WE BEAT BLACK!

From left to right: BOTTOM; Luigi Sanchez (supporter), Paolo Cuneta, Landon Rañada, Tatos Nuyda. TOP; me, JRF Ibañez, Rod Vasquez, JC Ibañez (not yet White team member), Paolo Nuguid (fan).

February 17, 2005 would go down in the annals of Southville International School and Colleges as the day when the previously unbeaten Black team (led by 1st College Cup MVP Karl Velhagen) was finally defeated by the White Team.

This feat was no small achievement, seeing as the Black team is the undoubted powerhouse team in the league. Also, the White team, clearly outmatched in terms of height, experience, and skill, was able to make critical adjustments through sheer dedication, determination, and most of all, heart. Without a doubt, this victory of the underdog White team over the dominating Black team is the most controversial upset in the short history of the College Cup.

Now, we love the Black team. Most of us favor the Black team to win again the championship, and this is because of several well-founded reasons. Foremost of all the reasons is that the members of the Black team are gentlemen and clean basketball players. Karl Velhagen, Glenn de Leon, Jude Atanacio, Paolo Gregorio, Pipo Amante, Randy Rabiño, Ken Calleon, Pat Kairuz, Jan Baquir, and AJ del Mundo are not only skilled basketball players, but are gracious both in victory and in defeat. We of the White Team, who see ourselves as gentlemen and clean basketball players, find no other team to relate ourselves with than the Black team. And for that, we greatly admire and respect them. Plus, most of them are our close friends.

The victory was a hard-earned one. As the coach of the White team, I was faced with the challenge of finding solutions to the problems posed by the daunting Black ensemble. The Black team is tall but fast, skilled but discplined, great as individuals but tremendous as a team. I looked into the relatively shallow basketball knowledge of mine and I stumbled upon a basic adage of the game: that is defense wins games.

Needless to say, defense was key to our victory. Those who were able to watch the game should attest to that. Of course, I will not divulge the secrets of that strategy but I would say that I give tremendous credit to the White team players (my friends, all) for their unflinching trust.

For my last words:
Dominic Casaus - thanks for being a super-center!
Paolo Cuneta - for being a tremendous defensive stopper!
JRF Ibañez - for being a great slasher and rebounder!
Tatos Nuyda - for playing with intense intensity all throughout!
Landon Rañada - for being our best all-around player!
Beda Realuyo - for being an outstanding point guard!
Rod Vasquez - for being a credible defensive and offensive option!
Josh Callueng - for being a great reliever for the big guys!
and of course...
Reuel Culalic - for making that impossible 3-point shot amidst tight defense and crushing pressure! You are our HERO!

Thanks for this great season, guys!
Until next time...