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UAAP Layup Lines - Season 76 week six


UAAP Layup Lines is a regular compilation of thoughts, musings and ponderings on the previous week's UAAP games. In this week's edition, we look at Terrence Romeo's slump, Adamson coach Leo Austria, UE suspensions, Ateneo versus La Salle, and a #neweruaaprule


The line-up:



Bringing nasty back
by Carlo Pamintuan, sports desk editor, GMA News Online Sports


"These players are too nice to each other!" This was what Mike Cortez, former King Archer, tweeted while watching the second meeting of Ateneo and La Salle. The game was nice and exciting. The familiar electricity expected from an Ateneo-La Salle match-up was there. Yet Cortez felt something was missing and he was totally correct.

"I want some nasty!" A post-game confrontation involving ADMU head coach Bo Perasol may have brought back the nasty in this rivalry. Jeff Venancio
The rivalry has taken a turn for the better (or worse if you ask bloodthirsty basketball fans who expect carnage on the floor) in the past few years. Some people might argue that it is because of Ateneo's dominance in the past five years. Those people could be correct as it's difficult to hype a rivalry when one team is constantly defeating the other.

Some might point out that the lack of preference given to graduates of the Ateneo and La Salle high schools has somehow diluted the rivalry. Those people could also be true because having players that have been brainwashed in their formative years to, hate...err, intensely dislike the other, adds fuel to the fire.

But whatever the reason may be, I think both camps will agree that the rivalry is far from what it used to be. In the past years, the San Beda versus San Sebastian games have been better than Ateneo versus La Salle. Even if the NCAA isn't as popular as the UAAP, watching Calvin Abueva trying to scratch, kick, and claw his way to victory with Jake Pascual trying to stop him was must-see TV. Ateneo-La Salle felt more like a social event, while San Beda-San Sebastian felt like a grudge match.

[Related: Coach Bo Perasol apologizes for 'un-Atenean-behavior']

After the incident between Bo Perasol and some La Salle fans, I seriously hope to see the old nasty back. No more helping pick each other up after someone falls. No more smiling after your opponent makes a good shot. No more small talk while waiting for free throws to be taken.

The La Salle fans showed they can be nasty enough to trash-talk a defeated foe. Perasol threw his brand of nasty right back at them by standing up and engaging in a war of words.

I'm glad it happened. Sorry, not sorry. Wala namang nasaktan. Di naman lumaki yung gulo.

I'm glad because should these two teams meet again, I know the the game will be more intense. Maybe this will somehow wake the old rivalry up after its long slumber.


Another, better, #newuaaprule
by Aaron Valdez, contributor to GMA News Online Sports

With a 20-day temporary restraining order and the outpouring of support for the abolishment of the UAAP's two-year residency rule, the birth of another, more positive #newuaaprule was slightly overlooked, the 30 percent rule, which Philippine Star columnist Quinito Henson first shared on Twitter.


 
If the UAAP introduces a medical redshirt rule, that means Jeric Teng (C) could in theory come back for a sixth season. KC Cruz
According to Henson, "the UAAP NCAA might consider medical redshirt rule where athletes get extra year of eligibility if get hurt after play less than 30% of games." Now, those in charge will have to iron out the creases as to how the rule applies to various sports, from basketball to short tourneys like swimming, but the rule, should it push through, would give fans a lot to be happy about.

The medical redshirt, also called a hardship waiver in the United States, has long been implemented in their own National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). According to the College Athletic Trainers’ Society, a hardship waiver will be given to an athlete who incurs an injury or illness during their last year in high school or within their collegiate five playing years, if said athlete has only played two games or 20 percent of their scheduled contests. The waiver is granted provided the injury does not occur past midseason-mark.

Such a rule, or a modification of that rule, would be a huge boon to athletes. For one, injured players get to strut their stuff for another year, keeping their eligibility intact as long as their playing tenure falls within the current seven-years-out-of-high-school window. This would be great news for someone like UST's Jeric Teng, who has tragically played just two full games this season, while in his final year of eligibility.

