On Jaymie Pizarro, The Bull Runner: a short statistical review of her participation in the 2015 Boston Marathon

At the 2015 Boston Marathon, there were two Filipinos who are based in Metro Manila who participated.

They are Carlos Macasarte of Cagayan de Oro City and Jaymie Pizarro of Paranaque City.

Both are  in this prestigious run, which is an annual marathon hosted by several cities in Greater Boston in eastern Massachusetts, United States.

(Jaymie Pizarro, Bull Runner blogger, at the finish line of the Boston Marathon)- photo sourced from her blog, The Bull Runner).

They were joined by 12 other US-based runners who had decent finishes that day as well.

None of the two runners from the Philippines, Macasarte and Pizarro, were there to represent the country in an official capacity. They were on an individual basis.

Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association president Philip Ella Juico said so, even if Jaymie had a sponsor.

“We are happy that she is there on a personal capacity. I don’t know if she can officially represent the Philippines. I will have to ask around,” said Mr. Juico.

(Jaymie Pizarro, Bull Runner is given a warm sendoff by a sponsor to the Boston Marathon on April 20, 2015 (Boston time). in the photo is Pepsico Philippines Hydration Marketing Manager Tony Atayde. Jaymie went to the Boston Marathon on a personal capacity).- photo sourced from Michelle Liberato, media relations director, DDB PR.

(Only the PATAFA has the right to declare any runner competing in any international competitions as an official representative of the country. The PATAFA is the officially recognized athletics body in the Philippines by the IAAF).

Anyway, the 53-year old Macasarte ended up in 23,519^th place overall with a time of four hours, 36 minutes and 39 seconds.

And, Ms. Pizzarro, who has a blog which is at http://www.thebullrunner.com,  had a clocking of 5 hours, one minute and 45 seconds in 25,021^st place.

Her clocking is double the time of the Philippines’ best runners like Mary Joy Tabal, the local women’s runner who submitted the best time in the 38^th National Milo Marathon finals (2:51.52).

The slowest of the top 10 is Christine Hallasgo (3:35.57).

Now, any of the top 10 in the Milo Marathon could have represented the country with blessings from the PATAFA. But that’s another story. I’m not out  to spoil the fun and thrill which Jaymie wanted to have by joining the Boston Marathon.

Statistically, Jaymie’s time, comparatively speaking, is slow.

A US-based Pinay named Angelica San Juan, 27,  from Chicago, took credit for the being the fastest finishing Filipina with a time of 3:16.09.

And so did the US-based Amanda Carpo, 40, from Redwood City, California, in 3:24.06.

Leica Carpo came in afterwards in 3:40.40.

Anna Tayoto of Waltham, Maryland, was the slowest Pinay, 5:42.47.

And so what happened to Jaymie?

“My time wasn’t great. There was rain, strong winds, and cold temperature. I wasn’t quite ready for that,” said Jaymie when she finally answered my message to her on Facebook on April 27, at around 10 in the evening.

So now I ask Andrew Pirie, whose website pinoyathletics.info is under repair at this time.

What’s up with Jaymie? Andrew, whom I know, diligently keeps track of runners’ statistics, is at a loss.

He does not have the stats of Jaymie in his records, at the moment.

Well, that’s it for now.

Week 1 of the 21st Fr. Martin Summer Cup basketball tournament: John Umali sparkles

16, April 2015,

Thursday,

12 nn,

Basketball gymnasium,

Arellano University,

Legarda,

Manila

It’s the first week of the 21st Fr. Martin Summer Cup basketball tournament.

More young, promising  and upcoming players showed how good they are.

This time, I watched John Umali score 16 points last Thursday, April 16, at the Arellano University gymnasium.

(John Umali fights for control of the ball against defenders from the EAC-ICA Brigadiers, like no. 6 Maui Cruz).

It was charity shot at endgame which carried the University of Perpetual Help Junior Altas past the  Emilio Aguinaldo College-Immaculate Conception Academy Brigadiers, 69-68.

Umali’s split charity turned out to be a winning charity with 48.5 seconds for the Junior Altas.

