Reloading : The Tank is Coming!

First, it was Sam Ekwe. Then, came SUperman. Now, its Ola Adeogun. San Beda's basketball recruitment seems to know no end. After their success in 2006 which ended their 28-year NCAA title drought, the Red Lions always got the finest foreign recruits in the country which can be proven by their 6 NCAA titles in the last 7 years.

But they still reserving the best for last. With the impending NCAA rule that will permanently ban foreign recruits, San Beda was just in time to get one of the best African import to date. His name : Donald Tankoua.

 

(pictures courtesy of Red Eye Photography)

He is a 6'6, 18 year old from Cameroon and a cousin of former FEU cager Pippo Nondou and current Tamaraw Christian Sentchu. He does have an excellent fundaments for the game and seems like a do-it-all guy on the floor. According to the Fr. Martin's Cup Division II followers, this guy has impressed lots of Bedans observers from the get-go. Actually, current Red Lions head coach Boyet Fernandez said that Tankoua's skills are to be compared with DLSU's Ben Mbala, only Tankoua does have a decent outside shot and can even spread the floor with his 3-point range.

 

Pippo Nondou first brought him to Ateneo but long-time San Beda deputy Jude Roque was quick to the draw and brought him to Mendiola instead. Many wonder why Nondou brought him to Ateneo and San Beda, instead of FEU. The main reason is FEU's pipeline is loaded with Anthony Hargrove and Christian Sentchu already on board plus some more Africans on the pool. 

 

In 2015, it will be very interesting year for the San Beda Red Lions since their current big man, Ola Adeogun will just turn up 22 years old has played 3 seasons with the Red Lions and does have a year of eligibility left. By that year, San Beda will complete residency for Donald Tankoua and two other foreign recruits : a 6'8 Godsway Jeff Domalie and a 6'11 Christian Udor.  The problem is that should Ola Adeogun skip his final year and give way to Tankoua and co. that can play until 2020. 

Watch out for this kid! By the way, Fr. Tamberlane Lana, you scared? JMP.

Week 3 College Basketball - Goons at its Finest

Love Triangle

Minutes after the seniors game of Letran and Lyceum, Knights guard Franz Dysam and his girlfriend was found wounded in their car near Araneta Ave cor. N. Domingo St in San Juan. Sources and mirrons say that this has something to do about basketball. But further investigation leads that the main motive to the shooting was a love triangle. NCAA Mancom also ruled out game fixing because Dysam is seldom-used in the games and will have no effect in the final outcome of the games. Whether game fixing, love triangle or something else, this act of violence is condemnable. This has to stop. This incident has something like two years ago when FEU star-then Mac Barracael was also shot near FEU campus due to alleged game fixing. That was never found true.

Just physical? Nah. I don't think so, Jeff.  

Intentional or not, NU's Jeff Javillonar was already judged by his victim, UST's Jeric Teng after an incident that the former hits the latter from the blindside causing Teng a dislocated shoulder and missed UST's last 3 games. Jeric and Jeron, Jeric's brother couldn't help but to shout their feelings on tweeter.

JMP.

Week 2 College Basketball - Tearin' Tams and Bad Luck Blazers

Tearin' It Up

When UAAP Season 76 started, nobody see that the FEU Tamaraws would be still undefeated after 4 games. After winning against UE and Ateneo in the first week, they thwarted UP and DLSU this week. RR Garcia and Terrence Romeo showed that they can really play together and not just playing hero ball. The real test for these Tams is when they face up against UST and NU later this month.

At Last

At last, Ateneo won its first UAAP game at the expense of Adamson Falcons. Kiefer Ravena played but is still not in basketball shape. He just finished with 2 points, 0 out of 4 in the field and 2 turnovers. The biggest factors in that Ateneo win is the resurgence of big man JP Erram who finished with 12 markers and 12 boards; Juami Tiongson with a team high 15 points and Ryan Buenafe who had an almost triple-double game with 11 points, 12 rebounds and 9 assists.

(picture courtesy of spin.ph)

Bad Luck

The NCAA Season 89 host CSB Blazers should be 4-0. But they are winless after 4 heartbreaking losses. They almost escaped NCAA 3-peat Champs San Beda on opening day; they collapsed in the final seconds in the EAC Generals game; another heartbreaking loss in the hands of mediocre JRU Heavy Bombers and another one against last year's finalist Letran Knights. Coach Gabby Velasco and his boys should be mental prepared and mentally tough by now. If not, they never will.

