Maroon Pride Volume 2 No. 1 (2013-2014)

M

aroon Pride (MP) is now on its second year of publication. The purpose of the U.P. Alumni Association (UPAA) in publishing MP is to feature the varsity teams of U.P., the Fighting Maroons, not only to recognize their efforts in showcasing the athletic program of U.P. as a complete institute of learning but, more importantly, to help raise funds for their needs.

As a state university, U.P.’s budget is determined entirely by Congress. U.P.’s administration divides this budget among seven (7) different constituent universities in fifteen (15) campuses around the country. The Fighting Maroons obtain their funding from the allocation of U.P. Diliman, which in turn determines the budgetary requirements of the College of Human Kinetics (CHK), the home of the Fighting Maroons. U.P. has 25 varsity teams, all of them having financial requirements. Here lies the rub.

The UPAA, through MP, seeks to narrow the gap between the CHK-given budget and the varsity teams’ requirements. With the three (3) issues of MP published last academic year, the UPAA was able to provide funds raised from the advertisements in MP for the men’s basketball and baseball teams, and the women’s table tennis, swimming, volleyball and badminton teams. UPAA will continue to do so this current academic year, kicking-off with this issue of MP featuring all basketball teams of U.P. Diliman, the men’s, women’s and high school, or junior, teams. The two (2) other issues that will be published this year will feature the combat sports of judo, taekwondo and fencing, and the ancient Olympic sports of track and field.

Let us support our Fighting Maroons in their quest for glory in their competitions.

Mabuhay ang U.P.! Mabuhay ang Pag-asa ng Bayan!

Bong Somera

I

f there’s one thing that can unite us Filipinos more than anything else, it is our intense passion for basketball.

Look around different barangays or villages and you’ll see a basketball court (yes, even a makeshift basket on a half-court counts). Not to mention the time Filipinos spend on their day to watch and play the sport.

In the University of the Philippines, the fascination is as intense as the rest of the nation. We may not win all the time but the support is there. Truly, our lone UAAP championship is not the barometer to measure isko’s and iska’s love for basketball.

And so we inaugurate the second volume with the basketball issue. Get to know the rising sons of U.P Maroons (p. 6) who will try to prove that they’re more than their maroon genes. We also feature the fighting maroon teams -- the women’s basketball team shares their experiences as female athletes in a male-dominated sport (p. 36) while the UPIS basketball team talks about how they balance school and their passion (p.13).

We also beefed up the permanent features such as the Meet Your Maroons and the Dugout. We also added a new feature, the UPAA corner, in honor of our alumni who selflessly devoted their efforts for the development of the U.P. sports program.

The brand new editorial team of Maroon Pride is very excited to present to you this all-new issue! We hope you like it.

yvan limson 2

tale of the two Tatas Samuel Marata, 45, recalls how his son Samuel Joseph Marata dribbled his own little ball along side of him at the U.P. Sunken Garden during laid-back moments with his former teammates.

“Kasama ko yung mga ka-batch ko sa U.P. Maroons, naglalaro kami, s’ya naglalaro rin, dumi-dribble ng maliit na bola. Sabi namin baka maging player. Naging player nga,” relates the elder Tata.

Now, Samuel Joseph, a former University of the Philippines Integrated School player, returns to U.P. to play basketball in the very same court where his father used to train as a Fighting Maroon.

One of the newbies in the team, Tata says he only started to take basketball seriously when he entered high school.

“When I was in grade school, wala akong iniisip na plan talaga. It was just go to school, come home, play basketball pag-uwi,” he recounts.

As a kid, he says, he saw basketball as a form of recreation.

“Hobby lang talaga s’ya before.

Pero pagdating ng high school, sabi ko sa Dad ko I wanted to try na seryosohin ‘yung basketball and see what happens,” narrates the younger Tata.

After that, he became a basketball standout of UPIS. It is also the same place where he acquired the same nickname as his father.

