favorite team in the PBA, Purefoods. So I had the chance to see more of him, share more championships with him, and cry for him and the team when they loses.

To kuya Rey, this year is your tenth as a professional basketball player and quite special for you had just been named new team captain. I've always admired your on-court attitude and was one of those who prayed for you to be chosen as Cap's successor.

I would like to congratulate you for a decade of harwork and dedication to the game. As a Purefoods fan, I'm hoping and praying that you go the way of Cap who spent all his playing years at Purefoods.

Happy birthday, kuya Rey. I feel privileged to have watched you grow as a player through the years. I hope it's not too late for me to know naman the person behind the name.

Congrats again for the new role and may God bless you and your family more.

Smile, kuya Rey, you're on cam.

* * * * * * * * * *

To 16 years of sharing yourself to Purefoods fans, cheers, kuya Rey!

UAAP 2008: The End of an Era

You thought there would be enough motivation for redemption this time.

The UE Red Warriors were rebuffed once again in their bid to reclaim old UAAP glory in this year's edition of the country's most popular collegiate league. A big disappointment for their supporters for they even missed the ticket for a return trip to the finals.

They came into the 71st UAAP season armed with three championships from the off-season--the 2008 Fr. Martin's Cup, the Home and Away Invitational League and the FilOil Flying V Pre-Season Invitational Cup. They almost made it a clean sweep with four but the Nike Summer League crown--their second championship game they had to play in two days--they lost to the ADMU Blue Eagles by a point.

And as history would tell us especially with this team, the off-season performance, no matter how outstanding, does not necessarily mean the team would go all the way when the actual UAAP season starts.

This season’s bait--an additional incentive for a UAAP sweep--says that aside from clinching an outright finals berth, a squad that wins all 14 assignments in the elimination round will only need to win twice in the championship round. Its opponent, on the other hand, must win three times.

Chances of which is very remote at this point taking into consideration the rarity of the event--the second ever sweep presenting itself again only after 14 long years.

Clearly anchored on UE's tragic campaign last season, the rule though did not do much as to inspire the Warriors or any other team for that matter. Unpredictable except for one team was how the entire season was played. All the teams are getting better each year and it was just a question of who wanted the championship more.

First round

The Red Warriors continued their mastery of the 2006 champions UST Growling Tigers on opening day. They took advantage of a slowed down Jervy Cruz who was then nursing injuries.

Veterans Marcy Arellano, Elmer Espiritu and Hans Thiele joined hands to deliver UE's first win in the season after the forgettable finals stint last year.

Next victim was the NU Bulldogs, who up to this day have not realized their obvious advantage over the Warriors.

Either the Bulldogs are not really giving attention to the fact that they have more height and body than the Warriors or they just want to be forever nice to their favorite neighbor by losing to them.

James Martinez and Arellano both put on a good offensive show in that game.

Ateneo, on the other hand is their biggest puzzle. The game was Rabeh Al-Hussaini's coming out party. He practically ate the Warriors alive and Paul Lee missing the game due to dengue does nothing to downplay his monster game.

Adamson meanwhile gave them their first real shock. Still reeling from the Ateneo loss even after a full week of rest, they forgot to move on and lost again.

Lucky for them UP was there to get them back in the winning track. Thiele led the Maroon onslaught with the lead even stretching to a huge 40-point spread.

An emotional FEU team still recovering from the shock of the Mac Baracael shooting played their hearts out to shatter any thoughts of renewed invincibility the Warriors may have entertained after the blowout UP win. The game though was immediately put under protest to question some calls.

As expected, commissioner Chito Narvasa junked the protest but UE team officials wasted no time and filed an appeal to the UAAP board.

UE claimed that the shot of FEU's Marlon Adolfo should not have counted because it came when "the time flashed on the game clock was 3:03 or two seconds beyond the 24-second shot clock rule."

The commissioner said that the "alleged error was committed far away from the end of the game" and that it "did not determine the outcome of the game."

Back in action, UE exacted revenge over their tormentor last season--the DLSU Green Archers.

A spate of injuries that saw an Archer being taken out of the court and of the venue in stretchers, while two others hit the bench with a twisted right knee and a sprained ankle. They got so distracted they lost focus.

Martinez, Thiele and rookie Paul Zamar conspired to give UE their fourth win in seven games.

Two hundred thousand peso-bond money later, UE lost the appeal they elevated to the UAAP board. In a statement the board said that all teams have "to live by the errors committed by officials."

Second round

Contrary to popular belief, it pays to not pack light.

Hero of last game, Martinez had to sit out most of the first half due to improper uniform in their second meeting with the Green Archers. Apparently, he brought an old pair of shorts, not exactly a match to their new set.

It seems losing focus has become a trend.

They were instructed to bring all four sets of uniform the next game.

Motivated at last by the sorry loss, the Warriors bounced back with a big rout of NU. Espiritu and Thiele combined for 24 points, 27 rebounds and seven blocks.

A season-high 66 total rebounds, including the most number of offensive boards in the last six years at 37. It pretty much summed up the whole game.

It was also the second game a player from the opposing team left the game on a stretcher. Another Bulldog sat out the rest of the second half with a sore hip after colliding with a Warrior.

Skipper Arellano spearheaded the most lopsided victory of the season with a 30-point win over the UP Maroons. He finished with a career-high 23 points.

Their first overtime game of the season was against the Blue Eagles and they could not finish. The Warriors managed to score only seven points in the extra period as against Ateneo's 11.

Zamar shone once again the next game in their effort to keep the Adamson Falcons from sweeping them this season.

Making the final four for the seventh straight year is one thing, making it by winning over a team who's also after that last semifinal berth, effectively kicking them out of the race, is another.

Obviously frustrated that his 3P’s is failing him for the second straight year, UST head coach Pido Jarencio was thrown out of the game for physically confronting a referee.

His boys tried to save it for him but the Warriors were in more luck this time despite missing all field goals and seven out of ten free throws in the last four minutes.

Pari Llagas led the team on revenge mode. The FEU Tamaraws got what they deserved after their controversial first round win. By losing to the Warriors, they lost their solid hold to the number two position and gave UE's 'brother team' opportunity for the second semifinal bonus.

Final Four

Finishing at fourth spot with a twice-to-beat disadvantage, the Red Warriors--the second-best defensive team in the league--had to go up against the number one team and the best defensive squad of the league--the Ateneo Blue Eagles.

Bu nobody saw it coming. UAAP fans had an idea on who would come out victorious but the way it was played was a big letdown.

It was as if the Warriors did not even try.

Team captain and fifth year veteran Marcy Arellano played his final game in the league by missing all six attempts from the field and two from the foul line.

Disappointingly so but that has been the story of UE. They win big and then they lose big.

End of the Pumaren era

It was not only Arellano’s final dance, the season also was the last for his coach, at least for this team.

Five years, four final four appearances, a sweep, and a finals stint, the time has come for coach Dindo Pumaren to go.

For the record, he made UE what it is now. The vaunted press may be borrowed from another Pumaren but UE made it more lethal and definitely more effective.

He taught discipline at its best. His ways of punishment ranges from the simple and normal to bizarre almost funny.

A player once had some issues with a teammate they nearly came to blows at practice. As punishment, they do everything together--weights at dawn, meals, sit together at the bench during games, and they are not to go out of their quarters without the other. Genius.

Then there was this player who was late to report back for training from a vacation break. The good coach made him write a letter explaining the reason for being tardy--in English. The player is English language-challenged.

Where else can you see a coach still barking mad over a botched play even if they were leading by 20 big points? Only in UE.

He tried to impart to all his players everything that he has learned about the game since he started his basketball career. He was actually one of the main reasons why players chose to play for UE.

For someone whose intentions were constantly questioned and doubted--him being a former Green Archer, a former Red Cub, everything but a Red Warrior at heart, he did extremely well. He was there to coach, to mentor and be a friend to anyone who wanted to be his friend.

But the coach as they say can only do so much.

There were some rough patches along the way--the protests filed, having a player sat out a game which they did not care to explain, and the inability to win a playoff game--were the subject of endless talks and speculations.