Other benefits include roster continuity, as teams manage to keep their core intact, and it lessens those ‘What if?’ scenarios among the UAAP faithful. Of course, the league will have to take extra measures to avoid collusion between team medics and team officials, in case they decide to grant redshirt status here and there in the hopes of assembling a stronger roster later on.

Now nothing is final, indeed, there's no guarantee that such a rule will come to light, but it represents the sort of decision that will actually benefit student-athletes instead of whatever it is the new residency rule hopes to achieve. What other pieces of valuable legislation could the UAAP can come up with? A rule allowing a replay of games with horrible officiating? The UAAP actually doing something about hecklers whose antics get out of hand? One can always dream.


Suspensions are deciding the fate of the UE Red Warriors
by Carla Lizardo, writer, Humblebola

As the first round came to a close, I predicted that it would be FEU vs UE battling out for the UAAP title. Unfortunately, it looks like UE will really have their work cut out for them, just to make it to the Final Four. The preseason champions, who had an impressive start in the UAAP, have been plagued by the questionable suspensions of some of their key players.

Charles Mammie, their towering double-double machine from Sierra Leone, has already been suspended twice this season, first for getting into an altercation with Adamson’s Roider Cabrera, and then for leaving his foot on FEU’s Terrence Romeo's landing spot. Their best defender Lord Casajeros, was prevented from playing as well after being called for a flagrant foul for elbowing Terrence Romeo. Most recently, Ralf Olivares, their best local scorer after Roi Sumang, has been banned for two games after bumping NU's Javillionar while Olivares was on the bench.


Sans Charles Mammier and Lord Casajeros, the NU Bulldogs romped all over the UE Red Warriors. KC Cruz
UE's star player Roi Sumang aired out his frustration on his Twitter account, saying "Tanggalin nyo nalang kaya kami sa UAAP?" His sentiments are justified since it's probably the first time that three players from the same team have been suspended, and in the most crucial part of the season even.

At the start of the season, the UAAP commissioner was empowered to review game tape and impose warnings or unsportsmanlike fouls overlooked by the three referees. It is this power that has led to the aforementioned UE suspensions.
 
In contrast, PBA officials first look into whether a player intentionally committed a flagrant foul, or if the receiving end was simply overreacting or "flopping." For potential extra sanctions, such as fines or suspensions, the PBA commissioner first asks players for their side of the story, before making his ruling.

[Related: UE alumni release statement seeking 'justice, fairness and due process' for suspended players]

It is this lack of so-called due process that has riled up the UE alumni, who have complained of "unfair treatment towards the members of the UE Red Warriors-Men's Basketball team."  

The UE Red Warriors, along with all the other teams, train year-round to prepare for the UAAP. While Olivares' actions are an obvious exception, the commissioner's office ought to take the time to reassess their heavy-handedness, to promote healthy competition in the UAAP. The fate of a team's season should not be determined by subjective calls, which went unnoticed by three referees in the first place.


Alternate realities for the Adamson Falcons and Coach Leo Austria
by Adrian Dy, senior sports desk editor, GMA News Online Sports

In an alternate reality, the Adamson Falcons escape the DLSU Green Archers in round one, after Gian Abrigo doesn't get whistled for an offensive foul versus Norbert Torres. Instead, he steals the inbounds and launches an improbable three-pointer for the 68-67 win.

In this alternate reality, buoyed by another late-game escape act, the Falcons take it hard to the FEU Tamaraws, and with Jericho Cruz shutting down Terrence Romeo, they cruise to an easy win, preventing the Tams from running the table after the first round.

Buoyed by their 5-2 record, they go on to thrash their foes in round two, claiming the top spot in the standings behind a six-game win streak, and head coach Leo Austria never has to enter the press room of the Smart-Araneta Coliseum and say, "Everyone was starting to doubt us."

