Eagles notch 3-peat; Lions sweep Red Lions sweep

Star’s top sports stories (Last of three-part series)

MANILA, Philippines –  Losing key players Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Noy Baclao and Jai Reyes to graduation hardly took the fight out of the Ateneo Blue Eagles, who successfully authored their first three-peat in the UAAP cage wars this year.

With holdovers Ryan Buenafe, Eric Salamat, Nico Salva, Kirk Long and Justin Chua taking turns filling in the hero’s shoes, the Eagles shrugged off a shaky 2-2 start in the elims, racking up six straight victories en route to finishing second (10-4) to Far Eastern (12-2) after the elims.

And come playoffs, the experienced, peaking-at-the-right-moment Ateneo blew every opponent away, including the erstwhile league-leading Tams in two championship games, to show who’s still the boss in the premier collegiate league.

Not to be outdone, San Beda regained the title it lost to San Sebastian last year, in grand fashion – completing a sweep of 18 games, including two over the Stags in the finals to become the first team to sweep their way to the championship since the SSC Stags did it 16 years ago.

The Lions thus took their fourth crown in five years and 15th overall.

San Beda also matched Ateneo’s sweep of both divisions in the UAAP as the Red Cubs conquered the Staglets to reign supreme in the high school division of the 86-year-old league.

• Phl cagebelles claim SEABA title.

Long overshadowed by their more illustrious male counterparts, the Philippine women’s basketball team finally came into their own and stepped into the limelight in 2010 via the 7th SEABA championship last October at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Enjoying homecourt advantage and making full use of their quickness and outside shooting, the Perlas Pilipinas cagebelles led by frontliners Fatima Tolentino and Cassy Tioseco and gunners Melissa Jacob, Ewon Arayi, Pixie Valencia and Diana Jose swept all four elims games then crushed ex-champ Thailand in the finals, 76-54, to reign supreme for the first time in 40 years of participating internationally. The cagebelles also proved their worth after getting cut from the Phl contingent to the 16th Asian Games.

• Django finally hits paydirt.

It was a long time coming for Bustamante who captured his first significant title ever at the World 9-Ball Pool Championships in Doha last July. Bustamante pocketed the top prize of $36,000 for his effort. In 2002, Bustamante came close to bagging the crown but lost to Earl Strickland, 17-15, in the finals at Cardiff. It was a painful setback for the Tarlac native who learned that his less than a year old baby died while he played Antonio Lining in the round-of-16. Bustamante thought of rushing home but was persuaded to pursue the title. He beat Lining, Efren (Bata) Reyes and Ching Yang of China to arrange the showdown with Strickland.

Bustamante is the fifth Filipino to win a world title after Reyes (9-ball, 1999), Alex Pagulayan (9-ball, 2004), Ronnie Alcano (9-ball, 8-ball, 2006-07) and Rubilen Amit (10-ball, 2009).

• PBA still a major draw.

In its 36th year, the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) continues to be a stellar attraction and the country’s most popular sports league. Lawyer Chito Salud succeeded Sonny Barrios as commissioner to open the new season last October. The draft brought in a slew of talented newcomers led by Nonoy Baclao, Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Sean Anthony. Meralco returned to big-time basketball, taking over the Sta. Lucia Realty franchise, and the league reinstated the three-conference format. Alaska celebrated its 25th anniversary in the PBA with coach Tim Cone claiming the team’s 13th title in the Fiesta Conference last season. James Yap is the reigning MVP but at the moment, the race for top honors is wide open with Harvey Carey, Arwind Santos, James Washington, Joe De Vance, Ali Peek and Jimmy Alapag strong contenders to snatch the trophy.

Other stories that made news because of the impact they left in Philippine sports in the year about to end are:

• Unbelievable comeback in Davis Cup.

Facing demotion to the Asia/Oceania Group II, the Philippines scrambled from a 0-2 deficit to upset South Korea, 3-2, at the Chanwon Municipal Tennis Center last September. The Davis Cup team of Cecil Mamiit, Treat Huey, Johnny Arcilla and Elbert Anasta did an astounding Lazarus act, virtually rising from the grave to retain its position in Group I by drubbing the host country in an inspiring display of heart. Huey lost the first singles match in a four-setter then Mamiit blew a two-set lead to drop the second singles match. Then, Mamiit and Huey combined to repulse Hyun Joo Kim and Jae Min Seol, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4, in doubles to stay alive in the tie. In the fourth match, Mamiit held on to trounce Yong Kyu Lim, 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 1-1 (retired) and Huey clinched it with a 7-5, 7-5, 6-3 lacing of Suk Yong Jeong.

• Golfers in best-ever finish.

The Philippine ladies team of Dottie Ardina, Chihiro Ikeda and Mia Piccio booked a tie for eighth at the World Amateur Golf Team Championships in Buenos Aires last October. It was the country’s best finish ever in over four decades and eclipsed ninth place in Australia in 1968. The Philippines registered a one-under 575 overall, 29 strokes behind champion South Korea with a 30-under 546. Coach Bong Lopez of the ICTSI squad declared “mission accomplished” as Ardina anchored the team with birdies in two of the last four holes to fire a one-under 71 in the final round.

Piccio was spectacular in beating Argentina’s Agostina Parmigiani in the finals of the 80th Women’s Trans Amateur Championships in Nebraska last August. With seven holes to go, Parmigiani sank three straight birdies to move within three strokes but Piccio held on to clinch her first US crown.

• Sports Hall of Fame launched.

 After an 11-year wait since the enactment of R. A. No. 8757 establishing the Sports Hall of Fame to immortalize the exploits of the country’s greatest athletes, the inaugural enshrinement rites were finally held at the Manila Hotel last May. PSC chairman Harry Angping made it happen as he hosted the event before the installation of his successor. “This is history,” said Angping. “We should cherish it. We want to remind our people of what our greatest athletes have done to inspire us with their dedication, sacrifice and discipline.”

The first-ever inductees were Asia’s pioneer world boxing champion Pancho Villa, the first and only double Filipino Olympic medalist Teofilo Yldefonso of swimming, 1932 Olympic high jump bronze medalist Simeon Toribio, 1932 Olympic boxing bronze medalist Jose (Cely) Villanueva, 1936 Olympic low hurdler Miguel White, former world middleweight boxing champion Ceferino Garcia, the national team that took third place at the 1954 World Basketball Championships in Rio de Janeiro, basketball star and two-time Olympian Caloy Loyzaga, former world junior lightweight boxing champion Flash Elorde and 1964 Olympic boxing silver medalist Anthony Villanueva.

Also making The STAR’s list of top stories included the merger of the PBL and Liga Pilipinas to form the Tournament of the Philippines, the exploits of the Smart Gilas national basketball team under coach Rajko Toroman, Alice Kate Aparri’s bronze medal finish at the AIBA World Women’s Championships in Barbados last September, the Saludar brothers’ twin golds at the Tammer Cup in Finland last October, the visit of NBA personalities Erik Spoelstra, B. J. Armstrong, Mitch Richmond, Glenn Rice, Gary Payton and Chris Webber to Manila, Fil-Am pitcher Tim Lincecum’s amazing form to power the San Francisco Giants to the major league baseball title and Fil-Am speed skater J. R. Celski’s harvest of two bronze medals at the Vancouver Winter Games.

The year also witnessed the passing of former World Chess Federation president Florencio Campomanes, PBA cager Valerio (Botchok) de los Santos, former BAP secretary-general Tito Perez de Tagle, Pilipino Star Ngayon sports editor Dina Villena and Manila Bulletin assistant sports editor Willie Caballes.