The 6’1 Umali is a sophomore, according to coach Aric del Rosario, who watched from the sidelines, and as he let one his assistant coaches, Jonas Kintanar,  handle the Junior Altas.

(Dan Arches in action).

The Junior Altas then watched the Brigadiers  bungle two late attempts as time winded down.

From that win, the Junior Altas took the lead in Group B, and they share it with the San Beda-A Red Cubs.

In an earlier game, that week,  Albert Bordeos hit 21 points for the Red Cubs, who outplayed University of the East, 115-50.

( a battle for possession between Junior Altas player Kirk Gelogo (left),Angelo Beduria(middle) and JV Arroyo (right)).

Anyway, the fight was close between the Junior Altas and Brigadiers.

The Brigadiers last tied the count, 68-all, on a layup by Lester Castillo.

Eleven seconds later, Umali sank one of two charities, to put the Junior Altas ahead by a point.

(Gelogo passes the ball away from Castillo).

The Brigadiers could have moved ahead. But they turned the ball over twice following a missed attempt.

It got scary in the last 5.5 seconds when Umali missed two more charity attempts off a foul by Maui Cruz.

The Brigadiers gained an opportunity to win when Castillo drove straight to the hoops as time expired.

(Lester Castillo doing a charity throw).

But his attempt fell short of the rim, and after leapt for a basket at the buzzer.

Not only Umali played well in that game, the others who stood out in the game included his teammate Kirk Gelogo, who made 11 with Carl Abarte.

Also seen contributing in defense was Jerome Domotilla and Dan Arches.

EAC-ICA’s Maui Cruz screens Dan Arches).

At the 21st Fr. Martin Summer Cup: Catching a glimpse of the future

12 April 2015,

Monday,

9:30 a.m.,

St. Placid gymnasium,

San Beda College campus,

Mendiola, Manila

I came to the St. Placid gymnasium last Sunday to watch the start of the 21^st Fr. Martin Summer Cup basketball tournament.

This is what greeted me when I finally settled down to watch the first game of pre-season cagefest.

The San Beda Red Cubs-B  team were introducing new players into their lineup.

(New kids on the block: John Baltazar in a loose ball play with teammate, #9 de Luna).

They were drawing crucial baskets from John Baltazar and Luke Sese, new guys I have never seen before.

Their big presence inside the paint helped them beat the San Sebastian Staglets, 84-79.

With their first win, the Red Cubs-B were able to take charge in Group B of the junior division.

(left photo:Red Cub Luke Sese(9) tries to get past SSC Staglet Tamparong. Right photo: John Baltazar is about to shoot a free throw).

Baltazar stands at 6’1 according to Team B coach Noli Mejos, and this 8^th grader fired 18 points for the Red Cubs-B.

Sese, a new guy who is still unknown to me, contributed 17.

The Red Cubs turned the tables around on the Staglets in the remaining five minutes, with Baltazar and Sese creating trouble with the team’s fullcourt trapping defense.

(John Baltazar in possession battle under the basket).

Sucessive baskets from Baltazar and Ry de la Rosa allowed them to move away from a 65-all deadlock.

Bernard de Guia, who led with 21 points, and Baltazar then capped San Beda’s breakaway with a layup and a pair of charities in the last 2:27, 73-65.

“It worked. Our fullcourt press and trapping,” said Mejos.

(Staglet Kobe Canoy (14) gets double teamed by the Red Cubs).

Sportswriter’s Notebook – The 21st Fr. Martin Summer Cup is here

It’s summer again. And there’s a lot of pre-season collegiate basketball tournaments that’s about to fire off. First it’s the Fr. Martin Cup Summer cagefest this. Next week, it’s the FilOil-Flying series.

For now, it’s the FMC games that I’m looking forward to watch.

In the last three stagings of the Fr. Martin Cup series, the University of Perpetual Help Altas have lorded it over.

(coach Lester del Rosario(left) was the coach of the Altas when they won the 11th Fr. Martin Collegiate Open Cup basketball tournament honors last Saturday, March 14, 2015).

They have won two of three titles at stake.

