NU mentor says women’s volley more attractive

MANILA, Philippines - National University interim women’s volleyball coach Edjet Mabbayad said yesterday he never played before the big crowds that turned out for the recent Shakey’s V-League first conference Finals and credited the excitement of the female game for pulling in the fans.

Mabbayad, 26, led FEU to three straight UAAP men’s volleyball championships from 2004-05 to 2006-07 and recalled not too many fans attended the matches. “I started out as an open striker and later became the middle striker,” said the UAAP 2006-07 MVP. “Our coach was George Pascua. We tried to make it four titles in a row but lost to UST in 2007-08.” He was named NU interim coach last April and in his first tournament on the job, piloted the Lady Bulldogs to the Shakey’s V-League crown.

It wasn’t a cakewalk to the throne. In the best-of-three Finals, Ateneo drew first blood, 25-15, 25-22, 25-23 and seized a twice-to-beat advantage over NU. But Mabbayad said there was no doubt in his mind NU would bounce back. “I didn’t get worried,” he said. “When we regrouped to practice, our players were determined to fight back. Sure, we lost Game 1 but it wasn’t the end. We wanted to win the championship and we did it the hard way.”

The Lady Bulldogs took Game 2, 26-24, 25-23, 25-22, to set up a winner-take-all showdown. In the closer, NU sprinted to a two-set lead, 25-23, 25-20, then the Lady Eagles struck back in the third set, 25-17, before the Lady Bulldogs clinched it in the fourth, could be added to his itinerary. “We’ve been trying to get him to come for a long time but it seems this is his best opportunity,” said Gray. “He wants to come to Manila for a few appearances and meet his Filipino fans.”

Gray said to make the visit happen, he’d like to sign up a sponsor. “Metta is looking for a few appearances in Manila and his rate is affordable,” said Gray. If he checks in from China, the trip wouldn’t be too costly.

Gray also mentioned that a 10-man team is itching to fly over and play exhibitions. “The traveling team would be more than happy to play with the PBA or any Manila team,” he said. “I’m based in Los Angeles but I have a partner in Manila who would be happy to meet up to help facilitate these tours. I’ve heard from coach Jong (Uichico) that Gilas already has commitments in Lithuania and Japan. But I’m awaiting any word from them if that changes. The players will be coming from China so sponsors for flights will be inexpensive compared to flying them from the US.”

Gray said the traveling team will be up to playing one or two games. The cagers in Gray’s lineup are Gary Payton, Vince Carter, Jason (White Chocolate) Williams, Tracy McGrady, Mike Bibby, Jerome Williams, Corey Rich, Aquille Carr, Kenny Dobbs and Bonzi Wells.

Carter and McGrady are still active in the NBA. Rich is called the world’s best dribbler and the 6-1 former Harlem Globetrotter is often invited to conduct ballhandling clinics. Carr, 19, is a 5-6 phenom with a 48-inch vertical leap. After scoring 40 points a game in a junior tournament in Milan two years ago, he was offered a $750,000 contract to play for an Italian club as a high school sophomore. Dobbs is nicknamed the Dunk Inventor, a YouTube sensation with his high-flying acrobatics in throwing down the ball. Payton, Bibby, the Williams boys and Wells are NBA veterans.

If MWP could play with the traveling team, Filipino fans will surely storm the gates of whatever venue to watch their performance. Let’s hope Gray finds sponsors to make the dream tour a reality.

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Barako Bull’s Don Allado didn’t play on the Energy Cola squad that finished fourth at the second Al Shabab Clubs Invitational Tournament in Dubai recently. He was in the US at the time and unavailable for the trip. But Allado said he’s still under contract with Barako until the end of the year.

Allado, who turns 36 on Monday said he’s got several good years left in his PBA career. “Right now, I’m committed to Barako and I’ll do whatever coach Rajko (Toroman) and coach Bong (Ramos) want me to do in contributing to make our team win,” said Allado. “I’ll practice as hard as I can to get ready for the next conference.”

Last Sunday, Allado scored 11 points in La Salle’s 111-108 win over Ateneo in a PBA “alumni” game at the MOA Arena. After the contest, Allado confessed he played through pain. “I sprained my ankle in a workout two days before the game so I wasn’t 100 percent,” he said. “Then, in the first quarter, I fell on a drive that was challenged by Noy (Baclao). My leg stiffened and I could hardly run. I forced myself to play but midway the third period, I had to sit down. When Carlo (Sharma) fouled out, I had to go back in with about two to four minutes left. I played on one leg but kept fighting. I was hobbling. But it was La Salle against Ateneo. You don’t want to let your school down.” Allado hit a baseline jumper with 40 seconds left to break a 108-tie and put the Archers in the lead for good.

Barako won four in a row in Dubai over Al Ahly of Libya, 80-75, Al Zamalek of Egypt, 80-72, Team Unity, 94-63, and the University of Sharjah, 99-77, before losing to Hoops of Lebanon, 91-80, and Al Sahel of Kuwait, 84-76 to finish fourth.

Toroman is now visiting his ill 87-year-old mother in Serbia and will be back here June 22. He said he was invited to help out Gilas in preparing for the FIBA-Asia Championships here on Aug. 1-11 but is not sure in what capacity or how he is expected to assist. “They invited me on the practice but I don’t know what that means,” he said.

The Dubai joust was a test for Barako import Mike Singletary whom the Energy Cola will likely tap for the PBA Governors Cup. “I’m really positive about our performance in Dubai,” said Toroman. “After Mike, Allein (Maliksi) was our best scorer. Mike understands our system, has a good attitude and fits us well. He’s a fighter and he can play positions three and four. We still haven’t decided but I think he’s close to signing up. We also gave some minutes to (Dave) Marcelo and he was good. Eman (Monfort) showed that he can fight with bigger-sized players. Keith (Jensen) showed that he’s a good defender and he’s learning our offensive system.”

Against Hoops of Lebanon, Singletary was slapped two quick fouls after two minutes in the third period and had to sit down. He returned to play six minutes before the final buzzer and never regained his rhythm. In the first half, Singletary shot 16 points in 14 minutes and Barako was up, 48-47, at the turn. “We had 12 free throws in the entire game and Lebanon’s two Americans (Harold Jamison and Corey Williams) had 35,” lamented Toroman. “We shot 8-of-18 three-pointers, 23-of-46 from two-point distance and 10-of-12 free throws. Mike finished with 23 points and five rebounds. Jonas (Villanueva) had two points and two assists. Allein shot 13 and Jensen four points with six rebounds. Doug (Kramer) had 13 points and 10 rebounds. Eman had seven points and five assists. Mark (Macapagal) shot eight points, Mick (Pennisi) three and Danny (Seigle) seven. J. C. (Intal) didn’t score. They played very aggressive, sometimes dirty. Jamison was usually in the paint for more than 10 seconds. They called only one three-second violation. Doug was fighting with him but without Mike, it was tough. Danny was also in foul trouble and we had to play Mick who wasn’t ready for the game because of injury. A lot of good things happened to our team. Doug got a lot of minutes and his confidence is back.”

In Barako’s farewell outing, the Energy Cola bowed to Al Saleh of Kuwait even as Singletary delivered 31 points and 13 rebounds. Al Saleh was led by import Anthony Green who tallied 32 points.