Through it all, they managed to win games, and that's what really matters.

But school management thought otherwise so they had to let him go. They say they have given him a chance and still no championship. Ironically, they replaced him with another La Sallalite.

Another year, another season, new coach, and new players and hopefully with a different story.

A cloud of uncertainty hangs as to the future of the UE Red Warriors in season 72. Will they finally make it or will they continue to gamble?

Only one way to find out. Watch out for UAAP 2009.

UAAP 2007: Memoirs of the Lady in Red

We're not there yet.

Those four words came into mind as I was walking out of the coliseum that fateful night. I wasn't really sure what I was feeling at that moment. I was neither sad nor angry. I wasn't even crying. It was as if all emotions have been sucked out of me and I didn't know it was even possible.

It was like walking through clouds--green clouds as a matter of fact. Then I realized I was walking out of the gates named after the color of the enemy. For a few seconds I contemplated on tracing back my steps and go the other way where the color is ours to claim. But what the heck, it's a long way back and I wanted to get out of there pronto.

I tried to make sense of what happened on the way to the parking lot. I replayed the game on my mind and I can't remember anything except the point when I felt the world slowly closing in on us.

The dream turned into a nightmare and I do not know what we did to deserve it.

And speaking of nightmare, I can't believe what my friend (who I came to see the game with) said while I was silently debating whether to exit through the red or green gates. Her voice broke through my busy brain and when I realized what she said, I was beyond words. She was prancing about getting herself a championship shirt. A championship what? We just lost, didn't we? But I looked at her face and I understood.

I have known her for more than three years and I knew she has intended to go to the other school but something got in the way so she ended up in mine. I thought when it comes to the school basketball team we're together. Well, apparently not. She may have frustrations on her choice of school as I do but this one was totally out of line. I could not believe she wanted a championship shirt from the other school when it was our school that was on the losing end of that championship series. And she's still a student! Me, not anymore! Totally outrageous.

Preparation 101

I had it all planned right on the first tournament of the year. I promised myself I will not get too involved like I did last year. I will see less pre-season games, will not hang out with the players if I can help it, avoid extended pep talks, and no more playing shrink to some of them, that sort of things.

I do not want what happened last year happen again. I was practically there the rest of the way until that final four shocker. It was way too painful. I will never subject myself to a situation like that ever again.

I had a very good feeling about this season. The summer wasn't as perfect as last year's but winning all the pre-season tournaments didn't exactly help us make it to the promised land, right?

We won the first, the Home and Away Invitational League--our favorite farm league, completely ours for that was our third consecutive championship. We didn't push our luck in the Nike Summer League and the FilOil Flying V Pre-season Invitational finishing at third place in both.

It was rather welcoming to be perfectly honest. We've changed the plot and I knew something big is going to happen come the UAAP.

Anatomy of a heartbreak

UE's preparation for season 70 went underway right after the Christmas break. There was a bit of sad news when assistant coach Gido Babilonia passed away due to pneumonia. The team was allowed time to mourn and grieve then went back to work after the funeral.

They even pulled out their players from the second conference of the Philippine Basketball League to concentrate on training with the team.

And just before going into hard practice, they took a short break and flew to Hong Kong. A treat from the school management for an almost flawless 2006 season. To inspire them to do better this year I guess.

Before I forget, I just have to mention I always wear red every single day they have a game even if I wasn't watching it live and with or without television coverage.

Game number one: UST

Revenge was first and foremost on my mind when their season kicked off on opening weekend. It was pretty emotional. I caught myself crying intermittently during the game. My mother and brother who were watching with me at home probably noticed but didn't say anything, bless them.

For this was the team that broke my heart and my team's last year. The very same reason I felt sick in the stomach after Game 1 of the final four and had to use the Araneta Coliseum ladies room to throw up. Four days later, I was in shock I couldn't even remember how I got home still in one piece.

So imagine the joy I felt when the game ended.

Game number two: NU

Scary, scary game. They blew a 20-point lead capped by a technical foul and the silliest thing one could see in a basketball game--players throwing the ball at each other. Tsk, tsk. It was good a senior showed them how a UAAP game is played and saved the day for them.

Game number three: ADMU

A game against Ateneo is always special. I suppose because of what happened in 2002 that made every game a grudge match. The same way it is now and will forever be with UST.

And I love the look on the faces of every Blue Eagle supporter when they're about to lose. It's not just dejection, there’s something else, more like insult. The idea of losing to us is insulting to them. You look at them and it's there. Priceless.

Game number four: DLSU

Beating La Salle is something. Beating them by 20 points is pure and simple murder. I never thought it was possible because the two teams, coached by brothers, are so much alike in so many ways. Every game is like a sprint and the game is always decided on who gets more luck than the other at endgame.

Game number five: UP

The Warriors shot a season-high 13 three-point baskets in this game. Amazing.

Game number six: FEU

I wanted to win this game so badly so the other coach could finally show some respect.

They won, yes, but the respect thing? Not going to happen.

They were teammates before so I don’t really get it. The other coach always underestimate the Warriors. Even if we’re winning he never had something nice to say about us. What’s the deal? I don’t really understand the animosity.

Game number seven: ADU

Their first game at the Araneta and I made it a point to be there.

A first round sweep and the fourth straight blowout victory--the most number of consecutive games won by over 20 points the last five years. Impressive.

Game number eight: ADMU

This is so much better than the first encounter. I was so confident we'd win that I allowed myself to chill at halftime. I don't normally do that especially when I'm watching the game live. A friend, a former Warrior who came to watch the game with me, noticed it and commented that I'm maturing along with the Warriors. We were down at halftime and I wasn't a bit worried.

I said my silent thank you to the Blue Eagles after the game. I didn't really feel like we'd meet again in the season.

Game number nine: UST

Two for the road. Really, it's overwhelming when you win over a new enemy. And the defending champions at that.

Game number ten: NU

What is it about NU that makes UE forget what they are in the basketball court for? 13-all at the end of the first quarter? It's not even good defense. They just can't get their shots to go in.

Game number eleven: ADU

No matter how much coach Dindo Pumaren denied it, a sweep was in the horizon and no matter what he say or do, people were thinking about it.

The game's so lopsided I wanted to go out and buy myself a Starbucks at the end of every quarter.

Game number twelve: FEU

Okay, this was scary. Totally scary. For the first time in 12 games, we were down by 10 points. A double digit-lead!

But I got to give it to the Warriors. They didn't really want to lose. They just need to practice those free throws. 11 of 27 is way pathetic.

But I like what I saw and have been seeing the past games. They're showing poise and composure at endgame. Those things have never been attached to the Warriors for as long as I can remember. When and from where did they learn that?

Game number thirteen: UP

I don't exactly love games like this though I like watching ones where we are sure to win.

But this one is a very sad game. We nailed win number 13 right from the opening tip-off. It was really a no-contest. It came as a surprise that my elation over an impending win could actually change to shame.

It happened at halftime when it was UP's turn to perform. It wasn't the usual pep squad with the cheerleaders but a different team, more like a band.

As I was watching them I was moved. There they were with smiles on their faces cheering and almost pleading with their crowd to cheer with them. I could just imagine what's going through their minds while they were doing their routine.

I couldn't help it, I cried. It was just so sad.

Game number fourteen: DLSU

How 'sweep' it is.

I now have full bragging rights to witnessing a double sweep. I'm proud to say I was there the first time and I did it again.

The first one in 1993 with my old school, sweeter because it was automatic championship but this one though doesn't give us the crown, meant an automatic finals slot. Nevertheless this was great. Beyond great for this means we no longer have to go through the final four! Woohoo! Our track record speaks for itself, I don’t really have to explain.

The game was so close it was a blur. I was practically up on my feet the whole time. I actually had to ask, what did I pay tickets for, for my bag to sit on?

There was a slight distraction in the name of a punching incident. Before that, there were a lot of pushing, shoving, yelling, and cursing. Basketball is the game, people!

When we lost to UST last year in the final four and they went on to win the championship, they credited their victory to divine intervention. They said they got help from a departed teammate. I felt discriminated. Like you need one to win?

