HIGHLIGHTS OF ABL 2001

Best Games

(Quano) 3/24 – Team Morales 82 Team Alabanza 80 (OT) –Team Alabanza had a chance at winning in regulation, but MM Morales’s three pointer bounced off the rim as time expired. With the score knotted at 80 all with only 10 seconds left in OT, it looked like the game was going to a second as Team Morales’s last offensive thrust was going to turn up empty. However, Erwin Pato picked up an offensive rebound and nailed a turn-around bank shot from the top of the key to put Team Morales up 82-80 with 1 second remaining.

(Roco) 3/31 – Team Ramos 66 Team Cacho 65 – Although Team Ramos was leading most of the game, Team Cacho was able to catch up and eventually take a 2 point lead 66-64 with under 20 seconds remaining. Team Ramos was pushing the ball hard on a fastbreak attempt when Pat Ildefonso received the ball from behind the three-point arc and nailed the go-ahead shot with 10 seconds remaining. In the ensuing play, Wally Racela of Team Ramos blocked an attempt by Robert Baffrey of Team Cacho and sent the ball out of bounds with only 2 seconds remaining. Team Cacho then could not get a decent shot off as time expired.

(Dalupan) 2/17- Team Watson 61 Team Gaston 60 (OT) - Both teams had several missed opportunities to win the game in regulation. With less than 30 seconds to go in regulation, Team Watson was up by 2 and had possession of the ball. All they had to do was dribble the time or wait to be fouled. Instead, Ben Velasco of Team Gaston steals the ball and scores on an uncontested lay-up to tie the score and send the game in overtime. In OT, Team Gaston was up 60-59 with less than 20 seconds to go when JP Gregorio of Team Watson was fouled. He sank both free throws to put his team ahead 61-60. Team Gaston’s last attempt to score again would fall short.

Most Dramatic Game

4/1– (Roco Division Semis) Team Rabat 85 Team Sevilla 68 It’s hard to classify a no.2 seed (Team Rabat) as an underdog. But heading into this game, it seemed justified. Team Rabat had just lost to Team Sevilla, 73-66 the day before, thus forcing this semis rubber match. Before the game started, it looked like Team Rabat would surely lose the game. Only 5 players were present to start the game, including 4 who were over 40 years old (Two players would arrive later). Onnie Martin, the team’s point guard and Roco Division Mythical Five member, was also not around as his wife was giving birth to their third child.

Despite all these disadvantages, Team Rabat played probably their best game of the tournament. They were up for most of the game and would have an answer for every attempted rally by Team Sevilla. Although Team Rabat was up only by 5, 51-46, heading into the 4th quarter, they would eventually pull away in the dying minutes of the game.

Best Single-game Performances

(Dalupan) Nash Racela, Team Cleofas- 19 pts, 9 rebs, 6 ass, 7 stls, 3 blks vs. Team Castelo, 3/17

(Quano) BJ Calo, Team Alabanza– 38 pts, 21 rebs, 1 ass, 1 stl, 4 blks vs. Team Morales, 3/24

(Roco) Pat Ildefonso, Team Ramos- 24 pts, 14 rebs, 4 ass, 2 stls, 3 blks vs. Team Rabat 3/17

Best Team Attendance/Participation

(Dalupan) Team Cleofas, (Quano) Team Reyes, (Roco) Team Cacho

Most “Comedic” Technical Foul

Dudong Cruz, Team Roa – 3/18 vs. Team Littaua. Team Roa had only five players present for the game. Despite this disadvantage, the game went into OT. However, Team Littaua was finally able to break away from Team Roa late in the OT. With the outcome all but decided, Dudong Cruz decides to have a little fun by blocking a fastbreak attempt by Team Littaua by coming from out of bounds in the dying seconds of the game …despite fouling out two minutes earlier. Despite drawing an automatic technical foul, he did illicit laughs from his team, their opponents, and even the refs.

Best Attempt at a “Comedic” Technical Foul

Team Sevilla/Team Ramos – Players from Team Sevilla would sit on the bench of Team Ramos during the latter’s games and would try to draw bench technical fouls. Team Ramos players would do the same to Team Sevilla during the latter’s games as well.

Best Audience Support

(Dalupan) Team Gaston – Who needs the Laker Girls? The Team Gaston Ladies (wives and girlfriends) were present for almost every game.

(Quano) Team Reyes – Family and friends would have regular picnic during the games. Evening picnics were sponsored by San Miguel Beer.

