By Redentor Domingo and John Carlo Tamayo
For the past years, Bulacan State University (BulSU) Gold Gears Basketball Team has surpassed all the challenges and withstands every obstacle in the vast court of the region; planting a reputable name in Central Luzon, even sending a ripple of fear and dread to the sports powerhouses of Manila.
But despite all the numerous victory and praise they received, there’s always a running thought that dwells upon the minds of BulSUan collegiate basketball fanatics. Academic issues, attitude problems, age-eligibility, coaching changes, and these are just the basics.
With all that is said and done, one needs to hear it straight from the gutter; Issues, victories, accusations, prominence, scandals, player departures and losses.
Listen. The noise and the voice.
Blast from the not-so-distant past
It was the finals of State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association (SCUAA) Basketball 2010, and the Golden Gear Cagers were riding a wave on their way to verge a historic 5-peat title run. Facing the newbies from Don Honorio Ventura Technological State University (DHVTSU) at BulSU’s grounds, the odds were favoring them.
BulSU dribblers as expected banked on to their deep line-up, draining treys and attacking the insides in the process. It was a close fight. But unfortunately, DHVTSU upstage an upset through the errors of team star and captain Earnest Reyes, embarrassing the Golden Cagers.
“Hindi lang naman iisang tao lang ang may kasalanan no’n kundi nagkaroon talaga ng lapses ang buong team. Ginawa naman ng buong koponan ang makakaya nito at isa pa puspusan naman ang aming training,” said Reyes.
The loss was a heartbreaking one, adding salt to the wound is the failure to capitalize a championship run at their own turfs. But it was over and they can only shake their heads in return.
“’Yong talo na ‘yon, naging desidido kami na bumawi kasi malaking dagok ‘yon sa amin, individually and as a team,” added Reyes.
But the loss was just pit stop, a break from the sun while they’re gearing up for another run for dominance.
Vulgar display of power
SCUAA ’10’s embarrassing loss is just a minor setback, a motivation to keep them hungry for more and much bigger things.
Central Luzon’s powerhouse 5 recently bagged the SCUAA-crown at Tarlac State University, avenging its 2nd place embarrassment finish and adding another plaque to its display of dominance.
“Sa sampung taon na ako pa ang coach ng team [Gold Gears], seven times kaming nag-champion sa Regional SCUAA, bukod pa roon ‘yong pag-ra-runner-up namin,” said former Gold Gear coach Antonino Tayao.
From 2003 to 2011, the Golden Dribblers have doggedly mined the gold at the SCUAA, outplaying number of teams from different provinces and regions all throughout the country.
The momentum of Regional supremacy carries itself all the way to the Nationals, as the BulSU cagers dribbled its way to 2nd place finish, right behind West Visayas and a notch higher against the savvy-kids of National Capital Region.
“I am proud kahit na nag-second lang kami, kami lang kasi ‘yong nakatalo sa NCR. Para na ring kami ‘yong nanalo kasi bihirang may makapagpatumba sa kanila [NCR],” added Tayao.
The slaying tradition weren’t just limited on what the Region has to offer, Invitational’s too and open tournaments are regular audience of the annual slugfest made by the State U ballers. Philippine Collegiate Champions League, United Central Luzon Athletic Association and Central Luzon Association of School Sports Invitational Championships were bare witness of the relentless prowess of BulSUan cagers.
“Masaya ako at maganda lagi ang performance ng team [Gold Gears]. Kaya naman sinusuportahan namin [COPERS] sila sa lahat ng torneong kanilang sinasalihan,” exclaimed College of Physical Education, Recreation and Sports (COPERS) Dean Racquel Mendoza.
Arguments that best teams only live in the courts of prestigious universities erected in the bright city of the Metropolis and top quality cagers walk the land of colleges which maintains a membership on the couple of four-lettered-athletic associations was now an afterthought. BulSU dribblers know its language, and they’re having a good time uttering it.
Needless to say, the Golden Cagers growled so loud.
So loud it’s deafening. Unfortunately, the loudness weren’t coming from the victors of achievements. It was from the other side.
The Other Side
Good things were faltered by bad ones. At the peak of their prominence, sounds echoed in the background of the team that resulted to different alleged controversies that awakened its own athletes. No one has ever lived on the top in his whole life as saying goes.