First, the  Altas held off the Univesity of Santo Tomas Tigers, 65-56, last June 12, 2014, to clinch the men’s basketball crown in the tournaments’s  20th edition.

Then, the  Altas drew big baskets from three veterans to turn back the Arellano University Chiefs, 79-70, and bag the 11th Fr. Martin Collegiate Open Cup basketball tournament honors last Saturday, March 14, 2015.

(Two of the Altas’ foreign players in residency pose with the 11th Fr. Martin Collegiate Open Cup basketball tournament. Its Akhuetie Bright (left) and Prince Eze (right).

In between these two events, the defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles marched to their third straight win, outplaying the University of the East Warriors, 66-49, Saturday, August 9, 2014,  in the12th Fr. Martin Division 2 Cup basketball tournament.

• The 21st the Fr. Martin Summer Cup basketball tournament is about to start

This year, the University of Perpetual Help Altas and Adamson Baby Falcons  are back to defend their titles.

They will be among a total of 39 collegiate, women and high school squads which will see action in the 21st the Fr. Martin Summer Cup basketball tournament

(Members of the Altas come up with wacky poses after getting their trophies in the  Fr. Martin Collegiate Open Cup basketball tournament).

The tournament was supposed to open this Saturday, April 11.

But Commissioner Robert de la Rosa cancelled this on the eve of the proposed opening playdate.

Instead, it will open on Sunday, April 12, also with a two-game bill.

(The Altas after their title conquest in the 20^th Fr. Martin Summer Cup).

The participation of teams were confirmed three weeks ago following a meeting with chief organizers led by coach Edmundo “Ato” Badolato,

In the gathering at Savory Roasted Chicken Restaurant in Earnshaw St, Sampaloc, Manila recently, organized bared that 17 collegiate men’s teams will be there.

This includes the national youth quintet, which will is listed in the senior’s division.

Seven women’s squads and  15 junior teams are also entered.

Anyway, initial hostilities get under way at the St. Placid gymnasium inside the San Beda College campus in Mendiola, Manila.

A two-game bill starting at 8 a.m.will start off hostilities.

First, San Beda-B battles the San Sebastian Staglets at 8 a.m. in the junior division. Then, Arellano University clashes with Polytechnic University of the Philippines at 9:30 a.m.

The Altas are bracketed in Group B with the Mapua Cardinals, the NCAA champion San Beda Red Lions, UE, University of Santo Tomas-A, Ateneo, Manuel L. Quezon University and Far Eastern University.

In Group A are the Arellano Chiefs, Letran Knights, Jose Rizal University, and the RP Youth team.

UAAP champion National University will also flex its muscle with UST-B, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Olivarez College and Lyceum.

The Baby Falcons are in Group A of the junior division with SBC-B, Lyceum, NU, Arellano, San Sebastian, Manila Patriotic Academy and San Beda-Alabang.

In Group B are San Beda-A, La Salle-Zobel, Emilio Aguinaldo College, UST, UPHSD, Xavier School and UE.

Here’s how I remember the last three stagings of the Fr. Martin Cup series.

-The 20^th Fr. Martin Summer Cup revisited

Juneric Baloria and Nigerian big man Akhuetie Bright lorded it over.

They showed the way with 17 points apiece as the University of Perpetual Help Altas held off the Univesity of Santo Tomas Tigers, 65-56, last June 12 to clinch the men’s basketball crown in the tournaments’s  20^th edition.

The Altas earned their first crown following two previous attempts, and it came after the Adamson University Baby Falcons settled for the junior division honors at the Trinity University of Asia gymnasium in Quezon City.

(Gab Dangangon (14) fights for possession with teammates during their 11th Fr. Martin Collegiate Open Cup basketball tournament finals game with the Arellano University Chiefs).

Harold Arboleda, who had 11 points, finally put the Altas in front after his triple in the last 9:18 connected and shattered a 46-all deadlock.

His basket unleashed an 8-0 run which the Altas built through Joel Jolangcob’s layup off Arboleda’s assist, two charities from Bright and Baloria’s drive.

