ATENEO’S Sea Eagles took the inaugural UAAP Alumni Basketball championship in Sydney by demolishing Adamson Falcons, 34-23, in the final at Marrickville Police-Citizens Youth Club basketball stadium on Sunday, April 19, 2015.
By JAIME K PIMENTEL
Not be outdone, Jose Rizal U’s Bombers shot down Angeles Selection, 56-51, to take the NCAA Alumni Basketball championship ~ and then went on to repeat a demolition job on the Sea Eagles, 62-49, to win the title of overall Combined Schools Champion and take the six-year Collegiate Basketball Shield perpetual prize.
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At the trophy presentations, a special award went to the tournament’s
chief organiser and sportswriter. The golden trophy read: In tribute to
the man who dedicated his life to basketball in the service of the Filipino
community in Sydney ~ ‘MR BASKETBALL’ Raymond Policarpio.
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Ateneo swept through four rounds of the annual tournamant undefeated, with wins over Adamson (2), win over University of the Philippines’ Maroons (1), and a draw with La Salle Archers (1).
Jose Rizal U muscled through four rounds of the NCAA championship undefeated, shooting down Mapua Cardinals, Angeles Selection and Tech Pilipinas
Centre Fidel Fernando and point-guard Travis Mantua led the Sea Eagles’ assault. Sixteen-year-old Mantua, who had taken a school break from Ateneo de Cebu to play in this tournament, won the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) trophy. He was also named the Most Promising Player.
The 2015 UAAP Alumni championship ladder had Ateneo champion, Adamson runner-up, La Salle on 3rd place, and UP last. The NCAA championship ladder had Jose Rizal U champion, Angeles Selection runner-up, Mapua 3rd, and Tech Pilipinas last.
The Battlefield ’15 was a combined Philippine Colleges and Universities Alumni Basketball competition. The UAAP championship (Group A), and the NCAA championship (Group B), with the champions playing a ‘grand final’ for the overall winner of the perpetual trophy: the Collegiate Basketball Shield to go on public display at a designated venue in Sydney.
The UAAP field comprised La Salle Archers, UP Maroons, Adamson Falcons, and Ateneo Sea Eagles. The NCAA field was composed of Mapua Cardinals, Angeles Universities Selection, Jose Rizal Bombers, and Tech Pilipinas.
Player awards:
Grand final MVP and Top Scorer, Kevin Muyong (Bombers).
UAAP MVP and MostPromising Player, Travis Mantua (Sea Eagles)
NCAA MVP and Best Defender, Galiber Cortez (Bombers)
Champion’s Coach, Nonoy Maglaque and Ron Mariano (Bombers)
UAAP Top Scorer, Mark Franco (Archers)
NCAA Top Scorer, Jaqson Arellano (Cardinals)
Expected to join the competition in 2016 are team of alumni and their bloodlines from San Beda, University of Santo Tomas, and University of the East.
Battlefield ’15 sponsors were The Grace Hotel (Collegiate Basketball Shield), Guardian Funerals, Miss AustralAsia Quest, Life Changing College, Adhika Radio Inc, Café Dee Why, ABS-CBN Global – TFC, Kalatas Media, Radio Rizal, Radio Dalisay, and Adhika Radio.
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PICTURE
WHAT’S UP? Three Bombers and two Sea Eagles ready to spring on a loose ball.