“Marami silang Joseph, nalilito yung barkada ko na coach. Hirap s’yang tawagin na Joseph, so ginawa na

lang Tata. Hanggang ngayon Tata na. Pareho na kami,” recalls the elder Tata who was a volunteer member of the coaching staff of the UPIS team back then.

Seeing his son’s determination, he began to focus on the development of his child’s skills as a basketball player.

“Nagbigay talaga ako ng oras para matutukan para mas mabilis yung improvement ng skills n’ya pagdating sa basketball, kasi syempre beterano ako,” says the former Maroon.

He also says that because he was familiar with the system of the U.P. Maroons, it helped them achieve the special bond they now enjoy.

The similarity between the two does not end with their names. Inside the court, the younger Marata appears to be a clone of his father in terms of attitude and skills.

“Hindi kami nagpapatalo. Hangga’t kaya ibibigay lahat, kahit sino ang makakalaban, malakas man o mahina. Basta 100 percent,” says the elder Marata, adding that they are both good shooters.

But they are still two different people with unique attributes.

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“Mas mataas akong tumalon.

Mas accurate s’ya sa shooting. Mas matangkad s’ya sa akin. Saka sabi n’ya mas gwapo daw s’ya sa akin,” says a laughing elder Tata.

Like most fathers and sons who walk the same path, the Marata men will be the inevitable subjects of comparisons. However, the former member of the De La Salle Five uses the pressure to help him do better in his craft.

“I want to surpass my Dad, I want to surpass my other family members.

Pero ‘pag may sinasabi pa rin sila for me, pakikinggan ko,” he says.

And typical of a father, the elder Marata eventually concedes that his son is better than him.

“Ang daming nagsasabi na parehas na parehas kami, kaya lang better version siya kaysa sa akin,” he says.

He notes the differences of the basketball system in their generations with a little wistfulness.

“Dati kasi kami more on strength at hindi masyadong scientific.

Ngayon ang dami nang pagbabago,” he says, “Ang nasa amin lang dati yung Maroon Pride na hindi kami nagpapatalo.”

Now in his last playing year in the UAAP, the younger Tata is thankful for the help and advice his father has given him.

Meanwhile, his 45 year-old coach, playing buddy and father rolled into one believes in the power of this year’s line-up.

“Bilog ang bola. Saka may puso e, sabi nga may Maroon Pride,” says the elder Tata.

Twin Towers of Power The name Paras is forever etched in the history of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) because it belongs to the only player to ever win the Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year awards in the same PBA season.

That was in 1989.

Now, the five-letter surname gets basketball buzz anew as Benjie Paras’ eldest son, Andre, enters the

I want to be just like my father, yung pagiging goal-oriented & hardworking niya, as a father and as a basketball player.

UAAP as a Fighting Maroon this 76th season.

Interestingly, Benjie says he never introduced basketball to his children, and it was never his goal to force his sons into his sport.

Which is why Andre’s first sport was badminton.

“I was playing badminton during that time. And then later on we moved to a place that was near a basketball court,” explains Benjie.

He also says that he never dictates on his children when it comes to the field they want to pursue.

“Meron akong mga kakilalang magagaling na players before and parang they’re forcing their sons to play basketbal and to be basketball players so nagiging negative yung result,” he says, “so sabi ko I don’t want to do that to my son, kung ano yung gusto n’ya then okay, as long as he finishes his studies.”

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The 17-year-old former NCAA Juniors player for La Salle Greenhills agrees with his father by saying that nobody influenced him to go into sports.

“Nobody forced me to be in sports, it was just my decision ever since I was a kid. Actually my Dad was there to support me lang,” he says.

Andre’s involvement in basketball has also been the driving force for Benjie to rekindle the passion he had for his old sport.

“Actually after retiring kinalimutan ko na yung basketball. Then nung nakita ko naman na my sons are interested, that’s the time that I became involved again in basketball,” says Benjie.

Andre narrates that he started basketball at seven and decided to pursue collegiate basketball because he felt the need to end what he started as a child.

“When I got into grade school that’s when I wanted to become varsity.

