FEU men’s basketball team 2009

FEU Tamaraws official line-up for UAAP Season 72

4 - BARROCA, Andy Mark - PG
5 - EXCIMINIANO, Christopher - SG/SF
6 - PEARCE, Marty - PG
7 - VINLUAN, McJan - C
8 - GARCIA, Ryan Roose - PG/SG
9 - GUERRERO, Jolas - SF
10 - CALUAG, Casey - SG/PG
11 - SANGA, Paul - SF/PF
12 - TANUAN, Edgar - SF/PF
14 - KNUTTEL, Jens - PG
15 - CAWALING, JR - SF
16 - EGUILOS, Jaymo - PF/C
17 - RAMOS, Aldrech - C
18 - MANALO, Christian - SG
20 - CERVANTES, Reil - C/PF
21 - NOUNDOU, Pipo - SF

Head coach: CAPACIO, Glenn

Great Experiences for FEU Cagers

RP SMART GILAS TEAM

The sought-after Smart Gilas Philippine Basketball Team was formed this year, among its roster were FEU’s Andy Barocca, Aldrech Ramos, Mac Baracael and JR Cawaling with Ateneo’s Chris Tiu and Rabeh-Al Hussaini; UST’s Dylan Ababou and La Salle’s JV Casio, among others. The team is composed of collegiate and amateur standouts eyeing for the 2012 London Olympics. It is sponsored by Smart Communications and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP)

Recently RP Smart Gilas team overwhelmed the American Basketball Association’s Las Vegas Aces with their skills and speed, 109-98. The team on the other hand settled for fifth spot in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup 2009 last May, held at Jakarta Indonesia. The team also competed and trained in China, Serbia, Japan, and the US.

ORACLE/FEU TEAM (PBL) - Champion

The Oracle/FEU Team won the 2009 PBL PG Flex Cup after defeating the Pharex Generics in the Finals that went in full five-game. Oracle, formerly Harbour Centre was able to stretched the championship streak of the team to seven. FEU’s Mark Barroca was awarded Pivotal Player of the series, while major contributions also came from Benedict Fernandez, Mac Baracael, Aldrech Ramos and JR Cawaling of FEU and DLSU's Rico Maierhoffer and NU's Edwin Asoro.

FR. MARTIN’S CUP – Champion

Last March, Far Eastern University defeated San Sebastian College, 81-70 to clinch Fr. Martin Collegiate Open Cup at the St. Placid Gym of San Beda.Tamaraw rookies Ryan Garcia and Jaymo Eguilos are expected to play a vital role in the Tamaraws’ UAAP campaign this season after both players were also instrumental in their team’s victory in this year’s Fr. Martin Cup Collegiate Open Cup. Garcia and Eguilos along with Cameroon’s Pipo Nondou are some of the new faces in FEU’s roster this season. The three promising rookies are expected to fill-in the space left behind by top guns Benedict Fernandez, Marlon Adolfo and Mac Baracael who graduated last season.

FILOIL FLYING V PRE-SEASON MVP CUP – Champion

The Tamaraws survived a furious chase by the University of the East Warriors, 84-78, to capture the 2009 Filoil Flying V Pre-Season MVP Cup before a sizeable crowd Monday at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan last June 15. Smart Gilas Pilipinas National Team mainstays JR Cawaling and Mark Barroca shone with 20 and 18 points, respectively. but it was rookie Ryan Roose Garcia who delivered the killer blows to the Warriors, last year’s champions. Garcia, named MVP of the tournament, canned two decisive charities with seven seconds left and a short jumper that halted the Warriors’ comeback from 16 points down and silenced the pro-UE throng. Named to the Mythical Five during the awarding ceremony led by San Juan Mayor JV Ejercito were Garcia, Sudan Daniels of San Beda, Elmer Espiritu and Lee of UE and Reil Cervantes of FEU. There are 14 participating schools in this event including all the UAAP Basketball Team except UST Growling Tigers.

2009 NIKE SUMMER LEAGUE – Third Place

FEU won the battle for third against Colegio de San Juan de Letran, 70-69, on June 13 in the Nike Summer League seniors division at the Ynares Sports Arena. The Tamaraws went home with medals and 75,000 pesos cash prize. San Beda was the Champion school, while San Sebastian College settles for the 2nd Place.

These were the noteworthy achievements and exposures for the FEU Tamaraws Basketball Squad this year which proved it can be lethal in the coming UAAP season and would certainly boost their winning potential in the 72nd UAAP Season. (FEU’s last championship was in 2005, during the time of Arwind Santos who propelled FEU to a grand slam championship).

Things to know in the UAAP 72 Basketball Tournament

1. All games are on live telecast over Studio 23

2. This is the first time professional referees will officiate UAAP from a pool of professional, semi-pro and amateur referees from the Philippine Basketball Association, Philippine Basketball League and BRAASCU

3. The referees will observe maximum tolerance when they officiate; The new directive will abandon last year’s practice, where over-eager refs blew their whistle on complaining coaches, team officials and players even on the last two minutes of the game

4. Implementation of rule that give teams a chance to challenge a three-point conversion at any point of the game via instant replay

5. The suspension of the possession arrow rule in the last two minutes of the match.

6. Pro-grip, an adhesive used by players to improve grip is prohibited

7. Schools will still be limited to two foreign players each, with one to play at a time.

8. The system to break ties has been cleaned up (now highest quotient gets #1, #2 & #3 fight for #2, no more need for the winner of that to fight #1)

(photos by: Ian Evasco)