One for the books

This story reads like a script for an inspirational movie. It’s about the Ateneo Lady Eagles and how they made history by capturing their first-ever University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) seniors basketball title this season.

For years, the Lady Eagles never made ripples in the UAAP wars. In 1988, they were dead last in the standings without a single win to show. And from 1989 to 1995, Ateneo didn’t bother to field a women’s squad, according to Sid Ventura. The Lady Eagles were revived in 1996 and for seven straight years, they couldn’t finish higher than fifth. From 1998 to 2000, their record was a combined 1-35.

Then came the signs of a slow awakening. From 2000 to 2004, the UAAP awarded Rookie of the Year honors to Lady Eagles. Erika Dy was cited in 2000, Tin Chua in 2001, Carolyn Tanchi in 2002, Cassy Tioseco in 2003 and A. J. Barracoso in 2004.

After a long drought, Ateneo made its first-ever Final Four appearance in 2003. Although the Lady Eagles wound up fourth, it was considered a feat. The next year, Ateneo barged into the finals and was a point shy of sweeping Adamson in the best-of-3 series but the Lady Falcons spoiled the party by winning Games 2 and 3 to clinch the crown.

During the 2003 season, Ateneo did something that made Loyola diehards even prouder of their blue roots. The Lady Eagles beat the University of the Philippines (UP), 68-66, but voluntarily forfeited the game when team officials, in a class act, admitted to committing a technical error that went unnoticed.

In the dying seconds of the contest, coach John Flores inadvertently sent in Tanchi with Tioseco on the court. Under UAAP rules, a team is allowed to play only one ‘import’ or non-Filipino citizen at a time. Tanchi is a US passport holder while Tioseco is a Canadian citizen.

"No one noticed this infraction," said Ventura. "Not UP, not the referees, not the table officials. No one, that is, except Ateneo itself. For so long, the cellar-dwelling Lady Eagles had been battling for respect in the UAAP. Finally, they seemed to have assembled a team that had all the tools to make a run at the Final Four. Winning had never come easy for this team so each victory, especially over a perennial contender like UP, was certainly savored like a cold drink upon parched lips. Coach Flores and the rest of the team could have kept their mouths. But for them to personally bring it up, first to team manager Jun-Jun Capistrano, then to commissioner Joe Lipa and the UAAP Board, speaks volumes of their integrity."

The display of sportsmanship did not go unrewarded.

This season, the Lady Eagles finally reached the Promised Land after a long, arduous journey. The road was rocky and the ride was bumpy. But winning the championship made it all worthwhile.

The Lady Eagles wrapped up the crown in style. They finished the regular season with a win over Far Eastern University (FEU) then tangled with UP in a Final Four matchup where the Maroons enjoyed a twice-to-beat advantage. Ateneo did what it had to do and repulsed UP twice in a row to arrange a title showdown with Adamson. In the best-of- 3 finals, Ateneo beat Adamson by 10 in Game 1 and by 12 in Game 2 to clinch the series.

"It took the Lady Eagles 18 years to win a UAAP championship, not counting the years played in the WNCAA (Women’s National Collegiate Athletic Association) where they also never won a title," said Ateneo alumnus Robin Tong. "In the UAAP, 2005 is the Year of the Flores as both coach Bert Flores of FEU and coach John Flores won their first titles."

After letting the 2004 crown slip away, Ateneo stormed back to top the National Capital Region eliminations and bag the national intercollegiate championship in Dumaguete City.