And then nag-high school varsity rin ako. So I told myself after high school, college na rin. Itutuloy ko yung basketball kasi I started it, I’ll end it,” says the aspiring actor and film director.

Since his father’s name is a legend in U.P., pressure has always settled on Andre’s shoulders.

But thankfully, the Paras towers do not give in to pressure easily.

“ A l a m n a m a n n ’ y a , so dati p a r a n g nahihirapan sya na ‘O anak ni Paras dapat ganito yung ginagawa nya.’ Ngayon m e d y o nalampasan na n’ya yun.

So he’s focusing what he contribute the team,” actor says.

“I tell them if you guys expect, madidisappoint kayo kasi we’re not like each other talaga. Sobrang iba kaming maglaro and we’re different people. So it’s hard to compare me and my dad,” says Andre.

He also says that he talked to his father about it and the latter advised him to just focus on his goals in life.

“I’m okay since my dad talked to me about it na marami talagang taong gano’n. He said don’t worry just focus on basketball and studies,” says Andre.

Benjie, on the other hand, is proud of his son’s ability to handle pressure.

just on can to the

Since a Paras is once again playing for the basketball team of the premier state university, many people believe that it is the university’s ticket to grab a repeat of that 1986 crown.

However, Benjie explains that there may be differences in the forcedly correlated situations.

“If you look at my team, I’m with Ronnie Magsanoc, Eric Altamirano.

Four of us went to the PBA,” he says, “so malakas talaga yung team na ‘yon.”

Still, Benjie believes in the capacity of his son in basketball.

“He can shoot from the outside, he can shoot from the three point range, from the perimeter and yung free throws n’ya mataas yung

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percentage not like mine,” says the elder Paras. Moreover, he says he only developed most of his skills in PBA. He also notes that despite being a basketball player himself, he values his children’s coaches’ decisions.

“Individual drills nila I do teach them, pero ever since, in grade school, in high school and now in college, basta meron silang coach I never interrupt. I never give them advice na salungat sa sinasabi ng coach,” he says.

If Benjie recognizes his son’s skills in basketball, the latter admires his father’s ability to find time to help him in his drills and perform his duty as the family provider.

“I want to be just like my father, yung pagiging goal-oriented n’ya and hardworking, as a father and as a basketball player,” says Andre.

Coaching Tandem When Frederick Oliver “Ricky” Dandan accepted the head coach position for the Fighting Maroons late in 2010, he didn’t expect his son Mark, then a young advertising executive, to join him and take on the challenge of mentoring the Fighting Maroons.

At first, Coach Ricky discouraged his son by pointing out the hardships of the profession.

“Sinabi ko sa kanya ‘yong difficulties and what he’s going to pay. Lalo na in my time hindi naman gano’n kadami yung gustong mag-coach,“ recalls the 51-year-old head coach.

But the younger Dandan remained determined to enter his father’s challenging world.

A graduate of AB Interdisciplinary Studies of the Ateneo de Manila University in 2008, Coach Mark first tried his luck in the advertising world as an advertising executive in a multinational company.

“I stayed there for a few months, pero the draw of coaching talagang it has to be answered. I quit and then I started coaching,” he says.

Like most father and son tandems in any field, it is sometimes hard to separate personal from professional life but, surprisingly, the two coaches don’t consider this a problem.

“Priorities. You just have to prioritize,“ Coach Mark explains.

“It’s easy to get lost in everything as a son, as a coach, pero the least that I can do is to prioritize, to separate things. Alam ko yung kailangan kong gawin as a coach, alam ko yung kailangan kong gawin as a son.”

He also says that his serious, always ready-to-fight father is more relaxed at home.

“He tries not to overburden himself ‘pag nasa bahay talagang focus lang sa family, down time lang talaga,” he says.

The 26-year-old assistant coach readily admits that his father served as his inspiration to get a coaching position.

“I grew up watching my Dad coach, ever since. Pinanganak ako coach na s’ya, so I know him as a basketball coach talaga and as a father. So growing up, s’yempre s’ya yung pinaka-naging role model ko that’s why I decided to pursue this career and to make my father proud of me,” he says.