Miguel Sasuman and Gerard Fernandez hit 16 and 13 points for the Baby Falcons, who won over the San Beda Red Cubs, 80-71, in the fight for the secondary boys honors.

The injury-struck Growling Tigers missed two key players.

They fell behind in the remaining time as Bright succeeded in dominating the boards.

Earl Thompson’s drive and Bright’s three-point play pushed the Altas further ahead, 61-50, in the final 5:30.

“Nung, nag-kumpiyansa player nung lumaki ang lamang, nag relax. Pero this time, naging composed ang mga players sa huli at gumana rin ang depensa,” said Altas coach Lester del Rosario.

The other year, 2013, the Altas lost the crown to the National University Bulldogs, and then bowed to the College of the St. Benilde Blazers in the fight for the Collegiate Open honors.

The Altas squandered a 39-28 halftime lead, after the Tigers came up with an 16-7 blast off Kareem Abdul’s charities and Louie Vigil’s repeated attack inside the paint.

Kent Lao’s two charities before time expired in the third period, allowed UST to threaten, 44-46.

Abdul led the Growling Tigers with 17 points, while Aljon Mariano had 9, Paolo Pe and Vigil had seven each.

• the 11th Fr. Martin Collegiate Open Cup basketball tournament revisited

The University of Perpetual Help Altas drew big baskets from three veterans to turn back the Arellano University Chiefs, 79-70, and bag the 11th Fr. Martin Collegiate Open Cup basketball tournament honors last Saturday, March 14, 2015,  at the Far Eastern University gym in Morayta.

Nigerian cager Akhuetie Bright showed the way with 18 points, while Earl Thompson and Kenneth Oliveria provided 17 and 15 points for the Altas, who earned their second crown after taking the Summer Cup title last June.

Oliveria struck hardest in the last four minutes, and he got big help from Bright and Thompson, and as the Chiefs lost steam as soon as they posted a 68-67 edge.

He spearheaded an 8-2 run with six points off his drives, and off Thompson’s assists, and the Altas went on to grab a 75-70 spread with 6:53 to go.

They forced six turnovers in the ensuing play, with Oliveria attacking the hoops again, and handing the Altas a seven-point edge, 77-70, with 1:08 left.

“Napagod na sila, kaya hindi na nakadepensa nung huli,” said Altas coach Lester del Rosario.

Jiovani Jalalon powered the Chiefs with 20 points, while the Jerry Codinera-mentored squad drew nine points from Dioncee Holts.

The Altas, who finished the eliminations with an 8-1 win-loss record, fought off the San Beda Red Lions, 73-66, during the eliminations, while Chiefs made it after turning back University of the East, 73-64.

Mark Enriquez drove in with 5:11 left, allowing the Chiefs to stay ahead for the last time, 68-67.

• the12th Fr. Martin Division 2 Cup basketball tournament revisited

The defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles marched to their third straight win, outplaying the University of the East Warriors, 66-49, Saturday, August 9, 2014,  in the12th Fr. Martin Division 2 Cup basketball tournament at the St. Placid gymnasium of the San Beda College-Manila campus in Mendiola.

Their latest triumph came as the San Sebastian College Stags and the University of Santo Tomas Tiger Cubs won over separate rivals in this cagefest, which is supported by Bauerfeind health care products and Wang’s Basketball.

Aaron Black, son of former Ateneo coach Norman Black, and Cameroonian Chibueze Ikeh had 11 points each, while rookie Hubert Cani and Jerie Pingoy had nine and seven points for the Blue Eagles.

The SSC Stags drew14 points from Jason David, while Josh Grilli and Aljon Capobres banged in 12 points apiece as they turned back Angeles University Foundation, 91-77.

Brian Lacap topscored for 13 points as the UST Tigers Cubs won over the Lyceum Junior Pirates in the junior division.

The Blue Eagles, who had earlier beaten the National College of Business and Arts Wildcats, 73-71, are now in the solo lead of Group B, while the Stags have a 1-1 win-loss slate in Group C.

The six-foot-nine Ikeh led an 8-2 uprising with his inside game, and the Blue Eagles eventually took a 33-25 halftime lead.