Though to confess, I did ask for that kind of help at endgame. King Archer was to shoot free shots to tie or win the game. I went, "A little help here, coach Gido..." And King Archer missed. I was too stunned it worked I forgot to repeat it for the second shot. He made it and sent the game to overtime.

At the end of the extra period, I was too happy it's over and that we won. I kind of forgot what the win meant for us. It took a moment for me to realize that it wasn't just a win, we're in the finals! We actually made it there! Yey!

Finals Game 1

I hate to admit I have thought about the scenario of us losing in the finals after the big elimination sweep. I tried to push it away from my mind but the 20-day break is such a long time it kept coming back on a daily basis.

I don't believe in long breaks. It breaks rhythm, momentum, makes you rusty, and people even forget all about you while the other three teams slug it out for the other finals slot.

To the background you go especially if the two teams that were boxing it out to have the right to face you are the fiercest rivals the league has ever known. They even made the New York Times, bloody hell!

Upon entering the coliseum, I saw it. It was daunting and it wasn't good. I knew deep in my heart the Warriors would be intimidated. They weren't used to playing before a really huge Araneta crowd. That would give them a shock. And La Salle is so used to that. They just came out from three blockbuster games against their arch-rival. Even their rookies were not new to playing before that kind of crowd. I was so freaked out and it was clear the Warriors shared my exact sentiments.

They turned the ball over 31 times. That was a lot!

They were so nervous they react to every sound the crowd made. I cringed at every foul, turnover, even shot they made. They committed every possible mistake there is to a basketball game. It wasn't their game and I can't believe I was there at ringside watching them self-destruct once again.

I usually pray the rosary twice in a regular game. I do it before the match then at halftime. But because I was freaking out along with them I did it every quarter. Just about the only thing I can do for them that's possible under the circumstances.

The only thing in the game that I can vividly remember was the three-point shot that made it 63-all. That was so huge I was momentarily disoriented. I knew there was a shot that came through because there was a big roar from the red side of the crowd that included me. But there was also an explosion like a bomb, could I have heard correctly? Was I imagining things?

Thankfully I was. Mine was one of the voices that produced that roaring sound after the big shot that I clearly thought there was some kind of explosion somewhere. The reason I thought of that was I couldn't hear a thing after. I guess I went momentarily deaf after that huge, huge shot.

Jeez, my mind was so quick to think of Rizal Day bombing, the World Trade Center and yes, Saving Private Ryan (bombs and explosives, you know).

Anyway, when the game was over, they won, we lost--our first in the season. And most importantly, the Archers were just a win away from ending our dream.

I hated myself again for entertaining that stupid thought.

Finals Game 2

I tried to feel upbeat, relaxed and positive about the whole thing. If we can win 14 straight, we can win two straight!

I called the Warriors' quarters on the eve of Game 2. I just wanted to wish them luck and ask them how they were but what they told me made me forget my agenda.

I tried calling TB first but he wasn't answering. RL too, so I went on to call HT. Turned out he was on the computer surfing the net. After we said our hellos, he so casually told me he was actually looking at my picture on the net. I went blank.

What? Me? I don't even have a Friendster account! What picture was he talking about?!

I heard the sound of a door opening on his side then I distinctly heard EE asking him who he was talking to. When told, he yelled, "Ate Che! Nasa internet ka oh!"

In seconds, I was in panic mode. I wasn't ready for that. Didn't see that coming. Like, ever. I refuse to sign up in any social networking site because I don't want people checking out my picture every time they come across my name. That to me is an invitation for more bashing. As if I haven't got enough with every forum or discussion group post I regularly make.

I asked for details first. What was the picture about, where it was posted and who put it there. Then I wanted to die.

It turned out to be on an online news source covering the UAAP. I was in the photo gallery of Game 1. Holy crap! They have got to be kidding me.

It didn't help that I haven't got internet access that night so I called my cousin to assist me in my dying process. I had him check the site and look for the photo in question. It took us a while because he didn't know where to look and I can't tell him exactly where for I haven't visited the site for maybe about a year. I was really hoping there wasn't any to find. That the boys were just pulling my leg and I can still show up at the game with head unbowed.

Then my cousin's laughter rang through the radiation-contaminated phone line. He found it. He congratulated me for making the World Wide Web and it's not even my own online account.

I asked him to email it to me so I can open it on my phone and see it for myself.

Login. Open mail. Download attachment. Oh. My. God.

What did I ever do to deserve it?!?

I wanted to vanish, evaporate, be gone from the face of the earth, and most especially, I wanted to die.

The Warriors have seen it, which means other people have seen it, and in the absence of an official website, they turn to that site. OMG.

I debated heavily whether I should watch Game 2 live. My first reason being, will I be some sort of a jinx because I was there the last time and we lost? Then there's the matter with the photo. I really was embarrassed. I'm not one to get a kick out of things like that. I hated it.

They gave out the season awards right before the game and I was touched by both pep squads cheering for the players of the other schools with their very own cheers. It's like they brought their own cheering squad with them. That's really what the UAAP is all about. That was awesome, really inspiring.

I've been a fan of basketball too long to understand what they say about separating the men from the boys. That game was it. A complete picture of what's not supposed to happen when you wanted to salvage lost pride and stretch the series to a third game.

They were newbies in the championships and it showed. They spent too much time complaining about calls and non-calls when they're supposed to be concentrating on how to win the game.

When the Archers' lead went up to as much as 14, the nagging feeling came back and screamed at me clearly. But I didn't want to lose! Not that game, not that time, not that season, not again!

But it's there for me to see whether I like it or not. I kept praying but the team wasn’t responding. How can they win if they aren't even trying? They weren't cooperating with what I was praying for. God helps those who help themselves, haven't they heard of that?

Seconds before the last two minutes I looked up the score board and immediately I felt the world closing in on us. I sensed it and there's nothing else to do but deal with it.

As I was willing myself to watch (in slow motion as it is when you're about to see something that you don't want to see), I tried to control whatever emotions I have at that moment to prevent a total breakdown. Then something caught my eye and I couldn't believe it at first.

I had to check on the game clock just so I was sure the game's not over yet. Popular alumnus, a public official, was walking out of the coliseum with his people. What the..?! But the game hasn't ended yet!

He even had the audacity to wave at the UE gallery as he was walking out. What values were he trying to teach us, leaving his team when they're about to lose? He walked out on us! He didn't even give the team and the school the courtesy they deserve. It's the least he can do under the circumctances.

To concede is an honorable thing to do but to walk out when the game’s not over yet is the most affronting thing ever.

To think I have voted for him twice! I wasn't sure if I was imagining it but I think I heard boos from the gallery.

From that moment on, I watched in silence as the minute and seconds passed by. I was half praying the boys hopefully would take it as men. No weeping, no bottle or towel throwing, and yeah, spare the chairs, too.

I heard the buzzer and found myself surprisingly collected as the green celebration started. To this day I've never confirmed if there really was but I thought I heard fireworks outside the coliseum.

I looked around my side of the crowd and what I saw broke my heart even more. I saw the players' mothers with tears on their faces seeking comfort from each other.

I even saw one who went two rows down to give another mom a hug. Some with their daughters just sat there like me just staring at the party we're not welcome to join.

If it's any consolation there is no We Are the Champions song in the background.

I was so totally dreading that. I'm absolutely sure that would be my cue to cry if ever they start playing that. I was so grateful they didn't.

The sound system didn't work the way it was supposed to work. I'm pretty sure televiewers could hear whatever the emcee was saying but swear I didn't hear a thing. So I'm fortunate I didn't get to hear them announcing the season's champions. Have I gone deaf? Maybe I did. Conveniently so.

I focused my attention to the Warriors in front of me. They were in shock, couldn't believe their eyes and I felt sorry for them. When an Archer approached them to shake their hands, they at first didn't know what to do with the extended hand. One Warrior even looked from the hand to the face before he could actually react.

Before that they were just there standing, looking everywhere from the ceiling to the floor, to the celebration on the other side of the court, and the capacity crowd that filled the Big Dome.