In fact, Coach Ricky views their situation as an advantage.

“When we go home, we talk. And ‘pag merong kailangang ipagawa doon sa kanyang role sa staff, napafollow up ko naman,” he says.

His son also thinks the same way though he admits that it was an awkward set-up at first.

“It’s easy for me dahil unang-una anak n’ya ako and he’s my father.

Kumbaga, in the hierarchy of things, yun yung unang-una, hindi head coach and coach,” he says.

He also adds that they know each other very well so communication is not much of a problem. In fact, he said it’s better to work for his father than for a complete stranger.

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it’s easy for me dahil unang-una anak n’ya ako & he’s my father.

Kumbaga, in the hierarchy of things, yun yung unang-una, hindi head coach and coach.

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The UPIS Junior Maroons can fill the U.P. Maroons roster in the near future, but for now, they remain focused on their own league – and their studies.

Home to the Junior Fighting Maroons, the University of the Philippines Integrated School (UPIS) is the basic education unit of U.P. Diliman. It boasts, literally, of student-athletes players are expected to put their education first before basketball.

As Assistant Coach Raine Sablan says, “It’s their job to study and then to play. They want a good education, so they have to study.”

This means that the boys have to study after they get home from their daily 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. practice. Then, they have to wake up early and get to UPIS before 7 a.m. when classes start. UPIS, after all, is a school with high standards.

This tricky balance is a joint effort of the coaches, the UPIS administration and the team’s biggest fans - the families of the players. They work hand in hand especially in monitoring the grades of the players.

“We make sure that it’s at least passing. It’s not easy to

get really good grades when you’re an athlete,” says Head Coach Allan Gregorio.

The former Junior Maroon from 1984 to 1985 believes that excelling in both academics and sports might be difficult, but it is not impossible. In fact, there are some cases where some players get exceptional grades.

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“We really put a lot of emphasis on their education. No one can enter U.P. just like that. Because of this, it’s very hard even for the Varsity Admission Program to get talent. We need to have students with good grades for them to be able to make it to the program,” Coach Alan explains.

Coach Alan and Coach Raine both agree that this emphasis

Freddy Pajarillaga Jr. says, “Pag sa court, seryoso. Pag training, seryoso. Pero pag tapos na and all, pwede nang maglokohan.”

“Sa coaches, pag wala sa court, parang magkakaibigan lang kami, magkakapatid. Pero on the court, coach talaga. Ganon yung tingin namin sa kanila.” adds junior and starting forward Gelo Sablan who is also Coach Rain’s younger brother.

Above all, Coach Raine hopes only for the best for his players.

“I hope that every senior in our team graduates and chooses to stay in U.P.,” he says. Coach Alan agrees but adds that the choice is left to the boys.

Team Manager Atty.

Rico Domingo, a former Junior Maroon from 1966 to 1968, is optimistic.

He believes that the boys from his team all “want a U.P. Diploma”, so he sees the majority of them eventually being part of the U.P. Maroons Men’s Basketball Team, which he also co-manages.

on education is the true mark of a UPIS Junior Fighting Maroon.

As if maintaining grades is not hard enough, the team is also working its way up the UAAP. “We want to take it one game at a time, one practice at a time,” says Coach Raine.

He says that they want to double their previous season’s wins and

rack up at least ten victories. Of course, a seat in the Final Four is also part of the goal.

So, the upcoming season means business for the Junior Fighting Maroons. But this does not mean that the relationship between the players and coaches is strictly professional.

As 3rd year starting center

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The U.P. Varsity’s “feeder program”, now in place for three years, has been “developing and encouraging homegrown UPIS graduates to try out and be competitive members of the Men’s Basketball Team” in the college level.

Freddy and Gelo, like their teammates, are considering this option. But for now, they still have to face the challenge of graduating from high school and playing as a Junior Fighting Maroon.

She calls it “a rule based on fear, not on a desire to develop an individual’s talents – no matter how or where it will be developed.” Further, Jazmines believes that this rule will also “foster a selfish attitude” among the studentathletes, a subliminal effect of the kind of league they are playing in.

