Decade's Best: 2000's Best Teams

The first decade of the new millennium came to an end almost a week ago and personally, it was great to reflect on the last 10 years, particularly in the college basketball scene.

Both the UAAP and NCAA, already an attraction among their respective member schools, achieved immense popularity this decade thanks largely to television deals with ABS-CBN and the commercialism of the country's two major collegiate leagues (which can be either good or bad depending on your preference).

There were memorable games, memorable players, memorable moments during this era. So now, we look back at a decade of college basketball in this series.

Best Teams of the Decade

Note: The teams will not be ranked based on their single-season performances but in a certain period of time when they were successful.

NCAA

5. St Benilde Blazers (2000-2002)



2002 Season: 10-4 (.714)

Call this as the golden age of the short (NCAA) basketball history of the St Benilde Blazers.

After entering the country's oldest collegiate league in 1998, the Blazers quickly turned from an expansion team into one of the best teams in the land when they won the 2000 NCAA title (as seen in the Manila Bulletin newspaper pictured above) at the expense of the always-competitive San Sebastian Stags. This was also followed by two more Final Four appearances (and a finals stint in 2002, losing to the Stags).

Those teams coached by former national team member Dong Vergeire were bannered by talented cagers in Al Magpayo, Ron Capati, Jondan Salvador and Mark Magsumbol (he hit the game-winning shot in Game 1 and had 15 points in their title-clinching win against the Stags, a 74-61 triumph), perhaps proving that the Blazers can also build a winning team like their sister team from the UAAP (La Salle also won the 2000 title to complete an all-La Salle conquest of both leagues).

The most popular (and perhaps the greatest Blazer ever) of them all was Sunday Salvacion, who became a highly-touted star in 2002 by winning the Most Valuable Player plum (averaged 20 points and even scored 37 points in one game). Unfortunately, the Blazers have never made the Final Four since (seven straight seasons with four coaches) no thanks to lack of recruiting of top caliber high school standouts and the consistent dominance of San Beda and Letran, among others.

4. San Sebastian Stags (2000-2003)



2002 Season: 11-3 (.786)

A decade after capturing an impressive five-peat, the Stags made another short-title reign in the new millennium winning back-to-back titles from 2001 to 2002 (beating Jose Rizal University and , respectively) under multi-titled mentor Turo Valenzona.

Like his past title-winning teams in various leagues, Valenzona coached a deep squad with the likes of point guard Christian Coronel, forward Leo Najorda (2003 NCAA MVP), Nicole Uy, power forward Jam Alfad, center Pep Moore, shooter Chris Baluyot and even a lanky Red Vicente (can we also add bruising Jerome Barbosa too?) leading the way.

Their string of four consecutive finals appearance was one of the longest streaks in recent memory and could have main it four-peat have they not lost to CSB and Letran in 2000 and 2003, respectively.

The 2000 team, despite its failure to bag the crown, was the second team after the Knights of 1999 to beat a No. 1 team in the Final Four (that would be against the JRC Heavy Bombers). Of course, all went downhill for the Recto-based cagers since missing the Final Four in four of the next five seasons before new coach Ato Agustin and star Jimbo Aquino restored the Stags back to prominence.

3. PCU Dolphins (2004-2006)

Record in that span: 38-17 (.691)

It's amazing that the Dolphins made three consecutive finals appearances despite having a new coach each year (Ato Tolentino, Junel Baculi and Joel Dualan).

This team had loads of talent in Gabby Espinas, the league's first-ever Rookie of the Year-MVP winner (in 2004), the cat-quick Jason Castro (who hit the game-winning three over Perpetual Help in Game 1 of that said finals as seen above), Rob Sanz, who had the ability to shoot from the outside despite playing at forward, and the likes of bruising Beau Belga, Ian Garrido, Mon Retaga and Joel Solis.

