by Dennis Eroa

Thank you UP Maroons and De La Salle Green Archers for a wonderful UAAP series. The main protagonists in collegiate basketball’s most awaited and watched rivalry just affirmed the main reason why we need to have sports (particularly basketball) in our lives. The sports sanitized our lives and temporarily shielded us from day-to-day struggles. We learned the true meaning of sportsmanship and acceptance. Hats off to both DLSU and UP for showing to the world that fierce competitors on the court can remain friends off the court.

Salute to the Maroons for winning their second championship in four years. Bannered by Finals MVP and former La Salle player Jose Diomar Cagulangan and game-changer Quentin Millora-Brown, the Maroons wrested the crown from the Archers by winning the decider of the best-of-three title series, 66-62, before a mammoth crowd at the Big Dome.

Of course, the Maroons and their backers celebrated with gusto for winning the lotto of collegiate basketball but it was crystal clear that they have respected the Archers throughout the series.

And how about De La Salle and its hordes of supporters who came to the game with huge expectations after the Taft-based hoopsters evened the series with a memorable,76-75 win in Game Two.

They simply accepted defeat. La Salle also has no time to criticize the controversial tactic of coach Topex Robinson of benching back-to-back MVP Kevin Quiambao in the heat of the thrilling game. Robinson and his coaching staff lived and died for that strategy.

‘‘Talagang talo. Lahat ng stat line lamang ang UP. Di ukol brod,’’ said solid DLSU supporter Manny Salgado, who isn’t new to the Archers’ glorious run in the past. Salgado’s summed up the overall attitude of the DLSU faithful. They kept their pride and dignity intact in the face of failure.

Siklab awardee and Godfather of the Year and sports Philippine athletics honcho Terry Capistrano, sportsman businessman Johnny Valdes, and the rest of big-time DLSU supporters epitomized gentlemen losers as they sang the DLSU hymn even if the sweating Cagulangan, who played for La Salle Greenhills and the senior team for one year, approached and hugged them.

Of course, they were hurt by the setback but I believe it will be temporary. There’s always next season to exact revenge.

Czech Emil Zatopek, a long-distance legend who won three gold medals at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki rightly said:  Great is the victory but the friendship of all is greater.

Finally, Mapua savors the NCAA view from above

I also would like to mention the long and sometimes disappointing journey of the Mapua Cardinals before nailing the NCAA crown at the expense of the Benilde Blazers.

The victory ended 33 years of fruitless campaign in the NCAA. The Cardinals last won the crown in 1991 and it was wonderful to see members of the championship team cheered lustily for the present batch of Mapua players. Mapua also took the title in 1990.

The inspired performances of Clint Escamis, adjudged as Finals MVP, Marc Cuenco, Chris Hubilla, and Lawrence Mangubat resulted in Mapua’s 84-73 and 94-82 victory over the Blazers before a rip-roaring crowd at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Cardinals bowed to the San Beda Red Lions last season.

 It would be a mortal sin if I didn’t mention the tremendous work done by coach Randy ‘‘Mr. Chill’’ Alcantara, a member of the 1990-1991 squad. His transformation from a championship player to a winning coach is now complete.

Even during his prime, Alcantara struck me as a very calculated player. Just like the present Mapuans, Alcantara shone with his hustle while playing for Tanduay in the Philippine Amateur Basketball League, which is now buried deep in the memory of basketball fans. I never saw him lose his cool.

It’s about time for the PBA to take a look at Alcantara and even coach Jinino Manansala, who just steered  St Clare Saints to the 7-peat in the NAASCU caging.

 Some names that are being floated around for possible coaching promotions are overhyped. You know them.

Puro porma at palaki lang ng katawan. I pity the team owners who pay big bucks only to learn that their recruits know nothing about the game. What a waste of money.

Lord’s grace: surviving 2024

The year that soon will be a memory challenged this pen pusher personally. My family and I with the help of true friends needed to clear hurdles in order to come out alive and celebrate 2024 Christmas.

Before the year ends, let me greet dear readers with a jolly Christmas with lots of love to all. I will always love you.

While undergoing dialysis, I underwent brain surgery and the recovery period was tiring, long, and slow.

There is a long list of individuals and organizations who never turned their back on me. My family and I are truly grateful. Sadly, my sickness also exposed me to my true friends. I’m not bitter and I have no time for self-pity because I am anchored on my solid belief in the Lord’s grace.

Brian Yalung, the brains behind Sportsbytes Philippines, also underwent a life-threatening experience. He survived. Chino Trinidad, my brother, and others at their prime did not but I am confident that they are now resting in the bosom of our Lord.

Prayers worked wonders. I am a living example that there is no substitute for asking the Lord to take over when the goings get rough.

Up to now, the Holy Trinity Parish is here at Bgy. New Cabalan in Olongapo City is praying for my complete recovery. Thank you, Fr. Larry Villafuerte.

This 2025, I ask you to surrender yourself to the Lord. Be ready for challenges but if you dedicate yourself to the Lord then everything will be great.

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Dennis Eroa

Columnist at Sports Bytes PH

After 25 years of working with the Inquirer Group of Companies, Dennis decided to make an early retirement due to the pandemic. Formerly a college editor of UE’s The Dawn, Dennis learned the craft from the country’s leading chroniclers of sports namely Recah Trinidad, Al Mendoza,Jimmy Cantor, Chito Manuel and the late Larry Galvez, Doc Inigo and Tito Tagle. In the early 90s, Dennis became a section editor of Riyadh Daily, Saudi Arabia’s first English newspaper. He is an active member and officer of the Philippine Sportswriters Association, Tabloids Organization in Philippines and the Sports Communicators Organization in the Philippines, He covered local and international sporting events while working at Sports Flash, Malaya, Headline, Evening Standard, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Libre and Bandera.

Latest posts by Dennis Eroa (see all)

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