Dizer also says that the rule is a way of “corrupting the students,” even as they are still in high school.

Investment vs. Dreams The two-year residency rule is a battle not only of competing schools for recruiting talent, but also a conflict between a school’s prior investment in a prized athlete and the athlete’s dreams for tertiary education.

“I think schools should come to terms with the fact that they do not own the athletes. The athletes are not professionals,” says Sarmenta.

Jazmines questions the very notion of this battle, “Did the school pepper the high school student with perks, allowances and the like that they must recover or get a return of investment?”

According to her, this rule “will forever destroy the spirit and purity of collegiate sports.”

A necessity?

Sarmenta concedes that this rule is a manifestation of the ever-intense competition for top athletes among schools.

“It’s getting dirtier, if you think about it,” laments Sarmenta, who thinks that the old one-year residency rule among UAAP member schools is fine and should be left as is.

But for Dizer and Jazmines, any form of residency should cease to exist.

“One year or two years, it doesn’t matter. You are impinging on the student’s freedom to choose the school that he or she thinks can best develop him or her in academics and athletics,” says Jazmines.

In any case, according to DIzer, the league has so many other things to deal with, including “professionalizing, bribery, illegal recruitment and the giving of signing bonuses.”

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Sadly... you now present this really talented athlete with a terrible choice – either stay in my school, which... is no longer my first choice, or move, but I cannot play, which is my first love. How terrible is that to give the student... this kind of limited choice.

Sen. Pia cayetano

Consequently, in Dizer’s opinion, any investment that a studentathlete’s previous school may have made must be considered as having been fully repaid by the playing time of the athlete. And that merits freedom.

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What’s your mindset for the upcoming UAAP season 76?

As a rookie, I’ll just do whatever I can to help my team, the U.P. Fighting Maroons.

What is the best part about being a Fighting Maroon?

I get to learn a lot of things.

Being a Fighting Maroon taught me not to give up easily.

What’s your mindset for the upcoming UAAP season 76?

What’s your mindset for the upcoming UAAP season 76?

That we do our best for the best university in the Philippines; give it out in every game.

My mindset for this year is to never give up and never back down.

What is the best part about being a Fighting Maroon?

What is the best part about being a Fighting Maroon?

Freedom (braveheart voice)!

We are solid and we are close with each other.

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What’s your mindset for the upcoming UAAP season 76?

What’s your mindset for the upcoming UAAP season 76?

I’m very excited about how we can improve this coming UAAP season.

Every game is like a championship game, there’s no tomorrow.

What is the best part about being a Fighting Maroon?

What is the best part about being a Fighting Maroon?

The brotherhood and the togetherness we have as a team.

The best part is being able to serve the university with honor and excellence.

What’s your mindset for the upcoming UAAP season 76?

What’s your mindset for the upcoming UAAP season 76?

To do my very best for the team.

Always be positive, stay focused, always be ready and be tough.

What is the best part about being a Fighting Maroon?

What is the best part about being a Fighting Maroon?

I think the best part is being able to represent U.P. in the UAAP.

We are taught to develop good character. We do lose battles but we still stand up tall.

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What’s your mindset for the upcoming UAAP season 76?

What’s your mindset for the upcoming UAAP season 76?

Beast mode.

My primary mindset for this year is going for the jugular.

What is the best part about being a Fighting Maroon?

What is the best part about being a Fighting Maroon?

The best parts are having the fullride Fighting Maroon education and family on and off the court.

What I love about being a U.P. Fighting Maroon is the benefit of a full scholarship education.

What’s your mindset for the upcoming UAAP season 76?

What’s your mindset for the upcoming UAAP season 76?

Help the team win games. Give my best every time.

I am determined to win more games this season.

What is the best part about being a Fighting Maroon?

What is the best part about being a Fighting Maroon?

The honor of playing for the country’s national university.

The best part is you get to play for the best university in the Philippines.

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What’s your mindset for the upcoming UAAP season 76?

