Escobal was dumping jerseys inside a sports bag. Ekwe was picking up his stuff before taking his Finals MVP trophy from the overhead ledge.

Escobal and Ekwe arrived at the San Beda campus together without much fanfare in the summer of 2005. Last Monday, they left the Red Lions as three-time NCAA men’s basketball champions – again, together.

“I came here with Sam and I go out with Sam. It can’t get any better than that,” Escobal said.

Before Escobal and Ekwe donned nos.18 and 13, the Lions were nowhere near no.1.

San Beda was a mere 4-10 team in 2005 as it plodded through its 28th consecutive season without a crown.

In fact, the Lions had been so bad that the seven other NCAA teams had managed to make at least one semifinal appearance at the turn of the century between 2001 and 2005. San Beda never qualified for the Final Four in that stretch.

The Bedans had to reach out further to find the right players if they hoped to end the misery – literally this time. Escobal was a pickup from Stella Maris HS down south in Davao, while Ekwe came to the Mendiola school as a student from halfway around the world in Nigeria. They went through a mandatory residency period through 2005 before they debuted in 2006.

Right from the get-go, the two made an immediate impact. Escobal scored 15 points, shot three-of-six from three-point range, dished out three assists and played without a turnover and Ekwe had 13 points and 13 rebounds in a 30-point victory over Jose Rizal University in the 2006 season opener.

They would team up to lead the Lions to a 13-1 record in the eliminations and an astounding 14-game winning streak en route to the school’s first championship since 1978.

In 2007, it was more of the same. The Lions went 12-1 during the preliminaries and swept Letran in the finals to win back-to-back. Escobal and Ekwe were instrumental in one critical stretch during the tournament where the Lions beat Letran for the no.1 seed, Mapua in the semifinals and Letran again in Game One of the finals. Escobal averaged 14 points and 7 assists and Ekwe 12 points, 16 rebounds and 3 blocks in that critical stage.

“I never thought [the varsity experience] would be this good,” said Ekwe, who won Rookie of the Year in 2006 and would walk away with two league MVP awards. “But for me, as long as I believed that God was on my side, things would turn out great. Nobody knows what’s going to happen. Only God does.”

“I think there’s a difference between dreaming it would happen and actually seeing it happen,” Escobal said. “The moment I said ‘yes’ to San Beda when they recruited me, I was thinking I wanted to win a championship every time. And it came true.”

While San Beda’s champion team has been loaded, the roles of Escobal and Ekwe cannot be overemphasized. Escobal is a durable playmaker, the typical pass-first, shoot-second point guard but who knows when to take the game over offensively when needed.

In Ekwe, local college basketball had never seen such an imposing presence in the middle. He came in initially as a defender, an intimidator and a rebounder. But in three seasons, even his shooting range and passing abilities have drastically improved, upgrades that were on full display this year.

Asked what he considered his most memorable moment in San Beda, Ekwe gave an are-you-serious look.

“The best experience? It came today.”

But Ekwe couldn’t continue talking about basketball without the friendship he built within the team.

“Definitely I’ll miss my teammates. They made my life here in the Philippines. God used them to make me into who I am right now,” Ekwe said.

“Especially that guy,” he pointed at Escobal. “We entered the team together… perfect ending because we came in as champions and we’re leaving as champions.”

Escobal recalled the first time he met the quiet Ekwe.

“I’m happy for him for what he’s been able to accomplish,” Escobal said. “When we were starting, I was the only guy he used talk to. We underwent residency together and we’ve become very close since.”

Just how close?

“I’m the only one who can scold him on the court. The other teammates can’t do that,” Escobal, taking pride, said.

“But that’s because he trusts me and I think I earned that trust and he believes in me. That’s why we work well together.”

And the Lions are walking away with another championship.

But all the Red Lions needed was to get everyone involved for just one important game – the finals clincher – to wrap up another banner season.

San Beda played perfect basketball in the do-or-die Game Three to beat Jose Rizal University 85-69 and win its third straight National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball championship at the Araneta Coliseum.

It was a balanced effort by the Red Lions who were shaky and at times vulnerable early in the tournament and on Monday, appeared to have waited for the last game of the season for everyone to come together.

And that moment arrived at the perfect time with the Red Lions’ season and their reign on the line.

The result? Meet college basketball’s new dynasty.

“It was a season of highs and lows for us but that’s what makes this championship even sweeter,” coach Frankie Lim, who won his second NCAA title as a coach, said

“But I never doubted this team. I’m with them almost everyday. I practice with them and I know them by heart. If there’s anybody who knows what this team is capable of doing, it’s me,” added Lim, who also steered the Lions to their 14th league championship.

