ATHLETICS

Midgets-Juniors Open with Victories

Carlo Tan

Posted Saturday, 30-Jul-2005 8:27 AM

      The Philippine Athletic Youth Association (PAYA), with a rich history of over 30 years, opened its 2005-2006 season with a renewed commitment by its board of directors to recapture the glory of this pioneering league.

      You see, PAYA was the main tournament for basketball for high schools that could not join the UAAP or NCAA, before other organizations sprung up to fill the basketball calendar. PAYA had once been the battleground for some of the best young players, like Eric Yao, Jean Alabanza, Chris Tiu, Joseph Yeo, and Tyrone Tang. It was where they first experienced how it was to play in pressure packed situations against the top high school teams Manila could offer.

      The board has made several decisions to revive the league. It has welcomed new member schools, like Antipolo Lady of Lourdes and UST, and is open to other high schools who are interested to join. This is a radical change in thinking from the organization’s original philosophy of exclusively focusing on its 8 pioneer members – Ateneo, Aquinas, Claret, Colegio San Agustin, La Salle Greenhills, Lourdes , Don Bosco, and Xavier. Further, each member has promised to send competitive teams to elevate the quality of competition. The board has also tackled the serious issue of recruiting and has instituted measures to protect PAYA member schools from this practice. Overall, after these changes, PAYA should regain its reputation as a well organized and competitive league, and one that recognizes the uniqueness of the ever changing basketball environment.

      Xavier’s Midgets and Juniors opened the 2005-2006 PAYA basketball seasons at the Xavier School High School Covered Courts against Lourdes School of Quezon City (LSQC) with convincing victories.

      The Midgets team composed of Matthew Haw, Matthew So, Raphael Banal, Ceddrich Sy, Donal Ong, Bryan Tan, Jeremy Cua, Alejandro Dizon, Jose Manuel, Paulo Pe, Kevin Patco, Gama Garcia, Kevin Lim, Harold Ng, and Broderic Dytoc started out a little apprehensive. The team warmed up in the second quarter, seized the momentum, and held on it for most of the game. The lead grew steadily and the boys felt more relaxed behind the solid play of their front court players. The guard play was equally impressive by providing good entry passes to their “bigs” via dribble penetration or wing entry. The final score was 72-57.

      The older squad also took care of business; and unlike the Midgets, they found their stride right from the tip-off. The team led by its seniors of Woodward Co, Wesley Contreras, Charles Tiu, Marc Tio, Irvin Sta. Maria, Philmon Yao, Philip Ong, Kevin Chong, and Jert Yao, showed the underclassmen of Justin Sze, Shaun Lim, Ronald Chua, and Julio Datu how things are done. LSQC never found its rhythm and the Juniors coasted to an 80-39 victory.

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