What’s your mindset for the upcoming UAAP season 76?

I always keep in mind that we need to win more games.

I need to stay focused and tough every game.

What is the best part about being a Fighting Maroon?

What is the best part of being a Fighting Maroon?

Being around your teammates and seeing all of us improve each day.

Being a student-athlete.

What’s your mindset for the upcoming UAAP season 76?

What’s your mindset for the upcoming UAAP season 76?

We need to win more games this UAAP season.

To win as many games as we can.

What is the best part of being a Fighting Maroon?

What is the best part about being a Fighting Maroon?

I have the chance to play for one of the best universities in the country.

The best part is being able to represent the real studentathlete.

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M

obile. Agile.

Hostile.

“They have youth on their side, their vibrant, sariwa. Palagi silang lively and excited and willing,” says Coach Bobby.

The voices of sixteen young men shouting these words echo throughout the University of the Philippines gymnasium before and after each rigid training session.

For 20-year-old Agustini Amar the spirit of the rookies is a good weapon against the opponents.

These are not merely words. These are the characteristics of the Diliman-based team. And they will show this to the world of collegiate basketball as the 76th Season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) unfolds.

“Fighter yung mga bago. Palag lang nang palag,” he says.

Team Captain Mo Gingerich values the importance of the newbies and believes that they will give a new winning culture to the team.

A Bunch of Rookies Eight new faces along with five holdovers and three returnees spice up the Fighting Maroons season.

“They haven’t experienced all the heart breaks that we’ve experienced in the past,” says Mo.

this

However, the team recognizes that advantages always come with drawbacks and are part of the same coin.

The roster of rookies includes Agustini Amar, Paul Desiderio, Andrew Harris, Kyles Lao, Jason Ligad, Samuel Joseph Marata. Andre Paras, and Kyle Suarez.

Coach Bobby says that the downside is the inexperience. But he is positive that the players can address this as fast as their fastbreaks.

For Assistant Coach Bobby Noriega, having rookies can work to the team’s advantage.

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“Pwede namang macorrect yun as the tournament goes on.

It’s going to be them and their hearts kung saan mapupunta ang possibility na ‘yon,” he states.

16 Playing as One “They were drilled at the same time, meaning wala ng inhibition.

I am this, you accept me, I am this, the team will accept me,” Coach Bobby says.

Sports Science major Kyle Suarez also thinks the same way and attributes it to the seniors’ ability to get along with the new players.

“Kasi yung mga seniors open sila sa amin tapos wala yung pride na dahil senior sila dapat mas angat sila sa amin, walang ganun,” he says.

The players also note that despite age differences there are no factions in the team making them one big family.

But Coach Bobby cautions that although teamwork is present,

there are still differences that need to be addressed.

“The team has different personalities. You add the coaches and it’s like organized chaos. But we all desire to do better, to show to ourselves and to the community that we are better, because we owe it to them as much as we owe it to ourselves,” says the assistant coach.

Giving Their All The players say that U.P. should watch out for a better team this season, a team with better over-all athleticism, the will to win, and to give 100 percent in every game.

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“It’s a cheesy story actually but basketball is full of emotions, kaya gusto ng tao ‘yan. Kaya don’t be surprised if you see grown men crying in basketball, parte ng pagkalalake yun,” Coach Bobby confides.

The assistant coach trusts the team and believes the Mobile, Agile and Hostile Maroons will live to the credo and excel in this year’s season.

“In fact, hindi lang ako ang nageexpect, marami. And I don’t want to prolong it, but it’s up to the boys. If they give it their all, lay everything on the floor, makikita na lang natin ‘yan. The light at the end of the tunnel.”

comes back to practice the next day saying ‘Oh does your back hurt?’ But he has a good way of conditioning the team.”

Despite limited resources, Coach Manu does not back down from bringing out the best in his players.

“I had to conform kung anong meron tayong equipment, but at the same time, hindi rin dapat ma-sacrifice ‘yung workouts ng mga bata, para ma-maximize ‘yung kailangan nilang gawin.”