Sam Ekwe, the league MVP, led five Red Lions in double digits with 20 points, 13 coming in the first half where San Beda established a lead that it protected until the final buzzer.

Ekwe, in his last season in San Beda, capped his stint for the Lions with the Finals MVP. He also finished with 19 rebounds.

“It can’t get any better than this,” said Ekwe, who helped San Beda end a 28-year title drought the day he first entered San Beda in 2006 and led them to a title repeat in 2007.

“The team went through a lot this season but when the time came for us to win, we did.”

Ogie Menor finished with 18 points, 13 in the second half where most of his buckets helped to cool off repeated rallies by JRU.

Rookie big man Jake Pascual added 13 points, seven rebounds – five off the offensive glass – and three blocked shots.

Pong Escobal, who also served his last varsity year for the Lions, chipped in 11 points, seven rebounds and nine assists. Backcourt mate Borgie Hermida also had 11 points.

The Lions were up 9-4 early as the Bombers kept within striking distance midway through the first quarter.

Menor scored on a three-on-one break to put San Beda up 20-10, the first time the Lions breached the 10-point mark.

Ahead by a slimmer 38-29 advantage going into the third quarter, the Lions broke out of the gates in the second half. Escobal and Menor hit a three-pointer each and Hermida made a lay-up on a drive to make it 53-35 at the 6:29 mark of the third.

The Bombers would not come closer than nine points the rest of the way.

James Sena finished with 24 points to pace JRU. Mark Cagoco added 16.

“The championship experience spelled the difference for them,” JRU coach Ariel Vanguardia. “We’ll take this loss and learn from it and hopefully we’ll improve on our weaknesses and be in contention again next year.”

Do or die match, winner-take-all!

San Beda, champions the last two years, will be aiming for its 14th overall title and first three-peat since winning the crown three straight times eons ago from 1934 to 1936.

JRU also has a mission of its own as the Bombers try to end a 36-year title drought. If the Heavy Bombers win, it will be their seventh overall crown since Philip Cezar brought the NCAA title to Mandaluyong when they were still known as Jose Rizal College in 1972.

“Throw everything out of the window. Pressure, momentum, it doesn’t matter anymore. It all boils down to who wants it (the title) more,” said San Beda coach Frankie Lim.

San Beda won Game 1 72-68, while JRU sent the series to a rubber match after escaping with a 62-60 win in Game 2.

“I believe my team wants it more and the hunger would spell the difference. We’ve worked hard for this, so we’ll do whatever it takes not to have this golden opportunity escape us,” said Ariel Vanguardia, the architect of JRU’s amazing run this season.

Vanguardia added that he would expect San Beda to come out firing at all ends.

“San Beda is a very strong team and I expect them to bounce back in Game 3. We have to find ways to beat them. They have so many weapons so we need to play a perfect game.”

JRU’s last finals appearance was against San Sebastian in 2001, with the championship going the full route and the Stags clinching the crown.

Last year, San Beda swept the Letran Knights to claim its second straight title. In 2006, the Lions were pushed to the limit by the PCU Dolphins, before squeezing out a thrilling 68-67 win in Game 3.

Jason Nocom stood up to held their ground against the Lions, leading his team with his 16 points and seven rebounds

The Heavy Bombers took a soft lead early that they were able to carry into the second half.

Their early edge even swelled into a 12-point bubble when John Wilson made a close-ranged fade-away pacing then at 30-18 in the three minutes and 28 seconds mark of the second period.

At the second half, San Beda later was able to ride the race and started exchanging baskets and leads.

Sam Ekwe, who finished with 15 points, was already on the way to propelling the Lions for the kill – earning a near-double double (10 points and 9 rebounds) as early as halftime. But he was put to halt when he was served his fourth foul with just two minutes and 50 seconds gone since the third period erupted.

Foul trouble choked not only Ekwe but also main power forward Jay-R Taganas – the two able Lions that can legitimately cover JRU’s main center James Sena.

Sena, who finished with 11 points, drew both fouls that sent two of San Beda’s vital big men into graduation.

By the game’s final four minutes, Ekwe brought the Lions back at the doorstep, capitalizing on a a split free-throw, then an offensive rebound plus a quick lay-up, to pace the Lions 53-52. But then was fouled out trying to stop Sena.

Sena, on that Ekwe foul, completed a three-point play. At that same moment, San Beda coach Frankie Lim, on an objection to that call, was served with a technical foul.