Cani struck with seven points in the third canto, including a trey which widened Ateneo’s edge by 13, 38-25, in the last 9:41.

Ikeh’s drive past UE’s big man, Cameroonian Bernard Awana, allowed Ateneo to grab a 48-29 spread.

In other matches, Chino Medina fired 13 points as the Technological Institute of the Philippines-A outplayed Jose Rizal University, 51-45, in the senior division, while Ian Lipio shot 17 points for Xavier School, which defeated Trinity University of Asia, 75-55, in the junior side.

Varsity Sports Flashback- Mark Dyke’s teammates pick up the slack, NU Bulldogs reach UAAP Season 77 Junior Basketball finals

As Holy Week wore on, after reflecting on my faith, and my relationship with God, and family and other important matters in my life, I finally found the time to ponder on the recent season 77 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines basketball competitions.

I looked into the junior basketball wars, and saw how good Mark Dyke of National University was.

Mark stood out, even though his other teammates had their shining moments as well.

I took note that he had one of his best games, a month before graduation (probably before he made an effort to commit and join the La Salle Green Archers Archers in college.

He may have reportedly suited up for the Green Archers during their pre-season preparations. But playing for them in season 78 is another story.

Martin Romero of La Salle Zobel (20) snatches the ball away from NU’s Mark Dyke (7) during the La Salle-Zobel-NU  stepladder semifinals match.

———————–

09, February, 2015

Monday,

3 p.m.,

Blue Eagle gym,

Ateneo de Manila University campus,

Katipunan Ave.,

Quezon City

Just like last year, Mark Dyke had a chance to become the Finals MVP in the recent season 77 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Junior Basketball Tournament.

Unfortunately, something kept him from getting it again for a second straight season.

Looking back, Mark had a few games when he was not playing A-game.

(Daniel Atienza (left) defends himself after La Salle-Zobel’s Aljun Melecio snatches the ball away from him).

One of those was  on Feb. 9, 2015,  when the defending champion National University Bullpups got off to a great start and subdued the La Salle-Zobel Junior Archers, 61-45, in the second stepladder semifinals playoffs.

That victory allowed the Bullpups to reach the finals for a second straight season.

They advanced to the finals against the Ateneo Blue Eaglets.

Because of this, they have an opprtunity to win all 3 UAAP basketball titles at stake.

After all, NU clinched its first ever men’s crown last October, and the women’s crown as well.

They are close to following the footsteps of  University of Santo Tomas, which last did it in 1994.

Dyke, one of the key figures who steered NU Bullpups to their first ever juniors championship in 2013, was held to just nine points in the 28.5 minutes that he saw action.

The Junior Archers played great defense against Dyke, who still dominated the boards with 13 rebounds.

But their bigs ran into foul trouble as they tried to stop NU’s inside game.

And,  the Bullpups went on to enjoy a 15-5 advantage in the first 10 minutes.

Dyke was scoreless in the initial minutes of the game, and he  is best remembered with his dominant plays in season 76.

The Bullpups, who returned to the finals for the second straight season, drew big baskets from rookies John Clemente and Justine Baltazar in the first seven minutes of action.

Their efforts allowed the Bullpups to grab the upperhand after unleashing an 11-0 blast in the last 3:30 of the first period.

The 6’2 Clemente banged in a gamehigh 14 points while  6’6 Baltazar had 13, including seven in the first 10 minutes.

The Junior Archers ran into foul trouble as they tried to stop their inside game, and the Bullpups went to enjoy a 15-5 advantage in the first 10 minutes.

They held big man Mark Dyke scoreless in the initial minutes of the game, and he went on to finish with nine points.

“Credit to the Zobel team. Napagaralan nila ang laro ni Mark. Buti na lang nag-stepup iyung ibang kasama niya,” said Bullpups coach Jeff Napa after the game.

Dyke made his presence felt in the second period, hitting a layup which provided NU a 12-point edge, 27-15, in the last 3:34.

Aljun Melecio hit eight of 15 points for the Junior Archers in the third, but the Alabang-based dribblers could only manage to cut down NU’s edge to 11, 42-31.