12 Archers, 9 Eagles from famed 2002 UAAP duel make it to PBA

The Ateneo-La Salle championship battle is still being talked about even as another title duel between the archrivals is about to unfold.

It’s sweet memory for the Ateneans and a bitter one for the La Sallians.

While hostilities in the Asian Games raged on in Busan, the 2002 UAAP cage wars at home came to a climactic finish with the Blue Eagles upending the Green Archers, 77-70, to claim the crown before a virtual sea of humanity at the Araneta Coliseum.

It was a match made in heaven with Ateneo winning the series opener at 72-70 then La Salle getting even at 85-77 to force the deciding Game Three.

Long after the final buzzer had sounded, the series is still a hot topic, gaining a special place in the rich history of the varsity league.

It was a highly competitive battle, featuring no less than 21 future pro players, 18 of them in the PBA active rosters.

Those who made the PBA from the champion team of coach Joel Banal are Enrico Villanueva, Wesley Gonzales, Jec Chia, Rich Alvarez, LA Tenorio, Larry Fonacier, Macky Escalona, JC Intal and Doug Kramer.

The Archers graduating to the pros are Adonis Sta. Maria, Mike Cortez, Macmac Cardona, Carlo Sharma, Willie Wilson, Manny Ramos, Joseph Yeo, Junjun Cabatu, Jose Aquino, Mike Gavino, TY Tang and Cholo Villanueva.

The only collegiate team to see all the members of its team make the PBA was the San Sebastian squad of coach Francis Rodriguez in the mid-80s. Bong Alvarez, Eugene Quilban, Art dela Cruz, Saturnino Garrido, Nap Hatton, Chris Bade, Allan delos Reyes, Django Rivera, Toying Teves and Eton Navarro were among the players.

“That team was a complete package with good players in all positions. It had a strong starting five and a deep bench,” said Ateneo athletic director Ricky Palou of the 2002 Ateneo team.

“Most of the players came from our high school team. They won championships in high school and also wanted to taste a championship in college. The drive and determination were there,” Palou added.

“We definitely had a strong team in 2002. We had a good depth and balance then but Ateneo was stronger. TY (Tang) was still raw then. You take our Mike Cortez and we’re done,” said La Salle coach Franz Pumaren.

Palou thought they have a stronger team this year.

“What’s good about our current team is that it works as a team. Nobody’s selfish. This team is stronger. I do believe majority of the players will also make the PBA,” said Palou.

The high-powered 2002 Ateneo-La Salle cast has produced a Rookie of the Year awardee in Alvarez and two Best Player of the Conference winners in Villanueva and Cardona.

Tenorio and Fonacier are now teammates at Alaska, Sharma and Alvarez at Red Bull, Villanueva and Bugia at Purefoods, Intal and Kramer at Air21, and Cortez and Gonzales at San Miguel.

Tang and Villanueva, rookies with the Archers in 2002, are making their debut in the PBA with Rain or Shine and Air21, respectively.

These players have played two reunion games. The first one, in 2006, was marred by a fight between Villanueva and Yeo. The two players figured in another fight when they chanced upon each other at the Araneta Coliseum parking lot a few months later.

The other members of the 2002 Ateneo team were Chris Quimpo, Andrew Cruz, Hernando Elmido, Narciso Tadeo, Conrad Banal, Marco Benitez, Christian del Rosario and Eric Yao.

Completing the La Salle lineup were BJ Manalo, Christian Cabatu, Jerwin Gaco, Martin Urra, Jr. and Michael Vainio.