As if to prolong the agony, it took a while before everything got settled so they could sing the school hymn for the last time in the season and be handed out the bridesmaid trophy by league officials. When they were done, they all walked in silence to the dugout, heads bowed, and their hearts still bleeding from the piercing arrows the enemy has just sent their way.

I remember asking myself, why am I not feeling anything about the loss? I'm absolutely sure I feel sorry for the players, the coaches, their families and friends, school officials, yes, even them for they handled this wrongly again, but I feel nothing about the dream that ended just right there. Does that mean we deserve to lose?

In my effort to break the ice that was slowly freezing me, I did something very stupid and very out of character. I yelled "Merry Christmas!" out loud, alone. In honor of the colors the two schools represent. My friend shrieked in horror, looked at me then very cautiously eased slightly away from me.

Crap.

But whatever. We just lost. I'm allowed to be dense once in a while.

A very long night

When we finally decided to go out and face the real world (and more green celebrations I assumed), I was calm and collected to my surprise. I searched for answers. Unable to find any at that moment because the whole world seemed to be green and me in red looked ridiculously out of place.

Did I mention my friend, before she started talking about getting a championship shirt, discarded her red shirt first for a more neutral white? Lucky for her I’m not in a murderous mood, I could easily bury her alive right there in Araneta grounds. I was just grateful she agreed to stay and wait for the Warriors so I let it pass.

It felt like forever before they finally came out of the coliseum. The Archers have long been gone before they did. I honestly didn’t know what to do or say to them once they start coming out. At the sight of the first Warrior walking out of the gates, there was applause. More applause when everybody else followed. I was at a loss for words. That was so heartwarming.

They didn’t stay long. The others preferred to walk straight to their bus. Some took time to say hi to their families but off to the bus they all go.

I knew it was time to leave since I don’t know what else to do and say anymore. I just wanted to see them before I go. I felt it was just right for them at least to see that their friends and supporters were still there.

As I turned to leave I came face to face with the man responsible for bringing them to where they are today, coach Dindo. I meant to say something but couldn’t find the right words so I just smiled and gave him a little wave. I can’t remember if he acknowledged it or if he even saw me, it wasn’t that important anymore. I did what I was supposed to do and it was really time to go home.

More than anyone else, my heart goes out to coach Dindo. This is his team and they couldn’t be where they are today if it weren’t for him. I know of players, past and present, who really look up to him and respect him as much as they respect their own fathers.

I even have friends who are neither from UE nor any UAAP-member schools who watch the games with me because of him. Purefoods (the PBA team) fanatics, those who were old enough to remember he played for the Hotdogs, are all very supportive and proud of his accomplishments as a coach.

So if I ever do cry, me being a Purefoods fan as well, will cry more for coach Dindo than I will for the school. Honestly. So sue me.

When silence is the best comfort

The ride home was uneventful, I was still searching for answers that will probably not present itself in the next 24 hours. I realized I only got a single text message since the final buzzer sounded and it came from someone I just met a couple of months ago who didn’t have the faintest idea what I was feeling at that moment (I haven’t got a clue either). Better luck next time, she said. I felt anger rising through me.

Better luck next time? Bloody hell. Did she even know our history? Did she actually know who she was talking to? Was she aware of what winning 14 straight meant? Has she had time to fully appreciate that fact, that feat? She texted me just so she can text me something and I didn’t like it.

I was and will forever be grateful to the many others who chose not to text nor call me right after the game. I hate generic answers as much as generic comments. You just don’t know what losing does to me. I can be jolly and cool about it other times but I can also be so devastated (but only for a day) that a single inappropriate comment will trigger the monster in me to come out. Whining used to be my thing but as I got older I found other ways to bring hell to people who dare to cross me.

People who know me, knew. Like my mother and brother who I walked in on when I got home. They didn’t even utter a single word. Nothing, nada. Bless them again.

In the privacy of my bedroom I asked myself, shouldn’t I be crying now? The absurdity of the question hit me. Shouldn't feelings be felt not asked? Another stupid question. Have I finally cracked? I was being weird, it’s not normal.

I sent a text message to close friends telling them I’m sane, a bit dazed maybe but definitely not bawling over the loss. A few more exchanges with the people from UE who were with me along the way cleared my head a little. We’re all in this together has never been a more appropriate phrase.

I don’t remember what time sleep found me or if I was the one who found it first. I woke up in the morning feeling empty and dreading reading the papers. When I finally found the courage to read, I had to run back to my room to escape being seen.

Hot tears at last escaped the tear ducts and slowly made their way down my cheeks. I wasn’t sobbing, just silent tears that were making my eyes sting like hell. The more I read the more tears coming down. Maybe it’s best to stop? I did.

I finished reading the papers by mid-afternoon when I picked it up again so I can be done with it. The sinking feeling was there again but I wasn’t feeling empty anymore. I guessed I’m accepting it faster than I thought.

As I have said, I've been a basketball fan long enough to understand how things go. You just have to deal with it and get on with life. There's more to basketball than winning.

It was only after five days did I conjure enough will power to go see the Warriors. It was MF’s birthday, perfect excuse. Not mere okay-you-just-lost-I'll-take-you-guys-out-to-dinner thing.

A smaller group met me for early dinner as some of them had gone on an early vacation and some with PBL practices, birthday boy even failed to make it.

At least they were through moping. That they were now going out. They told me most of them haven’t been back attending classes, don’t want to face their classmates for fear of in-your-face bashing and more insults. This is UE after all, people here can be ruthless (borrowed from an acquaintance) and a little thick (my very own, backed by personal experience).

We just looked at one another first, I didn’t feel the need to ask them how they were coping. This isn’t the first time they lost a big game, I figured they knew now how to handle it. I, personally, am getting used to it.

Interestingly, they cast the first stone, to break the ice so to speak. JC strolled in, face lighting up upon seeing me. I thought he was just setting the mood so I won’t start yelling at him for it took him ages to get out of bed, change and walked from school to Yellow Cab at the corner of Recto and Morayta. He sat beside me and with the air of someone commenting about the weather, mentioned my photo from the net.

I couldn’t help it, I smiled, even if I wasn't comfortable with the topic being pursued. Of all the things to say, it would be that.

I should have known better that he wouldn’t be the person to just be satisfied with that quip. After I recovered and decided I would just pretend it doesn’t exist, he was right on target again. He told me they made it their wallpaper—of their computer in the quarters! Too dumbstruck to react, I thought it best to just concentrate on the pizza rather than to fight it out with someone who’s obviously on a roll. Ooh, I so wanted to kill him.

I made a mental note to just ask the others, in private, if it was true. I never got around to asking. The embarrassment of it all made it more difficult for me to ask.

We talked about the finals briefly, focusing on the lessons rather than the emotions that go with it.

JC told me that he’s finding it hard to play again, PBL practice is torture and he wanted a break from playing but knew it wasn’t possible. RL wanted to just be done with the exams and go home to Mindanao for the long break. HT provided the answers to my little questions, he shared their innermost thoughts and revisited some scenes of the championship series with me.

PL was too busy eating to join in the conversation. He has a couple of one-liners that didn’t register with me. What you see on court, that’s him alright, can’t be missed. RR was his usual self off-court, he talks a lot. You can’t see it in his on-court persona. ES, an ex-Warrior, kept our small group entertained with his antics, injecting enough humor to keep things light when things got a little serious.

I knew when I left Recto that everything will change from then on.

The finals appearance was a whole new experience for all of us. We are aware that we blew it and we blew it big time. This team will be mentioned every time people talk about the biggest debacle, disappointments of the season, season’s super shocker, sorry team, and a host of other things related to losing. They just cemented their stature as the league’s undisputed Heartbreak Kids.

Their biggest achievement, a 14-game sweep, meant nothing in the end. All for naught. They got swept by the sweep that mattered.

A whole new ballgame

Maybe the coach thought his team needed a longer time for healing, he withdrew from the Collegiate Champions League, thus giving them more time to lick their wounds. They were supposed to defend their crown this year having won it the previous edition.

