Under the radar

Scouts and coaches from different Manila schools recently descended on Bacolod City to witness the action at the first Chinese Schools Invitational Basketball Tournament where six teams participated to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Bacolod Tay Tung High School. The four-day event gathered crack teams from Chiang Kai Shek under coach Goldwin Monteverde, Xavier School under coach Carlo Tan, Hua Siong College of Iloilo under coach Tonichi Carranceja, Sun Yat Sen Iloilo under coach Elvis Atinado, Cebu Eastern College under coach Mark Anthony Tallo and Tay Tung High School under coach Mark Belangel.

Tournament assistant commissioner Roger Montalbo, whose son Kib plays point guard for La Salle in the UAAP, said scouting the games were the Pumaren brothers of UE, Archers assistant coach Jun Limpot and chief recruiter Dave Dichupa, University of the Visayas assistant coach Van Halen Parmis, Adamson junior coaches, Ateneo de Iloilo coaches taking down notes for the Blue Eagles and Mapua owner Marco Yuchengco Santos. Vic Tan served as tournament commissioner with Montalbo and Brian Tan as assistants.

For sure, the visitors got an eyeful with the talent that showed up for the games. MVP was guard JV (John Vincent) Gallego of Chiang Kai Shek. The same Gallego poured in 32 points to lead Chiang Kai Shek to an 88-80 win over NU for the Seaoil NBTC League early this year. Named to the Mythical Five were Shannon Gagate of Chiang Kai Shek, Tyler Tio of Xavier, Mark Claveria of Sun Yat Sen, Ralph Penuela of Hua Siong and Miguel Corteza of Tay Tung.

Chiang Kai Shek downed Xavier, 73-56, to clinch the crown at the Tay Tung Po Hang Gym. Jonas Tibayan and Gagate scored 15 apiece to lead the winners while Tio hit 16 for Xavier. Gallego notched nine. Sun Yat Sen took third place. Montalbo said the plan is to make the invitationals a yearly event with the second edition likely to be held in Cebu.

The Elite Eight cast is now complete in the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL). In Group A are NU, Arellano, University of San Carlos and La Salle. In Group B are San Beda, Southwestern, FEU and University of the Visayas. Action begins with Southwestern against La Salle at 2 p.m. and FEU against University of San Carlos at 4 p.m. tomorrow at the Cebu Coliseum. There will be two games daily from Nov. 13 to 17 in Cebu then the Metro Manila schools slug it out on Nov. 21, 24 and 25 at the Ynares Gym. Teams from Group A play only teams from Group B so that each school has four contests.

The schedule on Nov. 21 pits La Salle against San Beda and Arellano against FEU. On Nov. 24, the bill features La Salle against FEU and NU against San Beda. And on Nov. 25, it will be the rematch of the UAAP and NCAA Finals as San Beda faces Arellano and NU battles FEU. The top two finishers slug it out in a best-of-three series for the title with Game 1 set on Nov. 27 at the Ynares Gym. Game 2 will be on Dec. 1 and if necessary, Game 3 on Dec. 2, both at the Ynares Gym.

The Archers booked the last ticket to the Elite Eight by downing NAASCU champion Centro Escolar University, 79-56, at the Faith Gym in Tanauan last Monday. La Salle eliminated Jose Rizal, 67-62, the day before. La Salle is playing without Arnold van Opstal, Jason Perkins and Julian Sargent who are on leave. Van Opstal is playing with Hapee in the PBA D-League. Coach Juno Sauler included Norbert Torres, Yutien Andrada and Almond Vosotros in the lineup although they’ve finished their UAAP eligibility and they’re now playing in the D-League with Van Opstal. Torres and Vosotros missed the games against Jose Rizal and Centro Escolar because of their D-League commitments. Andrada, however, played in both contests. Van Opstal is expected to return to La Salle’s UAAP roster.

The PCCL allowed La Salle to play in-residence cagers Ben Mbala, Josh Torralba, Larry Muyang and Daryl Pascual who will be eligible in the next UAAP season. Against Centro Escolar, Jeron Teng led the way with 14 points and guard Thomas Torres added 13. Tomorrow, La Salle plays Southwestern which was Mbala’s former team before undergoing a two-year residence at Taft Avenue.

The Claret Football Center starts the second of its three-phase module on Nov. 29 and assistant program head Benjie Anicete said it’s open to boys and girls 5-16 years old for Claretians and non-Claretians. The sessions are on Saturdays and Sundays from 7 to 8:30 a.m. at the Claret football field in Quezon City. Bob Salvacion, former UP Maroons back-to-back champion coach and a PFF coaches’ licensing course instructor, is the man in charge. The roster of coaches includes Anicete, Dodjie Locsin, Ranizel Castro, Viance Villanueva, Ayr Acejas, Albert Yatco, Michael Simms, Rogie Maglinas, Gian Gonzales, Daniel Abraham, Jong Carrasco, Franklin Valenzuela, Cring Fuertes, Marice Magdolot and Joey Sevilleja.

Claret Football is being supported by the school’s football community led by Atty. Boni Tacardon and officers William Uy, Maritel Garcia, Karen Pantoja, Rina and Sheila Cammayo, John Santisteban and benefactors Ana Michel Uy, Menchu Cammayo and Melanie Mactal.

The second phase extends until Jan. 11. Without a doubt, the Claret Football Center is one of the best breeding grounds for young football talents in the country. Claret’s boys and girls teams are outstanding. The Claret U12 boys won the Coca-Cola Cup in Alabang last May, Havaianas Cup last June, Monfort Cup last July and Pintaflores Cup last month. The Claret U11 boys, U14 boys, U16 boys and U16 girls are all champions. The Claret-led Pachanga Diliman squad won the UFL U13 crown last July. Among Claret’s products are U14 national player Fidel Tacardon, UFL U13 MVP Francis Tacardon, U15 national players Ray Sanciangco, Harel Dayan, John Abraham and Marco Casambre, three-time Clear All-Star Andrew Santiago, U23 Azkal Deo Segunial and former UAAP MVP Jed Rances.

Coaches who trace their roots to Claret include Carlos Santiago of UST, Dong Locsin of Atletico Diliman Youth, Eric Galang of International School and Enderun, Popoy Clarino and Francis Liza of Lyceum, Andre Mercader of the UP women’s varsity, Esjay Urquico of La Salle Greenhills midgets, PFF technical director Aris Caslib of San Beda and grassroots youth coach Stephen Permanes. For details on registration, please call Bob Salvacion at 921-6587 or coach Rani Castro at 09173068538 or coach Ayr Acejas at 09275538791.