The players are not the only people who appreciate the work ethic of the new conditioning coach. Even his co-coaches laud his addition to the team.

“You would appreciate working with him because he’s a hard

worker,” Assistant Coach Bobby Noriega says, “Actually he pulls me up when it comes to work ethic, masipag eh, mas masarap kasama.”

Coach Manu repays the positive remarks of his fellow mentors.

“Work-wise, the coaching staff is very easy to get along with,” Coach Manu says, “Konting adjustments lang naman, siyempre coming from another country. It wasn’t too big an adjustment, coming from American football, since may background naman na ako sa basketball, basically the workouts are all the same.”

All in all, Coach Manu sees a promising future for the freshfaced Maroon brood this season.

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We’re starting to become a team that plays together, plays for everyone and also for the school. It will take a lot to beat these guys this year.

“This team has a lot of heart,” he exclaims, “hindi basta-basta magpapatalo ‘tong mga ‘to…

We’re starting to become a team that plays together, plays for everyone and also for the school. It will take a lot to beat these guys this year.”

W

omen’s basketball might have been sidelined for the longest time in the Philippines, but the Lady Maroons are not allowing this fact to hinder them from their own winning tradition in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).

The Lady Maroons last entered the finals in Season 71. Since then, the Ladies have faced tougher and taller foes making the road to the Final Four bumpy, to say the least.

“Tingin ko mas exciting para sa amin ‘to, tapos last year ko na rin, tatlo kami ritong last year na, so bubuhos namin lahat para makabalik sa Final Four ‘yung team.”

“I’ve been pushing them everyday sa practice,” Coach Mon adds, “We have to perform this season.”

Helping the team out are two additions.

“We have Isay Aurellado from our team B, shooter siya, on that part malaki maitutulong niya. The other one is Delane Lapid, a recruit from Atenedo de Davao University. She is a big player at agile, mabilis for her height, so malaki ang maitutulong niya sa defense part.”

“Last year, 7th kami, ahead of UE, but we expect a better performance this year from this team,” Lady Maroons head coach Mon Garcia exlains, “especially since four (players) from this team are already in their 3rd year. Coach Mon adds that since they Maturity is no longer an issue.” are competing against bigger and taller opponents, the ladies “Since natapos ‘yung Season 75, work more on their speed during parang mas naging focused,” trainings, “Since we lack height, Team Captain Karen Anne we focus more on speed, offense, Salapong says, “‘yung willingness defense and individual shooting.” namin na mabalik ‘yung winning tradition, ‘yung makabalik sa Final The team’s line up is something Four, mas naging matindi ‘yung to look forward to this season, naging preparation.” according to Karen, “Ngayon, yung mga players na nakaline Since three of them are in their final up yung talagang kayang magyear of playing, Karen points out perform, lahat kayang magdala ng that they will surely do anything to game,” she emphasizes. grab the elusive Final Four slot.

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But despite all the preparations and the Lady Maroons’ eagerness, Coach Mon admits that women’s basketball in the Philippines still needs more exposure.

“In my experience, not in our country. Kasi kung same level of popularity, they might as well televise our games. Pero wala talaga.”

Karen agrees with Coach Mon, “Yung media ay nasa men’s basketball, siyempre hindi mo matatanggal, kasi basketball, rough sport na contact, talagang nasa men’s yung attention ng mga tao.”

Coach Mon points out that in his coaching experience, some women players are actually at par with the men, “Nakatatak na sa society natin na basketball, men’s sport talaga, pero ngayon kasi, nagcoach na rin ako sa men’s before, sa experience ko, same lang naman sila,” he opines.

Still Karen sees a glimmer of hope for the women in these types of contact sports, “Nakikilala na, kasi dumadami na yung women na basketball players, pero malayo pa,” she also adds that media plays a huge role in popularizing a sport in the country.

Coach Mon repeats that women’s basketball in the country needs “more exposure, more tournaments, more support from national sports commissions, more games after the season,” for it to be able to reach the same level of popularity as men’s basketball.

In this basketball-crazed country, that may still be possible.

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