(Roco) Team Sevilla/Ramos – The 2 Assoc teams would stay and jeer (not cheer) for each other during their games. The heckling would start from the opening tip and end only at the final buzzer.

Most “Intense” Teams

(Dalupan) Team Harn, (Quano) Team O’Brien, (Roco) Team Cacho

Most “Untense” Teams (wrong grammar intended)

(Dalupan) Team Wong, (Quano) tie-Team Reyes/Team Morales, (Roco) Team Arce

Best Act of Sportsmanship

All ABL Teams – The end-game ritual of all players from both teams shaking hands

Most Veteran Player

Ed Castelo, Team Castelo – 51 years young

Mythical Five – For Fun-ny

1) Mhel Garrido, Team Sevilla, 2) Erwin Paala, Team Arce, 3) Anthony Pedron, Team Watson, 4) Glenn Ano, Team Watson, 5) Dante de Leon, Team Palou

Most Addicted Players

Chiqui Reyes, Team Bengzon/Harn, 2) Colin Yarisantos, Team Harn/Arce, 3) Paolo Timbang, Team Alabanza/Jones, 4) Nash Racela, Team Racela/Cleofas- These players played in 2 divisions for a total of 16 games each; some of which were back-to-back games. Except for Nash Racela (who missed 1 game), these players did not miss any scheduled game of their teams.

Most Impressive ABL Statistic

0 – number of games defaulted out of a total of 102 games scheduled

ABL 2001 CLOSING

After two months and 102 basketball games, the 2001 Ateneo Basketball League (ABL) came to a close on Saturday, April 7. The day began with a basketball competition at the Blue Eagle Gym among 7 teams from various organizations of the Ateneo college. This was followed by the three division championships and then by the ABL fellowship game that featured the winning college teams of the morning competition vs. an ABL selection (Final Score: College Selection 65 ABL Selection 41). The day ended with a fellowship/awards night dinner at the lobby of the Irwin Theater hosted by the Ateneo Alumni Affairs Office and sponsored by San Miguel Corporation, Nestle Nonstop Ice Cream, and Universal Robina Corporation.

The division championship medals, trophies, and the medals for the defensive players of the year were donated by the Ateneo Sports Hall of Fame care of Mr. Tito Panlilio. The Ed Ocampo MVP Trophy and Mythical Five medals were donated by Ms. Piluchi O. Fernandez, sister of Ed Ocampo. The individual/team awardees and the statistical leaders for all the divisions are enumerated below.

BIBIANO QUANO DIVISION

Team and Individual Awards

Championship Match: Team Reyes 79 Team Racela 72

Champion Team: Team Reyes (Gene Afable, Bong Arroyo, Bambi Cuna, Raymond Fran, Monpe Laudico, Albert Mendoza, Manny Mendoza, Macho Molina, Mark Molina, Raymond Morales, Jet Nieto, Albert Nolido, Gabby Perez, Tonichi Pinzon, Jun Reyes, Len Reyes, Edgar Ruiz, Randy Sevilla)

Ed Ocampo MVP: Gene Afable, Team Reyes (11.0 pts., 9.6 rebs, 1.4 ass)

Defensive Player of the Year: Sonny Tadeo, Team Panlilio

Mythical Five: 1st : Gene Afable, Team Reyes (11.0 pts, 9.6 rebs, 1.4 ass, 0.6 stls, 0.2 blks, 9 gp), 2nd: Billy Reyes, Team Racela (12.8 pts, 3.6 rebs, 3.8 ass, 1.3 stls, 0.0 blks, 9 gp), 3rd: Mon Tioseco, Team Bengzon (19.0 pts, 10.0 rebs, 2.6 ass, 0.9 stls, 0.6 blks, 7 gp), 4th: Vincent Cruz, Team Racela (12.8 pts, 3.7 rebs, 2.4 ass, 1.3 stls, 0.0 blks, 9 gp), 5th: Sonny Tadeo, Team Panlilio (11.6 pts, 8.0 rebs, 1.0 ass, 2.3 stls, 1.1 blks, 8 gp)

Statistical Leaders

Points: 133 – Mon Tioseco, Team Bengzon (19.0 per game), Mark Cristi, Team Arroyo (19.0 per game)

Rebounds: 86 – Gene Afable, Team Reyes (9.6 per game)

Assists: 34 – Billy Reyes, Team Racela (3.8 per game)

Steals: 18 – Sonny Tadeo, Team Panlilio (2.25 per game)

Blocks: 9 - BJ Calo, Team Alabanza (1.50 per game), Paolo Timbang, Team Alabanza (1.29 per game), Sonny Tadeo, Team Panlilio (1.13 per game)

