Hawks, Olympians & Phoenix are early leaders in the NAASCU

Ramel Pepito leads 
the resurgent NEU Hunters

Excitement and unpredictability is what the 10^th NAASCU is all about. In the first two weeks of the tournament, one can observe that the favorites evolve around three teams, last year’s runner – up and former 5 time champion the University of Manila Hawks, last year’s fourth placer and 2007 champion the STI College Olympians and the newest team in the league, the Fatima Phoenix. The other contenders, AMA Computer Univeristy, Centro Escolar University, San Sebastian College and New Era University are just a notch below the leaders and are poised to give the leaders a run for their money.

UM's Rhandelle Colina 

is the scoring leader 

with an average of 

23.6 points in 5 games

The Hawks racked up four convincing wins wherein the most important of those wins was a 69 – 37 rout on defending champion San Sebastian College Recoletos de Cavite.  The Hawks also manhandled the AMACU Titans 100 -80, the Informatics Icons  85 – 63 and the University of Makati Hardy Herons 127 -63. Their only loss came against the New Era Hunters in a thrilling double overtime game which saw the Hawks become the Hunted as the Quezon City based Iglesia team outlast them 102 – 99.  Leading the pack for the Hawks is last year’s Rookie of the Year Jeff Viernes together with two hotshot rookies in Randle Colina and Eugene Torres. The Hawks are the highest scoring team in the league who now share the lead 4 – 1 with the Olympians and the Phoenix.

Icon Mario Leonida 

is defended 

by Olympian Norman Ihalas

The STI College Olympians racked up three consecutive wins before being halted by the sweet shooting CEU Scorpions 77- 76. The Scorpions waxed hot in that game as they shot 10 of 15 from beyond the arc which is a 67% clip. Their first three victims included last year’s third placers Lyceum of Subic Bay 80 – 63, the New Era Hunters 60-43, and the Informatics Icons 60 -58.  Their biggest win came at the hands of the last unbeaten team, the Our Lady of Fatima University Phoenix 73-64 which came in overtime. Spearheading the Olympians campaign is 2009 Mythical 5 selectee Jerald Bautista and 6’6 Cameroonian Rookie Henri Atanga-Betayene.

Aries Pariñas aims to lead

 the Saints back to respectability

Last year, the newcomers gave a credible performance last year and is now a force to reckon with this year.  Led by Captain Randy Basco and their reliable crop of rookies namely Joseph Marquez, James Jacinto, Romyl Jornacion and Indonesian Relly Putra the Phoenix have a solid mix of youth and veterans who are raring to get on top of the NAASCU.  The Phoenix have become the comeback kids, the fourth quarter finishers and the close game masters. Three of their wins came from superb endgame endings, a 58-56 come from behind win on opening day against Informatics, a 78-75 conquest of New Era University and the never say die overtime  win against the San Sebastian College Cavite 55 – 53.  Their only loss came at the hands of the Olympians who managed to eke out an overtime win.

Icons and Scorpions battle each other

The three leaders are locked at four games and one loss apiece which makes the NAASCU quite an unpredictable league. Waiting in the line are three teams who can also pull some strings. The Centro Escolar University Scorpions, AMA Computer University Titans and the surprise team of this year, the New Era Hunters.  Also, first day loser and defending champion San Sebastian College Cavite is slowly getting the groove that made them the top team for the past two years which means more problems for their future opponents.  Lastly, the Informatics Icons St. Clare Saints and Lyceum of Subic are on the bottom draw because of their bad start. Expect more from them this coming games which will make the NAASCU really a league of unpredictable games. Be there to witness the games at the University of Manila Gym, STI Gym and SBMA Gym.

  

Hawks, Phoenix,Scorpions, Hunters, Eagles & Olympians lead early winners

 

SBP Executive Director Addressing 

the 12,000 students in the opening

The 10^th Season of the National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities  (NAASCU) opened with at the  jam packed Rizal Memorial Coliseum . Twelve member schools of the NAASCU paraded their teams as they all vie for the coveted crown in Seniors Basketball, Juniors and also Women’s Basketball.

ABS-CBN's Gina Lopez encourages the students 

to join her Ilog Pasig Project

Guests who graced the occasion were SBP Chairman and Misamis Oriental Governor, the Honorable Oscar Moreno, SBP Executive Director Noli Eala, former PSC Chairman Harry Angpin and ABS-CBN Vice- President Gina Lopez.  Awards were also given to last year's Over-all Champion, the San Sebastian College Recoletos de Cavite Baycats.  SSC-R's Captain Raymond Alcasabas led the players in the oath of sportsmanship while OLFU's muse was adjudged Ms. NAASCU 2010.

Julie Ann delos Santos of OLFU 

is Ms. NAASCU 2010

The University of Manila Hawks are the early favorites in the Seniors division of Basketball as they exacted sweet revenge over the two time defending champion San Sebastian College Recoletos de Cavite Baycats 68- 37. It was one of the worst losses of the Baycats since 2007 as their team was depleted by the departure of old reliables such as 2008 MVP Kris Lucernas and 2009 MVP Jhun Gracillas. Also graduating this year are Lyle Antipuesto, Jeric Basa and RJ Escobal who were all vital cogs in the two year reign of the Baycats. 