The reason for the withdrawal given was he didn’t like how they were ranked. The league seeded the Red Warriors fourth behind UAAP third-placer Ateneo. DLSU and San Beda College, the NCAA champions, were ranked first and second respectively.

Personally, I thought he just didn’t want to cross paths with DLSU at least for now. The pain and memories of the UAAP finals were still too fresh to encourage another face-off. That was too soon.

Alas, DLSU also withdrew. With probably the same reason as the one on my mind. Maybe both coaches were just giving way to each other but forgot to notify the other of the intention so they ended up doing the same thing. Brothers they really are.

The Warriors went back to competitive basketball on the first day of the last month of the year. An early start for the new college basketball season. They were off to a good start as always, chalking three straight wins before everybody went on holiday break.

Will they go all the way? Will we ever?

I can honestly say they did their best. They gave it their best shot. It just wasn't enough to bring home the elusive UAAP crown back to Recto. I can think of a hundred possible reasons why but it doesn't matter anymore. We're done, it has happened and we can't turn back time to correct the mistakes.

The team is losing four players to graduation (not exactly the thing with the diploma though I hope they all consider at least that piece of paper) and they all played very important roles in this 2007 campaign. They will be missed.

The cheering I won't miss. Maybe the school could do something about it? A total overhaul maybe? I'm not a fan of copied cheers and drumbeats that sound like the other school's. Could we be more original and compose stuffs we can actually call our own? Please?

We're not there yet

We're not and I do not know when we will ever be. The thing with this season is we know where we did wrong, as far as the two games in the finals were concerned. It was there, clear as crystal and it wasn't as if we almost made it. We didn't even come close. We made it to the finals but the other team played like champions from the moment they first entered the hardcourt.

They knew of their goal and how to go about it to achieve it. We, on the other hand, set our goal, ironically the same as theirs, but we didn't know what we first had to do to get it.

The team lost the spunk and yes, swagger that brought them straight to the finals. Gone was the confidence I saw in them the first 14 games. Could the long break have something to do with it?

The school too as a whole contributed to the collapse. After the elimination sweep, there were celebrations and personal appearances by the Warriors to just about every school program there was at that time. Thanksgiving masses were offered almost everyday, alumni and school management hosted dinners to honor them, it was as if the season was over and they were already champions.

They celebrated early, could that be the case? They had too many activities during the long break. It seemed to me like they lost their focus. Maybe team and school officials don't want to add pressure to the team by making a big deal out of the preparation to the finals so the players weren't quartered together without contact with family and friends just like what they did last year.

But the fact remains, they lost the biggest game of their lives. I can only hope they use this experience to aspire to do better next year. Nowhere to go but up. Second now, should be first next time.

It's time they really understand what pride is all about because they don't seem to know what it meant exactly.

So maybe next season? I'll be around. I can't stay away from the team and the games. I've learned that a long time ago. Resistance is futile.

Win or lose, I'll be there. Probably still in red.

Post-mortem 2006: Oops, They Did It Again

It was supposed to have a fairy-tale ending.

But the fairy godmother fell asleep and the spell was automatically broken. And when she did wake up, she cast the spell again but mistakenly on a different team.

For the third time since the Final Four format was introduced in the UAAP, the University of the East Red Warriors failed yet again to make it to the finals despite having the twice-to-beat advantage.

It is becoming a habit and it is not a very good one. They even anoint champions. Every time they have the twice-to-beat, they lose it and their final four foes always end up winning the crown.

They have played kingmaker to the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers in 1994, the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles in 2002, and the Tigers again this year.

It’s like a curse or something.

In a season shaken up by the absence of a perennial powerhouse, the race to the finals took a different route and became a free-for-all.

UE, coming off a spectacular summer with a three-league sweep of all the pre-season tournaments, the Home and Away Invitational League, the Micaba and the Fr. Martin's Cup-Nike Summer League, started the season which they are hosting with a bang.

The greatest coaches and players the school has produced were in attendance when they trounced the Adamson University Falcons on opening day to further boost their invincibility factor.

But invincible they were not. After posting their second victory they fall victim to the age-old enemy--complacency. UST caught them sleeping on the job and pulled a fast one that sent them back to earth.

Freaked out after the loss they almost let the next game slip away. A brilliant endgame by Bonbon Custodio saved it for them. And when they are freaked out, that's when they usually start to falter. The sweep-seeking Eagles were just too much for the Warriors, as always.

They closed out the first round of eliminations with a win over the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons then romped off to four straight, exacting revenge on UST, repeating over the Far Eastern University Tamaraws and the National University Bulldogs.

Coach Dindo Pumaren after the UST game even said, "This is the UE basketball that I wanted to see."

Just when you thought they would go all the way to the number one spot, they stop. The first back-to-back losses came when the season is winding down. The Warriors failed to repeat against the Falcons and the Maroons. They even gave UP a graceful exit by losing to them.

But they did bounce back with a big win by escaping past the Eagles to end the eliminations. In what was supposed to be a preview of the championship, they played their brand of basketball, relaxed, let the other team catch up then recovered just in time.

The thing about winning their last elimination game is everything tend to stop there. The Warriors has never since 1994 gotten past the final four. Beyond that is still a mystery to them.

Then the biggest turnaround that shocked the whole UE community, the Warriors with the twice-to-beat incentive again bowed out of the season by losing twice in a row to UST in the final four.

Game one was a breeze an ordinary UE fan would only remember they lost because it was what the score board told them.

Game two on the other hand was with a lot of drama that started even before the opening tip-off.

In keeping with the lesson the season is trying to convey, that there is no price too steep to pay for discipline, UE did what the UAAP has done to the De La Salle University.

All-important big game notwithstanding, school officials suspended their best performing Warrior of the season for "disciplinary measures based on infraction on certain team rules." No further explanation given.

They probably won’t admit it but it shook the whole team and put them in disarray even if they knew about it hours before the game. They were groping for form the entire game.

In fairness to the Warriors, they didn't just roll over and die. They did fight to the very end. They all tried very hard to fill up the void. They played as one team, everybody stepped up and this is probably the best team game ever played by the Warriors the whole season.

It was just that the other team played better and with more luck.

Coach Dindo missed his three-year target but this 69th season is truly a memorable one.

To the Warriors of this season: Marcy Arellano, Toto Bandaying, Mark Borboran, Lawrence Briones, Jorel Canizares, Bonbon, Elmer Espiritu, Kelvin Gregorio, Roberts Labagala, Rudy Lingganay, Pari Llagas, James Martinez, Raffy Reyes and Hans Thiele; you all tried your best, it still was a good run.

Heartbroken by the UAAP debacle, the Red Warriors bounced back to win the Collegiate Champions League that featured the top 16 varsity teams of the country.

It was one reason to celebrate but the last tournament of the year validated what was being said about them for years.

The Recto-based squad lost to the comebacking DLSU Green Archers in the semi-finals of the FilOil-Flying V Homegrown Cup then threw away another opportunity for self-redemption by losing to the Tamaraws of FEU in the battle for third place.

They can't finish what they started, they always lose steam midway, they don't have the finishing kick, and the most insulting of them all, that they don’t have enough heart to win. That's how the entire basketball world describes the Red Warriors.

Overall, it wasn't a disappointing year. Though they missed out again on the biggest prize which is the UAAP championship, at least they have four other titles they all worked so hard to earn and which they all have to defend come next year.

One respected champion coach called them just minor league champs to challenge them to do better than the last time, they didn't rise up to the challenge. Instead they repeated an old mistake. And that mistake happens to be a repeat of a very old mistake. Oops.

Fourth Again

Controversial. The word perfectly summarizes the University of the East Red Warriors' season 68 campaign.

Eyebrows were raised at the nine freshmen in the lineup this season. Last year's team a rookie team? Ha!

With only five holdovers from last season's team, the Warriors plunged into action right on opening day and lost as expected to powerhouse and this year's champions Far Eastern University Tamaraws. The Tams were simply too much for the Warriors' very young crew.

First big brush with the Big C, as in controversy, came shooting straight at them when the De La Salle University Green Archers placed their first round game that the Warriors won by a point, under protest. They cited non-calls on two supposedly goal-tending violations in the game but the University Athletic Association of the Philippines' technical committee dismissed it after deliberations.