Many of the Gold Miners are suspected for not being bona fide students of BulSU. There are talks that some of the warriors are not real battlers when it comes to the academic field. But this statement was opposed by the team’s former coach.
“Hindi siguro mangyayari ‘yon. Napakahirap at napaka-imposibleng namang dayain ang ating registrar,” explained Tayao. He also added that all his players both in the past and present years were legitimate students of BulSU, and school records can backed him up.
Attitude was also a problem, as any squad enjoying its day in the sun is expected to crumple against the pressure of maintaining smooth values.
“Aminado naman ako na may mga players kaming yumayabang minsan. Pero ‘pag sobra na, pinagsasabihan ko na sila at binibigyan ng kaunting disiplina. Bilang ako ‘yong nakakatanda sa kanilang lahat ay nandito ako para gabayan sila,” defended Reyes.
Change is the only constant thing in the world. For the longest time, the Gold Gears is also in vain of having a huge ‘muscle drain’ problem, as its trained and front-runner players are moving to bigger schools in Metro Manila for more benefits, better facilities, and brighter career. Examples of these are Michael Mabulac and Romnick Mendoza, both former wingmen and now rotation players of Jose Rizal University Bombers.
“Sa teknikal na suporta ay hindi naman nagmimintis ang school [BulSU], pero minsan ang problema ay ang court na pinagpa-papraktisan namin. Minsan kasi kapag magpa-praktis kami ay wala kaming court na mapagpraktisan, kasi may mga nagkaklase kaya inaagahan na lang namin ang training,” explained Tayao.
Controversies were shrugged off the way they do their crossovers. They quickly rebound from the losses and irregularities as if they are swatting slashers driving through the lane. But when the core of a powerhouse is removed, something must be wrong.
Captain leaving ship
The triumphs and victories of a team are not just because of its dedicated, skilled, and talented players working on it but also because of its genius playmaker, the one who thinks for the appropriate strategies and tactics, the one who is pressured in every crucial and dying moments of the game, none other than the coach.
These are the words that can perfectly describe former coach Antonino Tayao for being a 10-year mentor and the secret behind the domination of the men’s basketball team in the region and even in the country.
Coach Tayao of Basketball Men’s Team left the squad, transferring to its lady counterparts and giving up coaching duties to former Trainer Geronimo Clemente. Though Tayao is still part of BulSU’s basketball program, one wonders why he leaves. Why fix something if it isn’t broke right?
“It was Sir Tayao’s personal decision and conviction to leave the basketball men’s team,” explained Dean Mendoza.
Tayao’s departure, even if COPERS won’t admit it, is a big blow to the cagers. The Coach serves as the motivational leader of young pact of Wolves. He is the light that guides the ill-advised jumpers, the out-of-direction lay-ups and the sole responsible during crunch times.
Plays will now change. Offensive sets will be altered and defensive match-ups will be reviewed. Tayao’s hard-nose basketball philosophy will be replaced by Clemente’s fast-paced attack. A new playbook is being made, and with changes comes confusion.
“Medyo nakakapanibago lang, pero gano’n naman talaga eh. May mga aalis at dadating,” exclaimed a veteran cager.
But all is not at lost with the Cagers, as their newly appointed head coach Geronimo Clemente is another Tayao disciple of building a basketball dynasty.
“Unang-una masaya, pero pressured. Kailangan naming galingan, hindi lang no’ng players, pati ‘yong coach, kailangan lahat mag-step-up para mapantayan o malampasan ‘yong nakamit ng last coach,” said Clemente.
As it overcame every challenge, BulSU Cagers has left all its rivals that have intercepted along its way to the top dishelmed and broken. And after the team has fallen down in acceleration, gravity never left them as it had ace to stand with its vigorous feet again.
From an unconventional team that is constructing its image and identity into a mainstream league-leader and making its way towards ascendancy.
From being thirsty in basketball followers’ attention and recognition into a more pleased team bathing in the river of glare of publicity, truly that BulSU Gold Gears men’s basketball team grasp the scene from the most sophisticated squads in different athletic associations all over the archipelago. In every league there is an underdog that wins due to victories from behind, BulSU is not one of them.
