Zobel makes La Salle history

It took 50 years for La Salle to win a juniors basketball championship in either the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) or the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and the long wait was finally ended as the Zobel school crushed the University of the Philippines (UP), 86-62, to sweep the best-of-3 finals for the UAAP crown at the Araneta Coliseum last Thursday.

Zobel coach Boris Aldeguer, 30, said all the credit for the title should go to his overachieving players whose ages ranged from 15 to 17.

"They worked hard for it," said Aldeguer whose father Fernando was a former La Salle Bacolod cager and juniors coach himself. "The biggest challenge was motivating a team made up of players from well-to-do families. I just kept reminding them that hard work pays off and that if they don’t give 100 percent on the court, they won’t go anywhere."

Aldeguer described the Junior Archers as a small team with a lot of quick players. "We emphasize defense–that’s where everything starts," he went on. "On offense, we like to run. We play a controlled and organized fastbreak. If the fastbreak doesn’t work, we adjust to play our patterns. We don’t force things. We develop our game plan based on what the players can do, not the other way around."

Zobel finished the double-round eliminations in second place at 11-3, losing to UP by one, Far Eastern University (FEU) by 10 and Ateneo by 2. The Blue Eaglets posted a 12-2 mark and topped the elims. By virtue of their standings, Ateneo and Zobel had a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four. Zobel beat FEU to advance to the finals while the Eaglets lost twice to UP.

"It would’ve been a dream series if we played Ateneo in the finals," said Aldeguer. "But we were prepared for any team. We didn’t care which team we played. We were ready."

Before Game 2 last Thursday, Aldeguer told his boys in the dugout that history was theirs to make. "I reminded them how important the game was because if we win, it would be the first UAAP title ever for Zobel and the players will always be remembered for being a part of Zobel’s first-ever UAAP champion team," he said. "It’s something they can always be proud of and tell their kids about later."

Aldeguer was a Zobel cager when Joseph Uichico coached the Junior Archers in 1992. He never knew what it was like to play for a title squad. His younger brother Dino led Zobel to its first UAAP finals with teammates Paolo Trillo, Mark Reyes and the Sison twins, Brandon and Brian, under coach Perry Ronquillo in 1993 but the Junior Archers bowed to Adamson.

The last junior title won by a La Salle team came in 1955 when Kurt Bachmann powered the Greenies to the NCAA diadem. Bachmann was chosen MVP and became the first junior player ever to score at least 200 points in a season. His teammates included Manuel de Villava, Jess Santamaria and Honorato Cruz and their coach was Richard Tillman.

Eight players from Zobel’s team are graduating this year. They are Simon Atkins, David Urra, Martin Reyes, Miguel de Asis, Dan Salvador, Joshua Teodosio, Melvin Sun and Manjoj Chandumal.

Aldeguer said there are 25 aspirants in the pool ready to take over with about six top candidates. A key recruit is 6-3 Marcos Escalante from La Salle Bacolod. Escalante, 16, redshirted this season and is eligible to play only a year for Zobel.

"We mainly recruit players from students enrolled in school," said Aldeguer. "We had some exceptional players try out before but they decided to go to other schools because we couldn’t offer scholarships. We’re lucky that Zobel alumni like Mikee Romero and Ren Cayetano are thinking of putting up a scholarship fund for basketball. There are no commitments yet but we’re hoping we can work out a program soon."

Three players returning next season are 6-1 Joshua Webb, 6-4 Mike Fernandez and 6-0 Aldo Malixi. Webb’s father Fritz is the son of cage legend "Fastbreak" Freddie. Fernandez’ father Mai-Mai played on the 1969 Ateneo NCAA title team with Francis Arnaiz, Joy Cleofas and Marte Samson and his uncle Dave Brodett was a San Beda College star. Malixi’s father Alex saw action on the 1974 La Salle NCAA championship squad with Miguel Bilbao, Lim Eng Beng and Doy Escober. Other holdovers are Colin Buckley and Southridge School recruits Leo Tumlos and Gio Espina.

Atkins, a point guard, was named to the UAAP juniors mythical selection. His father Allan, a reforestation consultant, is British and settled permanently here in 1986. His Filipina mother Ellen is a national lawn bowls player.

Aldeguer said Atkins has been invited to play for the Ateneo and UP senior varsities. "Simon told me if he can’t play for La Salle in the seniors, he’d rather be a pilot," said Aldeguer. "Coach Franz (Pumaren) gave an open invitation for our eight graduating players to try out for the La Salle seniors."

Urra, an offguard, is another graduating Zobel player hoping to join the La Salle seniors. His father Martin suited up for the Philippine team at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics and his brother Martin Jr. played for the College of St. Benilde seniors in the NCAA.

Aldeguer, a bachelor, said the team couldn’t have won without the support of his father, brother Dino, Coca-Cola coach Binky Favis (who is married to his sister Ella), Zobel principal Alfredo Sagum, Zobel sports head Moses Lozada, assistant coaches Magsy Magsumbol and Richard Mallari, trainers Miguel Bustos and Alvin Morelos and physical therapist Arden Silva.

Early this year, the Junior Archers captured the Metro Manila Basketball League (MMBL) crown and gave Zobel its first-ever championship. That was a portent of things to come in the UAAP.

Aldeguer said Zobel will field two teams in two divisions in the next MMBL tournament. The Junior Archers will also play in the National Capital Region high school qualifying competition for the right to represent the zone in the Palarong Pambansa.

Zobel beat UP, 73-49, in Game 1 of the UAAP finals at the Blue Eagle gym last Sunday. Webb scored 19 points. Reyes shot 13 while Salvador and Atkins chipped in 11 apiece. In Game 2, Webb compiled 19 points and 12 rebounds. Urra had 18 points and 14 boards. Reyes netted 13 points. Atkins almost posted a triple double with 12 points, nine rebounds and 11 assists in 33 minutes.