They closed out the the first round of eliminations with a 5-2 win-loss record. The second loss dealt by the streaking Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles.

The second round they opened with a bang by beating the Tams and ending FEU's seven-game winning streak. A job not new to the Warriors as it was also them that halted the Eagles' 7-0 run last season.

The Eagles though was the biggest puzzle for UE as they lost again in their second round game.

Controversy came knocking at their door anew when the game against DLSU in the second round was again put under protest. But this time they did the protesting. They questioned the resetting of the game clock that gave the Archers time to score and tie the game that forced the overtime. DLSU won the game after the five-minute extension.

The protest as everybody knew by now, was upheld, the win awarded to UE then DLSU appealed, UAAP Board met, took the win back from UE and ordered a replay.

As if to say it wasn't done with UE yet, controversy again tried but failed to find residence in Recto, Manila. Rookie sensation Bonbon Custodio's eligibility to play in the league was questioned. Timing though wasn't perfect as there's a league policy that bars any team from questioning the eligibility of the players from the other teams after the first round of eliminations. Alas for the University of the Philippines' Fighting Maroons, who brought the issue to public consciousness, the Final Four door was again slammed shut with them outside, by no other than Bonbon and the Red Warriors.

But that was the last good thing to happen to the Red Warriors. Marcy Arellano, the 2004 Rookie of the Year, downed by dengue fever, missed the replay match against DLSU that cost them the twice-to-beat advantage. He likewise missed the playoff for third and evident in their Final Four game against the Tams that he hasn't got his rhythm back.

It went downhill for the Warriors since the replay match. They were running number two and three all season but failed to win the games that matter.

They had an amazing run. Unbelievable even. Sophomores Marcy and Earn Saguindel together with super rookies Mark Anthony Borboran, Jorel Canizares, Bonbon, Elmer Espiritu, Kelvin Gregorio, James Martinez and Angelus 'Bogart' Raymundo worked tirelessly in the eliminations to keep them at the upper half of the standings.

What happened then? Where did they go wrong?

The team's inexperience did them in. Pressure caught up with them in the end. Their inability to deal with it in the homestretch is something the team should work on in the off-season. The rookies may not be your typical rookies as only a couple of them were actually fresh out of high school basketball, the rest were transferees from other schools and those taking their graduate studies in UE, so they're not exactly young. The reason probably is this being the UAAP where the games, level of play, competition, and atmosphere are so much different from the other collegiate leagues.

The players' mental and emotional maturity proved lethal to their cause. Shock and awe worked wonders not for them but against them. Sure, everybody enjoyed every slam, every block, every shot from the outside coming from them but when they do get intimidated, they get intimidated big time.

Adamson University Soaring Falcons, National University Bulldogs, the Maroons and the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, they disposed of convincingly, sweeping them off in the eliminations. The Tams and Archers they beat once but the Eagles they weren't able to get past thrice this season.

It's interesting how this season's Final Four cast performed. UE never being able to beat ADMU in three games, ADMU wasn't able to pass the DLSU test three times and DLSU failing to score a win in all four games against FEU. UE no match to ADMU but ADMU no match to DLSU. UE beat DLSU in the first round. DLSU no match to FEU. UE won their second round game against FEU. ADMU escaped past FEU also in the second round. Interesting.

The UE Red Warriors lived up to the hype and managed a return trip to the Final Four. Coach Dindo Pumaren had hoped to place a notch higher at third but his boys failed to deliver. They did well at first then the collapse happened.

To say that they had a disappointing season would be an insult to the other four teams that didn't reach the semis but there really is no other word fit to describe it but that. They made the news by winning ten times, made even more news with the protests and still making news as to what happened to them, at least within the walls of UE.

As the UE community say goodbye to Earn, Bogart, Jerome Lapena, Jonathan Babilonia and Luis Palaganas, they're left with no other choice but hope next year will be better. Maybe it'll be theirs next time.

May the story of this season serve its purpose and be the motivating factor for the Warriors' return next year. A newspaper columnist even called them a "mere scheming gatecrasher the last couple years." It is for the Red Warriors to take the challenge. Change the plot.

As for me, I will continue to watch the games, support my school, win or lose, anemic game or not, spark or no spark, I'll be there. I'll just keep believing our time will come. Hopefully soon. And please, less controversial too.

Confessions of a Reluctant Purefoods Fan

Six of 23. Way past my quota. I managed to watch six live games last conference. A far cry from the one the previous conference and the two in the transition tournament. Mind you, I paid for the four and another one for an extra ticket the last game.

I never did like watching the games live for various reasons. 

First, I can't concentrate on the game. There's so much to see and hear when you're there. I usually lock myself in my room and watch alone every time Purefoods plays. 

Second, I don't get to hear what the commentators are saying. Someone is not playing or someone gets hurt, I have no idea why and what really happened to them. They don't show halftime features either. 

Third, I always have a problem finding someone to watch the games with. I'm not exactly friendless, it's just that basketball is as alien to my friends as Quidditch is to ordinary Muggles. But I do have a friend who watches the games with me whenever she can. Problem is, Purefoods always loses every single time she's with me. I don’t know why. Lastly, a patron ticket at the Araneta costs more than what my parents spent as matriculation fee for my entire high school education. Not a joke, you can check with my school.

But it's different now. I endured teasing and insults, some meaningfully and with great intentions to the downright hilarious from family and friends whenever I go out to watch a game. They were like, "Oh, there's still a PBA?" Forgive my cousin whose work prevents him from watching as much television as possible. He's not as normal as he used to be. Michael Jordan retired and he lost interest. Never was a fan of local basketball, that one. 

"There’s actually someone like you watching the PBA games live, I mean aside from their families? Are you going out with a player now?" Duh. That was my lawyer-friend talking but that doesn't stop him from being an idiot. Nothing beats my mother who asked not just once (but twice…), "UAAP na ba?" Over the summer, hello?!

So what made me go out and leave the comforts of my room (and brave traffic too I should add) to go and watch the games live? Cheesy, yes, but I owe it to Team Purefoods, the Yahoo! group and the people there who welcomed me into their lives despite my ludicrous personality.

I never thought it would be possible. I have to admit it took me ages to decide to attend the first party and to agree to come watch the first game with everybody. I was still unsure whether to show up or not at the first game that I even let myself watch the first quarter at home then forced myself to leave the house at the start of the second. I came in time for the third quarter. Ha!

Friends or just mere acquaintances, it doesn't really matter at this point. Time is essential in building great relationships. Right now, I'm just plain glad I can watch the games without asking my not-so-lucky-friend to come along for someone I know is bound to be there watching the game. Enough with blackmails and dinner promises after just so I have someone to go with. Boyfriends are out of the question. Haven't been with someone who's also a Purefoods fan. Not fun watching when you have someone with you cheering for the other team. Though now the guilt factor is there when I didn't watch and they lost and my only excuse for not watching was that I didn't feel like going out.

War room at times, I have found friends in the group. So I'd like to thank them for luring me out my house to become a true Purefoods fan. I've been told it's not enough watching the games on television and being a member of the group, you have to be there physically to give support. I still don't agree with that but they have a point there somewhere.

To AP, Al, Alva, Arlyn, Au, Botchok, Buchay, Chandz, Chel, Clarie, Clarisse, Crysta, Crystal, Kuya D, Denise, Ella, Esther, Ge, Gerald, Ian, Kuya James, Jena, Jen, Jheza, Jordi, Kath, Kaye E, Kaye G, Kya, Lara, Murrei, Teya, Kring, Maris, Rose, Melissa, Migs, Yhame, Phoebs, Pie, Princess, Rhea, Mae, Aben, Roseanne, Ryan, Tin, Ting and Zinz; thanks for putting up with me. For texting uncontrollably and an always riotous atmosphere in the chatroom when I'm in the weirdest of moods. Have patience though, I'm here to stay.

To the Hotdogs, Eddie, James, Paul, Cap Rey, Rich, Tonyboy, and Papa Jun for being nice when I know it's not the easiest thing to do.