For the past years, Bulacan State University (BulSU) Gold Gears Basketball Team has surpassed all the challenges and withstands every obstacle in the vast court of the region; planting a reputable name in Central Luzon, even sending a ripple of fear and dread to the sports powerhouses of Manila.
But despite all the numerous victory and praise they received, there’s always a running thought that dwells upon the minds of BulSUan collegiate basketball fanatics. Academic issues, attitude problems, age-eligibility, coaching changes, and these are just the basics.
With all that is said and done, one needs to hear it straight from the gutter; Issues, victories, accusations, prominence, scandals, player departures and losses.
Listen. The noise and the voice.
Blast from the not-so-distant past
It was the finals of State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association (SCUAA) Basketball 2010, and the Golden Gear Cagers were riding a wave on their way to verge a historic 5-peat title run. Facing the newbies from Don Honorio Ventura Technological State University (DHVTSU) at BulSU’s grounds, the odds were favoring them.
BulSU dribblers as expected banked on to their deep line-up, draining treys and attacking the insides in the process. It was a close fight. But unfortunately, DHVTSU upstage an upset through the errors of team star and captain Earnest Reyes, embarrassing the Golden Cagers.
“Hindi lang naman iisang tao lang ang may kasalanan no’n kundi nagkaroon talaga ng lapses ang buong team. Ginawa naman ng buong koponan ang makakaya nito at isa pa puspusan naman ang aming training,” said Reyes.
The loss was a heartbreaking one, adding salt to the wound is the failure to capitalize a championship run at their own turfs. But it was over and they can only shake their heads in return.
“’Yong talo na ‘yon, naging desidido kami na bumawi kasi malaking dagok ‘yon sa amin, individually and as a team,” added Reyes.
But the loss was just pit stop, a break from the sun while they’re gearing up for another run for dominance.
Vulgar display of power
SCUAA ’10’s embarrassing loss is just a minor setback, a motivation to keep them hungry for more and much bigger things.
Central Luzon’s powerhouse 5 recently bagged the SCUAA-crown at Tarlac State University, avenging its 2nd place embarrassment finish and adding another plaque to its display of dominance.
“Sa sampung taon na ako pa ang coach ng team [Gold Gears], seven times kaming nag-champion sa Regional SCUAA, bukod pa roon ‘yong pag-ra-runner-up namin,” said former Gold Gear coach Antonino Tayao.
From 2003 to 2011, the Golden Dribblers have doggedly mined the gold at the SCUAA, outplaying number of teams from different provinces and regions all throughout the country.
The momentum of Regional supremacy carries itself all the way to the Nationals, as the BulSU cagers dribbled its way to 2nd place finish, right behind West Visayas and a notch higher against the savvy-kids of National Capital Region.
“I am proud kahit na nag-second lang kami, kami lang kasi ‘yong nakatalo sa NCR. Para na ring kami ‘yong nanalo kasi bihirang may makapagpatumba sa kanila [NCR],” added Tayao.
The slaying tradition weren’t just limited on what the Region has to offer, Invitational’s too and open tournaments are regular audience of the annual slugfest made by the State U ballers. Philippine Collegiate Champions League, United Central Luzon Athletic Association and Central Luzon Association of School Sports Invitational Championships were bare witness of the relentless prowess of BulSUan cagers.
“Masaya ako at maganda lagi ang performance ng team [Gold Gears]. Kaya naman sinusuportahan namin [COPERS] sila sa lahat ng torneong kanilang sinasalihan,” exclaimed College of Physical Education, Recreation and Sports (COPERS) Dean Racquel Mendoza.
Arguments that best teams only live in the courts of prestigious universities erected in the bright city of the Metropolis and top quality cagers walk the land of colleges which maintains a membership on the couple of four-lettered-athletic associations was now an afterthought. BulSU dribblers know its language, and they’re having a good time uttering it.
Needless to say, the Golden Cagers growled so loud.
So loud it’s deafening. Unfortunately, the loudness weren’t coming from the victors of achievements. It was from the other side.
The Other Side
Good things were faltered by bad ones. At the peak of their prominence, sounds echoed in the background of the team that resulted to different alleged controversies that awakened its own athletes. No one has ever lived on the top in his whole life as saying goes.