[Related: Adamson Falcons coach Leo Austria says it's time for him to step down]

Leo Austria stayed with the Falcons this season, but what about next year? KC Cruz
Of course, in another alternate reality, Austria never even gets to start the season on the Adamson bench. Based on his success with the ABL's San Mig Beermen, and behind an offer he can't refuse from the SMC bosses, it is Austria, not Gee Abanilla, who takes the head coach position with the Petron Blaze Boosters. While Austria takes up a consultant role for the Falcons, his last-minute replacement in the UAAP, Hector Calma, cannot get the host team to soar like their monicker.

In yet another alternate reality, Austria's contract with Adamson actually ended a year earlier, and based on his son's urging and the recommendation of noted rival Norman Black, he takes the Ateneo coaching gig, not Bo Perasol.

There's an alternate reality where Lester Alvarez and Jerick Canada's stints at Adamson don't overlap, giving Coach Austria eight seasons of killer point guard play.

There's an alternate reality where center Ingrid Sewa doesn't hurt his shoulder versus Ateneo in round one, and he goes on to become the most dominant center in the league.

There's an alternate reality where Bacon Austria norms 20 points per game under his father's tutelage.

There's an alternate reality where the Falcons get a couple of breaks late and don't lose three straight by a total of seven points.

This time next year, there's one reality where Coach Austria is still barking out commands to the Falcons, and one where he isn't.

Which one is the alternate and which one is real is not yet known.


T-Bill v2
by Polo Bustamante, From the Stands, contributor to GMA News Online Sports

With around five seconds left in regulation, Terrence Romeo received the ball near the half-court line. He waited, then dribbled, and tried to escape his man by attacking the sideline. The red lights outlining the backboard went off with no shot from Romeo. Overtime.

Fast-forward to the end of the first overtime. With around 10 seconds left, Romeo received the ball in the exact same spot as the end of regulation. The clock ticked down to about seven seconds. Juke. Dribble. Hesitation. Dribble. Then he launched a 30-foot contested three-pointer. Clang.

The FEU Tamaraws eventually lost to the UST Tigers in the second overtime.

[Related: Abdul, Tigers stand tall with double OT win versus FEU]

Terrence Romeo (L) seems to have regressed back to his bad habits.  KC Cruz
How did it get to this? How could a player as talented as Romeo bungle two game-winning possessions? Clearly, there was no trace of Coach Nash Racela in both of those plays. Romeo abandoned whatever game-plan Racela had with poor clock management and what seemed to be a hardened determination to fire up a contested jumper.

This isn’t the Romeo who was running the Dribble Drive Motion Offense to perfection in the first round. This isn’t the same player who made his teammates better by using his unique talent to get them their shots. In the first round, Romeo played like an superstar, united his team and bought into Racela’s system.

This entire second round, we’re watching a totally different Terrence Romeo. We’re watching the younger version of Romeo: hot-headed, forcing shots and hi-jacking possessions. We’re watching Romeo, the points guard running the Tamaraws.

It’s really sad. In the first round, FEU sat alone at the top, seemingly untouchable, playing on a different level. In the second round, they’re 1-4, struggling to get wins.

What’s more sad is how Romeo, someone whom everyone thought was finally “getting it” devolved back into someone looking to “get his.” Rather than build on his efficient performance in the first round to prove all his haters and doubters wrong, he’s giving them ammo to tweet him criticisms he refuses to acknowledge.

It’s sad to watch FEU bleed for points that came so easily to them just a few weeks ago, all because Romeo decided he wants to shoot 24 times or take 16 three's. The special relationship between Coach Nash and Romeo, the balance that they built together seems like a distant memory now.

[Related: The thrilling balance between Nash Racela and Terrence Romeo]

Romeo’s always had a Jekyll and Hyde complex. There’s always unpredictability about him. But you can’t ever bottle-up a talent like Romeo. He’s so unique, so incandescent, so passionate that there’s no way for him but to burn. He can be infectious, inspiring everyone around him, galvanizing his team. He can also flame-out, dragging the rest of the team down with him.

For FEU’s sake, Romeo better snap out of this gigantic “topak” moment. They need their MVP back.
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