To Sir Pardo, who pressured me into watching the rubber match of the wild card playoffs last January and to Bossing Cap Alvin for picking up the phone that somehow added to the pressure. It could have been different if I didn't make that call when told to do so.

So we lost and got booted out thrice last season including the transition tournament. Semis dreams still a dream but there's more to life than winning. You just have to learn to appreciate the simple things in life. No major injuries, the team able to win games (it's better than not winning at all, you now), Kerby and James in the national training pool (James now engaged), no disbandment rumors, and personally, making friends with fellow fans.

A championship is a championship, who doesn't want one? But if it's not there yet, continue to hope and pray that everything falls into the right places for the team when the next season starts. And to an ordinary fan like me, it's not what the history books are saying that matters, it's the simple joy of seeing my favorite team on court playing the game we all love.

Membership Perks

James Yap Yahoo Group Membership Privileges

Join This Group!

The moment you clicked on that box you are doomed, er, entitled to great things. Let me count the ways.

1. You become an official member of the group (of course, silly).

2. You get to interact with fellow James Yap fans and maybe even end up being friends with your co-members.

3. You get updated on what's happening with James and the team even if you didn't understand what Jason Webb, Dominic Uy, Eric Reyes and Peter Martin said in their reports.

4. You don't need to buy newspapers, magazines or visit their websites for news about James, Purefoods, the PBA, and Philippine basketball in general. Lots of good souls here who share them with us, thank you very much.

5. You start to realize (first time in your life you have been presented real proof) that people are so different from each other, you now stop wondering why the term "world peace" can win you crowns in beauty pageants.

6. You tend to be shocked at the words used by your co-members to emphasize their points. Really, people, forgot what they taught you in GMRC class?

7. You're torn between exasperation and disgust (well okay, pity) at Friendster, Myspace, hi5 and Ringo invitations sent to the whole group. (Ooh, you've got a lot of friends, great! So how do you know Dobby? What, you don't know who he is and you've got him in your list?! Whoa, this is a popularity contest!)

Same goes to forwarded e-mails that do nothing but clog your inbox.

8. You begin to accept that not everybody who has an e-mail account knows how to reply to e-mails. You just have to be patient, look for it in the middle, at the bottom of the page and sometimes replies come with the wrong replies. It will force you to ask yourself if it's just you or your computer, which is which?

9. If you haven't realized it yet, you have now, the group, the perfect example of what's wrong with our society. That you can always ridicule, malign, curse to oblivion, and insult a public figure (in our case, the players, the coaching staff, the management, James sometimes and the girls in his life) and be perfectly fine with it. But the moment you do the same thing to non-public figures (that means all of us here) it's like you've just committed the most heinous crime known to mankind.

And if you try to be clever by giving someone a dose of his own medicine, that someone will cry foul and tell the whole group how mean you are. C'mon, you reap what you sow, man!

9. Patience is a virtue. So they say. So if your co-members said something stupid, just grin and bear it. It's your choice you joined this group.

10. This may sum it all up, being a member of this group forced my gray matter working double time to answer a question that popped up on my mind the first week I'm a member here. Why do the members here hate every girl who gets involved with James?

Why indeed?

See, these are all but just few of the reasons why you are so lucky you are a member of this group. So just sit back and relax when you're reading your mails.

Important Rule:
There is nothing wrong with voicing your own opinion but everything comes with responsibility. Remember the golden rule. Treat others only in ways that you're willing to be treated in the same exact situation. And please, please don't speak about things you know nothing of.

Membership Privileges

Team Purefoods Yahoo Group Membership Privileges

Join This Group!

The moment you clicked on that box you are doomed, er, entitled to great things. Let me count the ways.

1. You become an official member of the group (of course, silly).

2. You get to interact with fellow Purefoods fans (we had infiltrators before though) and maybe even end up being friends with your co-members.

3. You get updated on what's happening with the team aside from what you're seeing on television. You kinda know of new players suiting up even before Peter Martin and Jason Webb get wind of it.

4. You don't need to buy newspapers or visit their websites for news about the team, the PBA and Philippine basketball in general. We have an official news clipper, thank you very much.

5. Then you start to realize (first time in your life you have been presented real proof) that people are so different from each other, you now stop wondering why the term "world peace" can win you crowns in beauty pageants.

6. You tend to be shocked at the words used by your co-members to emphasize their points. Really, people, forgot what they taught you in GMRC class?

7. You're torn between exasperation and disgust (well okay, pity) at Friendster, Myspace, hi5 and Ringo invitations sent to the whole group. (Ooh, you've got a lot of friends, great! So how do you know Norbert? What, you don't know who he is and you've got him in your list?! Whoa, this is a popularity contest!)

8. If you haven't realized it yet, you have now, the group, the perfect example of what's wrong with our society. That you can always ridicule, malign, curse to oblivion, and insult a public figure (in our case, the players, the coaching staff and the management) and be perfectly fine with it. But the moment you do the same thing to non-public figures (that means all of us here) it's like you've just committed the most heinous crime known to mankind.

And if you try to be clever by giving someone a dose of his own medicine, that someone will cry foul and tell the whole group how mean you are. C'mon, you reap what you sow, man!

9. Oh then you get to know your regular irritation -- Little Miss Perfect, who made it her personal mission to defend whoever is the subject of much ridicule. Her battle cry: to right every wrong. By right, it means her idea of right. She calls the attention of members using bad words, corrects misspelled words and wrong grammar (Not all the time though. She does it only when she thinks your post is obviously lacking in moral rectitude. Meaning, she's doing it to shoot you back to earth and help you realize no one's perfect.) and chastises you when you aren't making any sense at all. She hates stupid comments, this girl (but who doesn't?).

She does go overboard at times, irascible when things aren't going the way she wanted it to be or when the other members can't get what she's trying to say. She's sarcastic most of the time but I do find her funny, don't you? She maybe tactless but I guess she just love Purefoods very much, she'll do everything for the team. Even if it meant making enemies out of supposed to be fellow Purefoods fans.

I just hate her when she does those read-between-the-lines posts, probably hoping she'll get our minds thinking really hard. I think it's her way of saying 'I'm smart, you're dumb, sorry if you've missed it.' Oh please, dunderhead I am not. But I won't give her the satisfaction of admitting I didn't get it.

Tip on how to deal with her, don't give her free ammunition to shoot you. Be careful on what you're posting because she's bound to see even the most minute detail.

10. This may sum it all up, being a member of this group forced my gray matter working double time to answer a question that popped up on my mind the first week I'm a member here. How can these people claim to love Purefoods when they clearly hate the Hotdogs?!

Why indeed?

See, these are all but just few of the reasons why you are so lucky you are a member of this group. So just sit back and relax when you're reading your mails. I love this group so much that when another existing group landed on my lap, I deleted it from Yahoo Groups and advised the members to join this one instead.

P.S.
Little Miss Perfect may wage a war at me for this but as I understand correctly, she value opinions even from hostile parties. Peace!

James' Social Life

I've been sitting on this for a long time na. A part of me doesn't want to comment and let the issue die a natural death but recent posts made me decide I can't keep silent anymore.

I am not related to James and I can't boast of us being friends because we're not. We've seen each other on several occasions but until he calls me by my first name and not greet me by a generic greeting, I am still an ordinary fan.

I've only been here in this group for less than a year but I can safely say I know everything that has happened here kasi I reviewed all the messages since the group's birth. I understand that everything about James is our concern and whatever he does and says is our business but we ought to draw the line somewhere.

This is the first time and hopefully the last I will comment about James' love affairs. My heart goes out to Nina, Nina Ricci, Paula and Kris for they all got violent reactions from almost everybody here. Their supposed sin: wala lang naman, they got involved with James.

Nina, for they're not together anymore and she still gets maligned and ridiculed in this group. I've never met her, used to see her at the games before and all the talk here of her being panget is so not true. I do find her pretty. Whoever said she's not has a problem with insecurity and should consult a shrink. The issue just recently discussed here about her was FYI, old news. I just don't have the time to check who brought it up and resurrected the issue but the forum post quoted was two years old already. Please correct me if I'm wrong but I do remember reading that item when I was reviewing past messages here in this group. James was still in UE then, so how old would an issue be before you consider old?