PCU could have been a dynasty. The Dolphins won the 2004 crown (a year after placing last in the standings, they swept another surprising team in the Altas) but lost the next two to Letran and San Beda despite extending both series' to a sudden death third game (and Belga nearly put him in the annals of college basketball lore had he made that jumper in the dying seconds of the 2006 finals).

It's unfortunate that their suspension in 2007 (brought about by the eligibility scandal of the juniors team) denied NCAA fans a chance to see the further development of Castro (who was establishing himself as the best player of the Philippine Basketball League). Even though PCU made it back to the league in 2008>, the squad wasn't as scary as their past teams and failed to make the Final Four in their last season before taking a voluntary leave of absence (although there's a possibility of a return to the league).

2. Letran Knights (2003-2009)



Record in that span: 82-38 (.683)

The NCAA's version of the Atlanta Braves (for those who are not baseball junkies, the Braves won 14 consecutive National League East division championships in the past two decades but had one World Series title to show).

The comparison is not in a way to blast the Knights for winning just two championships in seven straight Final Four appearances but they were always considered a title contender every year by relying heavily on defense despite not having a chunk of players who became stars in the pro ranks (majority of them are currently in Liga Pilipinas or in the PBL).

In this era that can also be known as the "Louie Alas era", the Knights also had a few players who made significant impact primarily on offense namely Ronjay Enrile (a member of the 2003 championship squad), point guard Boyet Bautista (Finals MVP in their 2005 title over PCU), Aaron Aban, Jonathan Aldave, hot-shooting RJ Jazul and Rey Guevarra. Big men who excelled on both ends, especially on defense, were Jonathan Pinera, Mark Andaya, Erick Rodriguez and Bryan Faundo.

1. San Beda Red Lions (2006-2009)



Record in that span: 62-12 (.838)

It took less than three decades before San Beda made its way back as the kings of the NCAA. The epitomy of that return was perhaps the single most important acquisition made in college basketball during the past decade.

The addition of Nigerian big man Sam Ekwe enabled the Red Lions to revive the winning tradition they enjoyed during the golden years of the country's oldest collegiate league. But if not for some other pieces on the puzzle, a three-peat would have never materialized at all.

There was the mohawk-sporting Ogie Menor (who can score and run the break and almost never played for San Beda after trying out with La Salle), 2006 Finals MVP Yousif Aljamal (can shoot from the outside) and Pong Escobal (providing leadership, stability and when needed hitting some key shots). Also key components were JR Taganas, Jake Pascual (his name surfaced in the PCU scandal but was still given the green light to play), Borgie Hermida (who delivered a memorable buzzer-beating bank shot over Letran in 2008), Bam Gamalinda, Dave Marcelo, JR Tecson and Chico Tirona.

During the three-peat (2006-2008), the Lions roared to an impressive 44-8 card (including an impressive 30-3 from 2006 to 2007) with their losses came from PCU (twice in 2006), Letran (in the first round of the 2007 season), Mapua, JRU (both teams did it twice in 2008) and St Benilde (by forfeit after Ekwe wore a wrong uniform, also in 2008).

Coach Koy Banal had the distinction of leading two of the best collegiate teams of the past decade (he did it with Far Eastern University, see below) when he led them to the 2006 crown, but was soon replaced by Frankie Lim (after several issues with that led to Banal's exit). Good thing the change didn't distract the team, if not, it made them even more deadly.

A four-peat was looming in 2009 with a different set of players (powered by another foreigner, this time, by the dunking Sudan Daniel) and earned the top spot away from San Sebastian but inexperience and a more hungry Stags cost them a chance to achieve that goal. But expect San Beda to be a title contender every year in this new decade.

UAAP

5. UE Red Warriors (2002-2009)



Record in that span: 84-43 (.661)

The most successful squad of the decade who unfortunately never won a UAAP championship in each of their eight consecutive Final Four appearances (although they won two Champions League titles and other tournaments such as the Father Martin Cup, Filoil Invitational and Bantay Bata UAAP-NCAA Showdown).