Total Field Goal %: .592, Nash Racela, Team Racela

3-Pt. Field Goal %: .579, Blue Avelino, Team Bengzon

Free Throw %: .818, Bong Arroyo, Team Reyes

VIRGILIO DALUPAN DIVISION

Team and Individual Awards

Championship Match: Team Jones 83 Team Harn 73

Champion Team: Team Jones (Mon Acoba, Omar Ajon, Jun Bercasio, Aldous Canda, Ian del Prado, Johnny Gutierrez, Alkei Mojica, Carlos Montemayor, Carl Odulio, Jodee Punzalan, Nick Sarmiento, Paolo Timbang, Ryan Vitug,)

Ed Ocampo MVP: Paolo Timbang, Team Jones

Defensive Player of the Year: Paolo Timbang, Team Jones

Mythical Five: 1st : Paolo Timbang, Team Jones (11.3 pts, 12.1 rebs, 2.4 ass, 0.6 stls, 2.3 blks, 9 gp), 2nd: Mon Acoba, Team Jones (11.6 pts, 8.6 rebs, 1.4 ass, 2.0 stls, 0.3 blks, 9 gp), 3rd: Jun Bercasio, Team Jones (16.6 pts, 2.2 rebs, 1.9 ass, 1.9 stls, 0.1 blks, 9 gp), 4th: Chiqui Reyes, Team Harn (12.4 pts, 4.0 rebs, 5.3 ass, 1.4 stls, 0.1 blks, 9 gp), 5th: Jody Silva, Team Harn (15.7 pts, 5.3 rebs, 0.6 ass, 1.2 stls, 0.9 blks, 9 gp)

Statistical Leaders

Points: 149 – Jun Bercasio, Team Jones (16.6 per game)

Rebounds: 109 – Paolo Timbang, Team Jones (12.1 per game)

Assists: 48 – Chiqui Reyes, Team Harn (5.3 per game)

Steals: 18 - Ben Velasco, Team, Harn (2.25 per game), Mon Acoba, Team Jones (2.00 per game)

Blocks: 21 – Paolo Timbang, Team Jones (2.33 per game)

Total Field Goal %: .662 - Nash Racela, Team Cleofas

3-Pt. Field Goal %: .556 - James Gregorio, Team Watson

Free Throw %: .947 - James Gregorio, Team Watson

RAFAEL ROCO DIVISION

Team and Individual Awards

Championship Match: Team Cacho 71 Team Rabat 60

Champion Team: Team Cacho (Chris Alano, Robert Baffrey, Ervin Belen, Gino Borromeo, Lester Chuayap, Jay Gisbert, Johann Go, Edric Mendoza, Paolo Mendoza, Raymund Mendoza, Manuel Pascua, Carlos Poblete, Mico Racelis, Jay Rollan, Paolo Tatad, Gugoy Vitan)

Ed Ocampo MVP: Bong Camacho, Team Rabat

Defensive Player of the Year: Bong Camacho, Team Rabat

Mythical Five: 1st : Bong Camacho, Team Rabat (17.5 pts, 12.8 rebs, 1.0 ass, 1.7 stls, 0.6 blks, 10 gp), 2nd: Peter Gonzalez, Team Sevilla (18.6 pts, 6.9 rebs, 4.1 ass, 2.1 stls, 0.9 blks, 8 gp), 3rd: Robert Baffrey, Team Cacho (12.0 pts, 7.8 rebs, 0.7 ass, 0.8 stls, 0.8 blks, 9 gp), 4th: Onnie Martin, Team Rabat (11.8 pts, 4.2 rebs, 5.2 ass, 1.1 stls, 0.1 blks, 9 gp), 5th: Paolo Mendoza, Team Cacho (13.2 pts, 2.8 rebs, 1.8 ass, 2.4 stls, 0.0 blks, 9 gp)

Statistical Leaders

Points: 175 – Bong Camacho, Team Rabat (17.5 per game)

Rebounds: 128 – Bong Camacho, Team Rabat (12.8 per game)

Assists: 47 – Onnie Martin, Team Rabat (5.2 per game)

Steals: 22 – Paolo Mendoza, Team Cacho (2.44 per game)

Blocks: 19 – Johann Ramos, Team Sevilla (2.38 per game)

Total Field Goal %: .574, Carlos Poblete, Team Cacho

3-Pt. Field Goal %: .450, Emman Sanchez, Team Rabat

Free Throw %: .833, Erwin Tantoco, Team Samson