Wilson made both technical free-throws, and all the charity shots JRU earned translated to an instant five points and top of that, ball possession.

A three-point shot from Pong Escobal, and a five-point run from Ogie Menor returned San Beda to within striking distance, 60-58, with still 57.9 seconds to go.

When JRU had the ball back, Sena lured a double team and freed Jayson Nocom to receive his pass. Nocom had an easy two points, advancing his team to a 62-59 lead with still 41.8 secs to go.

Nchotu Njei, however, fouled Pong Escobal, stopping the clock at 36.6. Escobal made both shots, setting the Lions 62-60 canceling the Sena-to-Nocom assist.

Cagoco let loose a hurried three-pointer so that the ball ended up in the hands of Dave Marcelo. Marcelo was quickly fouled by Cagoco and was sent to the line but missed both shots.

San Beda had the offensive rebound, and struggled to secure the ball. Jay-R Bolangis was called for the last touch when he pressured Menor on the struggle. The game still had 7.9 ticks to go.

The Red Lions used their final time-out to set a game-saving play – an Escobal field goal that could give them the win or additional five minutes of action.

Njei pressured the Lion wingman but slipped in his attempt. Escobal was set free and fired a three with exactly 5.4 seconds left in the game. But Escobal missed his jumper.

Njei had the rebound but was quickly fouled by Escobal.

Njei missed both shots, nonetheless, the game time has only 1.1 tick to go.

“Njei slipped and Escobal was free for that shot, but he missed,” Vanguardia said. “That’s the hand of God, it’s not within my reach.”

JRU extended the finals series to Game 3, which is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Monday, also at the Araneta Coliseum.

UAAP season 71 most valuable player Rabeh al-Hussaini and Final’s MVP Nonoy Baclao will join hands along with other key players as they suit up for Hapee Toothpaste in the PBL, which is set to open next month.

The Eagles were tapped to join the Teeth Sparklers after Lamoiyan Corporation team owner Dr. Cecilio Pedro renewed his tie-up with Ateneo de Manila University.

It was during the 2003 and 2004 season when Hapee under coach Junel Baculi won back to back crowns with the likes of Enrico Villanueva, LA Tenorio, Wesley Gonzales and Rich Alvarez as the stars of the team.

“The tie up is for two years,” said Hapee team manager Bernard Yang. “When we last won the title in back-to-back fashion, we then have Ateneo players. Hopefully we can win again a title with the core players of the Eagles around.”

The Teethmasters are undergoing a revamp since most of their star players from last conference were either drafted or signed by different teams in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Fil-Am Gabe Norwood, Reed Juntilla, Larry Rodriguez and Mark Borboran are now with different PBA teams after leading the team to back-to-back runners-up finishes against Harbour Centre in two PBL conferences last season.

Joining Al-Hussaini and Baclao are Eric Salamat and Jai Reyes while veteran Chris Tiu opted to join his teammates at the Hapee squad despite having the chance to play in other PBL teams. Tiu played his final season with Ateneo in the UAAP.

source:
GMANews.tv

The Eagles looked to breeze through Game Two after taking a 41-26 halftime lead before La Salle, behind the hot sniping of fifth-year guard JV Casio, made it 50-47 going into the final quarter.

But stingy defense in the fourth, the trademark of this Ateneo team that lost only once in 16 games this season, helped the Eagles dethrone the defending champions.

It was Ateneo’s fourth UAAP championship, second in the decade after winning in 2002 and first under four-year coach Norman Black.

“Coach Norman only had one advice for us through the course of the season,” Ateneo point-guard Jai Reyes said. “Forget about everything, just play defense.”

The 2008 Eagles may go down as one of the most dominant teams in UAAP history, going 13-1 in the eliminations and routing University of the East in the semifinals before sweeping rival La Salle.

Including their two games in the elimination round, the Eagles went four-of-four versus the Archers during the season, the first time the Loyola Heights school shut out its archnemesis.

As a testament to Ateneo’s over-the-top season, several Eagles took home significant individual awards including the Most Valuable Player honor to Rabeh al-Hussaini and the Rookie of the Year trophy to Ryan Buenafe.

Eagles forward Nonoy Baclao, adjudged the tournament’s Best Defensive Player earlier, won the UAAP Finals MVP.

“Who would’ve thought we’d be in this situation,” al-Hussaini, who played only two minutes in the first half because of early foul trouble, gushed. “In the first half, I wasn’t able to help my team but when I returned I just wanted to do whatever I could to contribute.

“It’s just been an overwhelming experience.”