Despite finishing in the top two three times (2002, 2006, 2007) in the elimination round, the Warriors notoriously underachieved in the postseason losing all 10 games prior to their surprising second place finish in 2009, wasting two twice-to-beat advantages (against Ateneo in 2002 on a buzzer beater by Jec Chia and 2006 over UST) and wasted a 14-0 record (that earned them an outright finals berth) in being swept by La Salle.

OK, enough of the cynicism but got to give it to them, the Warriors made it difficult for opponents to win and despite three coaching changes (from Boyzie Zamar to Dindo Pumaren to Lawrence Chongson), they were always a contender and have produced a number of top-caliber players such as James Yap, Ronald Tubid, Paul Artadi, KG Canaleta, Marcy Arellano, Rob Labagala, Mark Borboran, Elmer Espiritu, Paul Lee and Pari Llagas.

4. Ateneo Blue Eagles (2000-2003)

Record in that span: 48-23 (.676)

Two Ateneo teams were included in this list. The first is that memorable stretch that saw the Blue Eagles taking flight from those also-ran and forgetful teams from the 1990's with a string of three consecutive finals appearances (from 2001-2003) highlighted by that title team in 2002.

But like other teams, the Loyola dribblers had to endure two heartbreaking setbacks at the hands of FEU in the 2000 Final Four (no thanks to the buzzer-beater by Mico Roldan that forced a rubber match) and the 2001 finals at the expense of its arch-nemesis La Salle and Renren Ritualo.

Unfortunately, Joe Lipa, who handled the team's rise from futility to title contender, was unceremoniously let go following that defeat. Joel Banal, who led Mapua to its last NCAA crown in 1991, came in and was able to bring the team back from a 4-5 record midway into the season to end a 14-year title drought by denying Mike Cortez and the Archers' bid for a five-peat (also the year that saw Jec Chia's buzzer-beater over UE and Fonacier's two blocks over Cardona in the dying seconds of Game 1).

Ateneo was on course to win a back-to-back crown (after a hard-fought and bruising Final Four series with La Salle) in 2003 but came the major stumbling block that was known as Arwind Santos and the FEU Tamaraws and were swept in the finals.

The Eagles grabbed some of the best players from their high school ranks in the likes of Enrico Villanueva, Wesley Gonzales, Larry Fonacier, Paul Tanchi, Paolo Bugia, Rainier Sison aside from adding Rich Alvarez (2000 and 2001 MVP) and LA Tenorio (from the San Beda Red Cubs).

3. Ateneo Blue Eagles (2006-2009)

Record in that span: 54-14 (.794)

This next Ateneo team should have the 2008 and 2009 teams only but had not for the 2006 and 2007 teams, there might have never been any back-to-back title teams in Loyola. Credit that to a strong recruitment that started even way back to 2005.

2006 saw the arrival of Jai Reyes (that season's Rookie of the Year) and Eric Salamat (from San Sebastian). Rabeh Al-Hussaini, in just his second season with the team, was just a raw big man overshadowed by the likes of Doug Kramer and Ford Arao and Chris Tiu missed the previous season for completing his duties as an exchange student abroad (he played as LA Tenorio's backup from 2003 to 2004).

But despite a talent that also includes the high-flying JC Intal (glad that he's doing well in the PBA) and Macky Escalona and holding the best record in the league (even considered as a team of destiny after Kramer's memorable buzzer-beater in Game 1), they failed to live up to expectations no thanks to the gritty 2006 UST Growling Tigers team of coach Pido Jarencio and players like Jervy Cruz and Jojo Duncil.

Despite that stunning loss, Ateneo continued to get talented players for the future. 2007 (the year they nearly reached the finals but lost to eventual champion La Salle in the Final Four) brought in Nonoy Baclao from West Negros College then 2008 came the highly-touted Ryan Buenafe from San Sebastian, Nico Salva of San Beda and Justin Chua from Chiang Kai Shek.