Back to Earth

After winning this summer's Filoil tourney, the UE Red Warriors was tagged as the dark horse in the UAAP Season 76. But after 4 games, they just seem to be a mediocre team. They just won one out of four games after escaping a gritty NU squad with Roi Sumang last second's heroics. Also, the team is under the limbo after the UAAP Management Committee is questioning big man Charles Mammie's eligibility. JMP 

Week 1 College Basketball - Surprises

Shockers

San Beda Red Lions shocked the whole college world in two games. A win and a loss. They won a tough game against a gritty CSB Blazers in opening day. If not for Art dela Cruz's heroics in the final seconds, the Red Lions should absorb its first opening loss in 7 years. But that's not the biggest story of the college basketball year yet. Its the shocker and monumental upset by the cellar-dweller Lyceum Pirates to the NCAA 3-peat Champions San Beda. In this game, San Beda never really were on the groove. The Pirates controlled the game all day long except for the last minutes where San Beda trying to pull another magic off their sleeves. But Shane Ko, Pirates' Captain ball would never be denied as he helped the Pirates to their first win against San Beda since joining the league in 2011.

(Picture courtesy of spin.ph)

No Kief, don't panic? 

Ateneo paraded  a lineup without their chief gunner and main man Kiefer Ravena in the two games, against NU and FEU, which resulted into losses, Ateneo worst start since 2007. Kiefer Ravena does have a grade 3 sprained ankle which will hinder him to play for at least 4 weeks. Coach Bo Perasol says that there's no need to press the panic button yet and insisted that fans should judge them at the end of the season.

Mikee Reyes' decision to left UP

After their first UAAP game, the UP Fighting Maroons has another setback, losing starting point guard Mikee Reyes in their lineup due to personal reasons. In some intervies, Reyes said that head coach Ricky Dandan told him that he will be relagated to the third team and will no longer need him to win. The heavy-hearted Reyes accepted his fate, moved on and left the squad.

Where Two Become One

Now, this is scary. Two of the most talented guards in the UAAP finally found their groove and chemistry and showed everyone that they are still a force to be reckoned with and can still be title contenders despite losing their big men in the off-season. RR Garcia and Terrence Romeo finally hit same notes together and notched two straight wins against UE, this year's Filoil Champs and against Ateneo, the defending UAAP 5-peat Champs. That really is something. JMP

Recruitment Game

Recruiting college players are more imminent than the pro ranks today. Current college transferees and recruits are over shadowing even the current movements in the PBA. Why? Because the recruitment game in the local college today is much more intriguing  than the professional ranks. It's not all about the money but the drama and broadway-like scene in every recruitment.

College recruitment today involves money, investment, and others. Sad to say, studies and academics are down in the priority barrel. Does anyone saw if Calvin Abueva had ever wore a graduation toga? Nope. Because he hasn't put a single foot in a classroom. Unfotunately for the kids today, academics seems a blur in all of the factors in recruiting.

Recruiters from schools are promising all perks and material-things, mention to none. But have they have ever mentioned about the quality of the education they have? All they promise is a Team A slot, all the freebies and sports aparrels from sponsors and alumni; none of them about the education being mentioned.

What's even more sad is that, when the schools already got the nod of the player they desire, they will just bench them and won't allow to play. Look at Ponso Gotladera, Mark Tallo, Roldan Sara, Papot Paredes, Nico Elorde, Sam Marata, all from La Salle. Once upon a time, they were the highly recruited high school players in the country. Ponso Gotladera is once a most recruited center coming out of San Beda High School, the most decorated high school team in the country, bar none. Mark Tallo is a taunted recruit from Cebu. He first landed in Ateneo where he didn't like his playing time; rumored transfered to UST and then landed to La Salle, where he is also benched and found his way back to Cebu. Roldan Sara is another example that being kick-outed of the program because of too much recruits. Good thing is he was welcomed back by the San Beda community. Then, there was Papot Paredes, who was once a member of the Philippine Under - 18 team which includes RR Garcia, Jaypee Mendoza, Joseph Terso, and others. Nico Elorde coming out of De La Salle - Zobel. He joined the senior team of La Salle, only finding himself at the end of the Archers' rotation. Last but not the leat is Sam Marata, who was once a UAAP Finals MVP for the UPIS Junior Maroons. He was convinced by La Salle to join their squad, only to found that he is only a third stringer for the Green Archers. Fortunately for him, he was able to find his way home at Diliman.

With all this mentioned, my only point is that why college recruiters 'lie' to them? Don't they know that in a litte way, they are ruining these boys' dreams and aspirations in life? Why do they need to tell them that they will have this, they will have that, if in reality, it will just be in a matter of second? Now, I can't help but think - Goodluck, Kib Montalbo. After seeing you benched in your first UAAP game, I can't help but wonder, will you end up in aother school like these folks? And also, Danding Cojuangco's order to "get at all cost" Arvin Tolentino, will he really be a Green Archer next year?  JMP