Veteran shooting guard Chris Tiu, who returned for one more season—his last—in the hopes of winning a title, led the way for the Eagles with 16 points.

“The character of this team has been unbelievable. It’s what makes this team so special,” Tiu said.

“Everybody just stepped up when they needed to and that’s what got us here.”

And when his team needed a spark from its team captain, Tiu gladly stepped into the limelight.

His two free throws, a three-pointer, and a runner helped the Eagles extend a 20-17 lead to a 27-17 bubble at the 7:53 mark of the second quarter, the first time the lead breached the 10-point barrier.

Later Tiu scored on a drive, part of an 8-0 run that shot the Eagles in front 41-26 at halftime.

But the defending champions wouldn’t go down without a fight.

Casio, La Salle’s own veteran two-guard, buried five of his three-pointers in the third quarter to spark the Archers’ 21-9 counterattack and cut down the deficit to 50-47 at the end of the period.

Any semblance of a fight, however, was snuffed out of La Salle after Casio fouled out of the game at the 3:48 mark of the fourth quarter with the score pegged at 55-49 in favor of Ateneo but the game still within reach.

Casio finished with 21 points, 18 of them coming from three-point territory.

La Salle already suffered a significant blow when Rico Maierhofer, the Archers’ only legitimate center, was ejected from the game after he incurred a second technical foul at the 1:31 mark of the third.

The Red Lions hit big time shots from Jake Pascua, Pong Escobal and Borgy Hermida and escaped with a 72-68 victory over the Heavy Bombers.

“(JRU) was trying to catch up and they’re on a (scoring) streak but those shots stopped them.” said Lim.

Pascual made one of those shots hitting an off-the-glass three-pointer in the 4:22 mark to give San Beda a 63-58 lead. “Pascual’s shot on top of the key reminded me of the three-point shot Yousif Aljamal made against Letran that gave us the championship last year.”

San Beda can wrap up the series on Friday when it resumes the title series against JRU at the Big Dome.

Escobal, who will suit up for Talk ‘N Text in the coming Philippine Basketball Association season, led the Lions’ scoring with 15 points while Hermida added 14 points to go with his six rebounds, two steals and an assist.

Sam Ekwe, who earned his second Most Valuable Player plum, finished with 13 points and 16 rebounds.

James Sena paced JRU with 19 points, two assists, two shot blocks and a rebound but missed four crucial free throws in the end game that could’ve changed the outcome of the game.

“I can say that definitely, we hope to bring some of our stars. Hopefully, if the timing works, we’d love to bring Brandon Vera here to a fight,” said Lorenzo Fertitta, chairman and chief executive of Zuffa, LLC, the UFC’s parent company. (Vera is half-Filipino. He has been to the Philippines a number of times and was interviewed by abs-cbnNEWS.com in April this year.)

Fertitta and two-time light heavyweight champion Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell faced the sports media Monday at ABS-CBN’s 9501 restaurant to welcome the arrival of the UFC in the Philippines.

Apart from the possibility of bringing in Vera, the UFC boss, however, said that it would be a little early to name the fighters who will be coming.

Click link for full story:
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/09/22/08/ultimate-fighting-championship-sets-may-2009-event-rp

- Sporting Pinoy

The Goldenboy announced the hiring of Nacho Beristain as his trainer, parting ways with longtime trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. Mayweather took a job training Ricky Hatton, who is fighting Paulie Malignaggi on Nov. 22.

Beristain is a sound technical trainer and brilliant strategist who is regarded among the finest boxing minds produced by Mexico. “Nacho Beristain is a great trainer who I have respected for many years and I’m honored to have him in my corner,” De La Hoya said in a statement. “In addition to his great tactical mind and considering that he prepared Juan Manuel Marquez for two fights against Manny Pacquiao, he knows him very well. I’m confident that with Nacho’s game plan and my execution, we’ll be victorious on Dec. 6.”

Beristain insisted he’s already got an idea of how the fight will be waged.

“Oscar De La Hoya is one of the premier fighters of this era and I am excited about working with him for this very important fight,” Beristain said in a statement released by Golden Boy Promotions, De La Hoya’s company. “I already have a plan in mind for beating Pacquiao and I know Oscar will do whatever it takes to carry that plan through on fight night.”

Featuring amateur MMA Fighters from various universities and colleges.

September 27, 2008, 7:00 pm A-Venue Events Hall, Makati Ave., Makati City.

For tickets and inquiries, call +63906-461-6968 / 381-0940
Gates opens at 5:00 pm for pre-event activites.

For more information, visit:
www.urcmma.com

URCC University Challenge