Nina Ricci, for creating quite a stir and be labeled a flirt. She seems to have a good head on her shoulders and were able to come out unscathed before things get out of hand. Good for her.

Paula, for having her Friendster account gets checked out a hundred times a day and having been swamped with invitations just so people could confirm if she and James are indeed going out. I'm wishing her all the best and may people not find fault in her to avoid getting her name in their hate list. May she have the patience to put up with people all trying to befriend her all because she is James' new girl.

Kris, for yet adding another thousand to the growing number of people who hate her for being Kris Aquino. Whatever relationship they have at the moment, wala na po tayong pakialam doon. If they choose to hang out with each other, it's not for us to decide. We cannot choose for James and he is not obliged to ask our opinion on who he's going to be friends with. No matter what we think of Kris, if she and James are really good friends, there's nothing we can do. Hindi po sa ipinagtatanggol ko si Kris, I don't like her either. I used to like her but after the Joey brouhaha, I've given up on her. She's not perfect but so are we. James included. We may not like her for James but be reminded that there are always two sides to the coin. Showbiz people and the general public see James as an insect trying to ride on the phenomenon that is Kris. Kung hindi po natin s'ya gusto para kay James, hindi rin po nila gusto si James para kay Kris. Argue with me on the popularity issue but the glaring fact is, Kris is more popular than James. James become known only to the general public because he got linked to Kris (as my showbizzy friend would prove to me). Everybody knows Kris, there's no escaping her.

Madali po kasing magsalita ng kahit ano laban sa isang tao, ang mahirap ay tumingin sa salamin at itanong sa ating mga sarili kung may karapatan ba tayong magsalita ng masama laban sa kanila.

If you have things to say, na hindi po maganda about sa mga taong nasa paligid ni James, talk to your friends, in private, huwag po post sa buong group. They may have friends and relatives na member din dito and natural lang po na masaktan sila sa mababasa nila. Kung tayo po ang nasa kalagayan nila, maha-hurt din naman tayo, 'di ba?

Again, I would like to reiterate, it's not for us to decide who James see or date. We can only wish James the best of everything he gets himself into, that is, for him to be more successful in his basketball career and to find true happiness with regards to his personal life.

If you have any comments, reactions (negative or otherwise), feel free to e-mail me. Don't send it to the group, send it to me directly.

Good day everyone.

So Close

Almost but not quite. A major overhaul but still not enough. For now.

The Purefoods Tender Juicy Hotdogs once again failed to make it to the promised land but not without leaving a mark in the ongoing PBA Gran Matador Philippine Cup.

Surprise everyone they did. From a woeful Fiesta Conference 4-14 win-loss record, they went 12 of 24 this conference. Not really bad for a team continuously hobbled by injuries, rocked by trades (done deals or just plain rumours), the search for a legitimate center still being a dream, and a suffocating playoff schedules, they bowed out of the conference with a lot of promise. Down but not out, and straight to the hearts of their fans and basketball aficionados in and out of the country. The killer schedule is enough to deserve a standing ovation.

Nobody gave them a second look at the start of the tournament. On paper one of the most talented teams in the Philippine Basketball Association. They have a superstar lineup, each player a star in his own right - MVPs from amateur and other leagues, but just couldn't get their act together as a team. Until this conference.

It has been a roller-coaster ride for them. The past three months a testament of the team's hard work and resiliency. They might have gone to battle undermanned but they never gave up without a fight.

The preparation

Amidst the busy schedule of the Hotdogs, from personal appearances for the company and the league itself, there are a lot of changes within the organization during the off-season.

UAAP and PBL champion coach Enrico 'Koy' Banal joined the team immediately after the transitional Fiesta Conference. A big boost for the ball club as he joined head coach Paul Ryan Gregorio and Ronald Magsanoc as an assistant coach. He even brought along Eric Gonzales, his long time assistant in his previous head coaching jobs.

They joined Red Bull Thunder as the PBA representatives in the Sultan Cup Invitationals in Brunei. The tournament was a disaster by leaps and bounds but a good experience for the team nonetheless. It was a great bonding session, the coaching staff announced after the disappointing stint.

The tune-up games went well and good. They managed to win games, even had a game that ended in a draw against powerhouse Talk 'N Text Phone Pals.

Mike Hrabak came in off a trade with Ervin Sotto to Shell Turbo Chargers. Team captain Alvin Patrimonio was named playing assistant coach. Zaldy Realubit joined the team to fill the void in the middle. He was pulled out of the touring SMC All-Stars.

Games begin

The Hotdogs shocked Fiesta Conference champions Barangay Ginebra Kings in their first game. They pulled the rug on the Coca-Cola Tigers with a two-point win. They created quite a stir since they've never went 2-0 since the 2002 Governor's Cup.

Playing assistant coach Patrimonio was appointed Team Manager replacing Ed Cordero who joined Eric Altamirano in the SMC All-Stars as Deputy Project Manager. It was the first time in the history of the league to have a playing team manager.

They suffered back-to-back losses after the back-to-back wins prompting new believers to think twice and back off.

Tonyboy Espinosa came aboard to replace an injured Gilbert Demape. They pulled a squeaker over the Alaska Aces in a game filled with lots of action and drama in and outside the playing court. Peter June Simon was the hero of that game but the bigger news was that Patrimonio missed his first game in over a decade.

Patrimonio now holds the record of having played 596 straight games. The last time he was out was when he was forced to sit out a game due to a deep cut in the forehead some 12 years ago.

It was a see-saw battle from then on for the team. Then Patrimonio closed the first round of eliminations by announcing on his birthday his retirement from active playing.

Purefoods fan or not, people have been touched one way or another by the person that is Alvin Patrimonio. He retired after 16 years of playing in the pros, four MVPs and countless other awards and records to his name. What makes his retirement so special was the fact that he didn't play for any other team but Purefoods. That only is an achievement in itself.

The PBA gave a special tribute to the man before the team's last elimination assignment shortly before Christmas and luckily they closed the year with a win.

The playoffs

The Hotdogs finished the eliminations tied at number four with the Alaska Aces and the San Miguel Beerman but went down to number six due to an inferior quotient.

Facing the Coca-Cola Tigers in the wild card phase of the eliminations, it was easy at first glance since Coke has never beaten them prior to the series. The first win was a breeze but the Tigers came back in Game 2 to extend the series. And the killer schedule took off.

After beating Coke in their best-of-three series, then came another best-of-three with the Shell Turbo Chargers that kicked off a day after the rubber match with Coke. Tired and weary, the Hotdogs lost the first game but came recharged and hot to win the second one. They managed to extend the series to a winner-take-all but even the most energetic athlete needs rest after a big game. One cannot deny the fact that they were very tired. At least their bodies were. Had they won their second playoffs, the third one was supposed to start the day after the last one ended. PBA schedule out to prove what?

Moving on

"Our goal is to finish in the middle of the pack for the moment. This is only our first year of rebuilding and the players are still trying to master our system." That was what Coach Ryan said before the start of the conference.

"But true to the Purefoods tradition, we'll keep on fighting and hopefully better things will follow."

He might have seen the future.

This is the Hotdogs' best conference ever since they won the championship in the 2002 Governor's Cup. They finished dead last last conference. They reached the quarterfinals and missed the semifinals by a hairline. The difference is too big to ignore. The rebuilding process is slowly producing results and was evident throughout the conference.

They will be a force to reckon with in the second conference, provided they get an import who will complement their game style. It will be another time for adjustments but with the way things are going, they will have an easier time dealing with it. The local players also need to be more consistent, improve their free throw shooting, learn to keep their emotions in check, know that rebounds is a basketball term and therefore part of the game, and continue to believe in themselves. Most importantly, hope that playoff schedules come in player-friendly packages.

Winning 12 out of 24 games this conference may not be enough to convince even their own fans and may be too shallow an achievement to some but still, it’s better than 4-14.

The road back to greatness may be long and rough but the TJ Hotdogs are slowly but surely getting there.