Many of the Gold Miners are suspected for not being bona fide students of BulSU. There are talks that some of the warriors are not real battlers when it comes to the academic field. But this statement was opposed by the team’s former coach.
“Hindi siguro mangyayari ‘yon. Napakahirap at napaka-imposibleng namang dayain ang ating registrar,” explained Tayao. He also added that all his players both in the past and present years were legitimate students of BulSU, and school records can backed him up.
Attitude was also a problem, as any squad enjoying its day in the sun is expected to crumple against the pressure of maintaining smooth values.
“Aminado naman ako na may mga players kaming yumayabang minsan. Pero ‘pag sobra na, pinagsasabihan ko na sila at binibigyan ng kaunting disiplina. Bilang ako ‘yong nakakatanda sa kanilang lahat ay nandito ako para gabayan sila,” defended Reyes.
Change is the only constant thing in the world. For the longest time, the Gold Gears is also in vain of having a huge ‘muscle drain’ problem, as its trained and front-runner players are moving to bigger schools in Metro Manila for more benefits, better facilities, and brighter career. Examples of these are Michael Mabulac and Romnick Mendoza, both former wingmen and now rotation players of Jose Rizal University Bombers.
“Sa teknikal na suporta ay hindi naman nagmimintis ang school [BulSU], pero minsan ang problema ay ang court na pinagpa-papraktisan namin. Minsan kasi kapag magpa-praktis kami ay wala kaming court na mapagpraktisan, kasi may mga nagkaklase kaya inaagahan na lang namin ang training,” explained Tayao.
Controversies were shrugged off the way they do their crossovers. They quickly rebound from the losses and irregularities as if they are swatting slashers driving through the lane. But when the core of a powerhouse is removed, something must be wrong.
Captain leaving ship
The triumphs and victories of a team are not just because of its dedicated, skilled, and talented players working on it but also because of its genius playmaker, the one who thinks for the appropriate strategies and tactics, the one who is pressured in every crucial and dying moments of the game, none other than the coach.
These are the words that can perfectly describe former coach Antonino Tayao for being a 10-year mentor and the secret behind the domination of the men’s basketball team in the region and even in the country.
Coach Tayao of Basketball Men’s Team left the squad, transferring to its lady counterparts and giving up coaching duties to former Trainer Geronimo Clemente. Though Tayao is still part of BulSU’s basketball program, one wonders why he leaves. Why fix something if it isn’t broke right?
“It was Sir Tayao’s personal decision and conviction to leave the basketball men’s team,” explained Dean Mendoza.
Tayao’s departure, even if COPERS won’t admit it, is a big blow to the cagers. The Coach serves as the motivational leader of young pact of Wolves. He is the light that guides the ill-advised jumpers, the out-of-direction lay-ups and the sole responsible during crunch times.
Plays will now change. Offensive sets will be altered and defensive match-ups will be reviewed. Tayao’s hard-nose basketball philosophy will be replaced by Clemente’s fast-paced attack. A new playbook is being made, and with changes comes confusion.
“Medyo nakakapanibago lang, pero gano’n naman talaga eh. May mga aalis at dadating,” exclaimed a veteran cager.
But all is not at lost with the Cagers, as their newly appointed head coach Geronimo Clemente is another Tayao disciple of building a basketball dynasty.
“Unang-una masaya, pero pressured. Kailangan naming galingan, hindi lang no’ng players, pati ‘yong coach, kailangan lahat mag-step-up para mapantayan o malampasan ‘yong nakamit ng last coach,” said Clemente.
As it overcame every challenge, BulSU Cagers has left all its rivals that have intercepted along its way to the top dishelmed and broken. And after the team has fallen down in acceleration, gravity never left them as it had ace to stand with its vigorous feet again.
From an unconventional team that is constructing its image and identity into a mainstream league-leader and making its way towards ascendancy.
From being thirsty in basketball followers’ attention and recognition into a more pleased team bathing in the river of glare of publicity, truly that BulSU Gold Gears men’s basketball team grasp the scene from the most sophisticated squads in different athletic associations all over the archipelago. In every league there is an underdog that wins due to victories from behind, BulSU is not one of them.