Lexter Atangan of SSC and Edwin Tamayo of UM

Battle for the rebound

The Hawks on the other hand added other deadly weapons to their team as they were led by rookie guard Rhandelle Colina with 19 pts, 2009 Rookie of the year Jeff Viernes and another rookie Eugene Torres.  The Hawks were all business as they avenged their 2009 finals loss to the Cavite City based team with an array of inside plays and numerous three point shots.  The Hawks are seeking their sixth title this year in the Seniors Division, something that has eluded them since 2005. Coach Jojo Castillo used a balanced attack as his wards torched the hoops with numerous ways as his big men scored down low, his shooters connected and their fastbreak was a thing of beauty. Definitely the Hawks are for real.

Roi Coronel scores on a lay up
against CEU

Other contenders for this year’s crown are the other opening day winners as Our Lady of Fatima University came from behind to beat Informatics International College 58 – 56. On the other hand, the Centro Escolar University Scorpions turned a close game into a rout as they outlasted the St. Clare Saints 96 – 75. The New Era Hunters beat the AMACU Titans with plenty to spare 84-71 while the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasay won the battle of government schools as they outscored the University of Makati Hardy Herons 71 – 67. Lastly, one of the contenders this year , the STI College Olympians bucked a bad start to finally catch up on the Lyceum of Subic Bay Sharks and eventually beat them with plenty to spare 80 – 63.

Henri Betayene of STI  dunks the ball

The action now shifts to the Juniors and Women’s games as the University of Manila Hawklets and Hawkettes try to win back to back titles in their quest for a triple championship.  Stay tuned for more action.

The scores:

Rizal Memorial Coliseum games

First game

UM 68 – Colina 19, Viernes 12, Torres 11, Manuel 5, Pateño 5, Sanguyo 5, Tan 4, Macasaet 3, Ancheta 2, Tamayo 2, Rabalo 0, Bonleon 0, Patricio 0, Nuñez 0, Ibay 0, Almario 0.

San Sebastian Cavite 37 – Filio 9, Alcasabas 6, Atangan 6, Castro 4, Yurong 4, Callado 3, Nistal 2, Acain 2, Pono 1, Pantonia 0, Reyes 0, dela Cruz 0, Monzon 0, Pupos 0.

Quarter scoring: 15-9; 35-18; 50-27; 68-37.

Second game

PLP 71 – Malana 11, del Villar 11, Tuaño 9, Jo. Obar 8, Miraflor 8, Carlos 8, Chua 7, Primo 4, San Juan 4, Je. Obar 1, Bangayan 0.

UMak 67 – Moresco 22, Graza 16, Junsay 10, Quiambao 8, Vitales 3, Capil 2, Diamante 2, Eugenio 2, Lanuza 2, Florendo 0, Calzado 0.

Quarter scoring: 13-8; 35-30; 59-51; 71-67.

Third game

Fatima 58 – Basco 12, Marquez 9, Putra 8, Benvidez 6, Rivera 6, Guidaben 5, Codilla 4, Cunanan 3, Joronacion 2, Valdevilla 2, Panes 1, Aque 0, Mina 0.

Informatics 56 – Montuano 16, Leonida 10, Limpat 7, Baltazar 6, K. Santos 5, J. Santos 4, Corpuz 4, del Rosario 3, Carlos 1, Sy 0, Ungco 0, Ubalde 0.

Quarter scoring: 11-14; 26-34; 41-41; 58-56.

Guest Harry Angpin

former PSC Chairman

Ninoy Aquino Stadium games

First game

New Era 84 – Lopez 22, Pepito 21, Cadeliña 11, Santos 11, Quintal 7, Talastas 6, Sevilla 4, Tengco 3, Faner 0, Acuña 0.

AMACU 71 – Salvador 15, Mangalindan 14, Mbomiko 13, Edibag 6, Ibarra 5, de la Rosa 5, Narag 4, Regala 3, Villena 3, Cabico 3, Maravilla 0, Alvarado 0.

Quarter scoring: 21-28; 36-43; 60-61; 84-71.

Second game

CEU 96 – Lobaton 18, Garcia 12, Gallardo 10, Bañas 8, Magbitang 7, Cabasal 6, Silvestre 6, Gonzales 5, Almario 5, Babad 5, Flores 4, Taclas 4, Chua 2, dela Cruz 2, Antes 2.

St. Clare 75 – R. Coronel 21, Pariñas 13, Buatan 10, Gacis 8, Tapia 5, Angalan 4, A. Coronel 3, Flores 2, Role 2, Batuigas 2, Guiang 2, Contreras 2, Mallari 1, Puno 0, Santos 0, Ambulodto 0.

Quarter scoring: 26-22; 50-47; 76-62; 96-75.

Third game

STI 80 – Bautista 22, Ablaza 12, Moreno 11, Betayene 10, Gabo 9, Po 5, Ihalas 5, Melano 3, Chavez 2, Alcantara 1, Sabellina 0, Daguplo 0, Morales 0.

Lyceum of Subic Bay 63 – Ronquillo 21, Torres 15, Velasco 13, Bilog 6, Labadan 5, Rosales 2, Castillo 1, Johnson 0, Manalili 0, Buenaflor 0, Timpog 0.

Quarter scoring: 17-19; 34-29; 57-43; 80-63.

Raymond Alcasabas of SSC-R leads

the Oath of Sportsmanship