By 2008, Tiu was already its unquestioned leader, Al-Hussaini matured and Baclao dominated on defense to win the crown at the expense of the reigning title-holders La Salle (and finished the year with a 16-1 mark). Even Tiu's departure didn't hamper the Eagles the next year as Reyes turned into a deadly shooter and Salamat became one of the best finishers in the league to complete the back-to-back (this time over UE in three games).

2. FEU Tamaraws (2003-2005)



Record in that span: 43-15 (.741)

Called this the Grandslam era but regardless of whether you prefer to discount FEU retroactively winning the 2004 crown (after La Salle was found to have ineligible players), this squad really a feared team and was deep in almost every position.

The Tams built this team up from ground by recruiting some of the talented high school and college players outside of the UAAP and NCAA aside from having a talented mentor and coaching staff around.

And the end result was, they were glad to get Arwind Santos (arguably the best UAAP player of the decade)...................and Denok Miranda, Mark Isip, Jeff Chan, RJ Rizada, former team captain Gerald Jones, Rhagnee Singco, Cesar Catli, Eder Saldua, RB Mangahas and Jonas Villanueva plus coaches Koy Banal and Bert Flores.

The teams of 2003 and 2004 meshed well and with Banal's system of preaching air-tight defense. And together with a talented offensive prowess of the likes of Santos, Miranda, Jones, Isip, Rizada and Chan, the Tamaraws were a tough team to beat in the UAAP (even in the PBL when the core of the Viva Mineral Water that later became the Magnolia Ice Cream Wizards won two league titles).

Unfortunately, Banal wasn't there for the three-peat (after failing to win an on-court second straight crown off La Salle's JV Casio and Miranda's "lumuwa na tira" in the dying seconds) but Flores, who some consider as the mastermind behind the recruitment of these talented cagers, kept the team competitive with Santos, Isip and Villanueva around to avenge their title loss to the Archers in the 2005 finals.
 
1. La Salle Green Archers (2000-2002)



Record in that span: 45-8 (.849)

Back in 2000, many pundits considered the Archers as a on a rebuilding mode after seeing Don Allado (who was then a dominant player inside) and Dino Aldeguer (known for his memorable game-tying trey in the 1999 finals against UST) waving goodbye following their second straight crown.

But alas, it turned out to be a continuation of an unforgettable era in La Salle basketball. The departures of the likes of Allado and Aldeguer gave way to the emergence of role players and rookies in a three-year odyssey that saw the squad coached by Franz Pumaren win 85 percent of their games.

The lineup that Pumaren (who won more than 120 games in his career) built was a deep squad that is capable on both ends of the floor, although he emphasized more on defense with his vaunted full-court press while having Renren Ritualo firing his treys, Mike Cortez making his on-court wizardry and a young Mac Cardona hitting those tear-drop shots (technically it is not called a hook shot).

Key contributors were Willy Wilson, Junjun Cabatu, Mac Cuan, Alvin Castro, Carlo Sharma (one of the main heroes in Game 3 of the 2001 finals), BJ Manalo (despite his injury-plagued collegiate career), Adonis Sta Maria and Joseph Yeo (his stock would rise around 2005). Even two then-obscure and unproven players were included in the roster in the likes of TY Tang and Cholo Villanueva, who would have to wait until the 2007 title team to become major players.

While these years saw some classic La Salle victories (one in particular against UST in 2002 in some believed as one of the greatest comebacks in UAAP history), its impressive run also saw the start of the mainstream (because in a way it became influential on luring advertisers to make money) growth of their rivalry with Ateneo and college basketball. Both teams split the two finals meetings from 2001 and 2002 that saw also some controversial moments (officiating, La Salle players getting sick, Cortez being accussed of game-fixing).

Unfortunately, while the era the Archers dominance (and a long-term winning tradition throughout the decade), it later endured some of the worst moments in team history such as the player eligibility scandal of 2005 (that cost them the 2004 title and a 2006 suspension) and later the forgetful 2009 season that saw them miss the Final Four for the first time ever (the current format was launched in 1994). For sure in this new decade, La Salle, with a new coach and a bunch of promising players is poise for a comeback.