The Manila Times

Quest for UAAP championship started four years ago

AL S. VITANGCOL 3RD

J

OEL “JD” Cagulangan sank a threepointer with half a second remaining in their final game against the Ateneo Blue Eagles, ending the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons’ 36-year title drought. UP’s 72-69 triumph in Game 3 of Season 84 in the men’s basketball finals likewise ended the dynastic reign of Ateneo de Manila in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).

The members of the UP community were one in celebrating such a historic event.

Some reactions

Salvador O. Dungca, a UP engineering alumnus, reminisced: “I felt like I was brought back in time to 1986, the last UP championship. I was also there [watching] live at the court, wala pa ang Mall of Asia Arena noon.” (Note: The 1986 UAAP finals match between UP and the University of the East Red Warriors was held at the old Ultra, now known as the Philippine Sports Arena.)

Fernando B. San Miguel, watching Game 3 in his house, wrote: “Alternating frustration and jubilation sa akin while watching the game live on TV. I was extremely happy at napa chacha after Cagulangan’s winning shot. ‘Are you ok, Lolo?’ sabi ng apo ko. He he he!”

Epsilon Chi fraternity member Jasper C. Balboa viewed it differently. He claimed that “this championship was envisioned 30 years ago by no other than Brod Yeng who came up with an idea for the UP alumni to muster resources in support of the UP basketball program, just like what other big UAAP schools were doing. We helped make that vision into reality through a superb training facility called the EC Center.” Balboa was referring to the head coach of the NLEX Road Warriors, Joseller “Yeng” M. Guiao.

UP president’s goal

Let’s go back a few years. The Epsilon Chi Center (EC Center) was inaugurated on Oct. 2, 2018. UP President Danilo Concepcion, upon accepting the EC Center donation from the Epsilon Chi fraternity, said he would be tasking the UP men’s basketball team to “win the crown” during his incumbency. Concepcion’s term will end this year. Let me quote what I wrote about this almost four years ago.

“He also shared his observations about the way the basketball team did their practice in the old and decrepit UP basketball court. There were four things that struck him — the dimly lit court, its uneven flooring, absence of air conditioning and lack of other facilities.

“Concepcion jokingly disclosed that during practice games, the Fighting Maroons players are used to darkness. Hence, when they play at the MoA Arena they are blinded by the bright lights and their vision is affected. Also, when they dribbled the ball in the old UP gym, the ball went berserk because of the uneven wooden flooring. At the MoA Arena, the floor is so even and shiny. A sort of culture shock, so to speak.

“He said in jest that the UP players were used to playing in an environment comparable to a hot oven. Thus, when they are at the MoA Arena, they shiver and cannot play well because of the cold air conditioning.

“This might be pure banter on the part of Concepcion, but there is some truth to it. Indeed, ‘practice makes perfect.’ If players are practicing in an inappropriate place, then they cannot perfect their play, no matter what.

“The UP president was delighted to accept the donation on behalf of the UP System and of course, for the basketball varsity team. He boasted that the UP basketball players will no longer be dazzled by the MoA Arena.”

For Concepcion, as far as the men’s basketball championship is concerned, it’s now mission accomplished.

The EC Center

The EC Center is a 1,400-square meter multipurpose facility with a full-size (94-ft long and 50-ft wide) basketball court as its centerpiece, complemented with a fully-equipped weights training room. This P37-million facility was constructed by the Epsilon Chi fraternity on their golden jubilee anniversary and was subsequently donated to the UP System.

The center is comparable to the MoA Arena, except for the spectators’ seating capacity. The EC Center has imported maple flooring, and it is well lit and fully air conditioned. Concepcion believed that there is no more reason for the Fighting Maroons to lose. The EC Center is the best training facility that UP has to offer. To date, the physical maintenance and continuous improvements being done to the EC Center are still being borne by the fraternity. Engineer Chito D. Cole suggested that I include the financials involved in the maintenance, but I do not have the exact figures as of this writing.

Indeed, the quest for the elusive UAAP men’s basketball championship started four years ago when the Fighting Maroons made the EC Center their home in 2018. The Epsilon Chi fraternity, together with its resident and alumni brothers, takes pride in being a part of this historic event.

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Opinion

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2022-05-21T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-05-21T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://manilatimes.pressreader.com/article/281646783749899

The Manila Times