ABL 2012 Overview
The official tally for the 2012 season is 337 teams and 54 divisions. Both are record numbers for the ABL. This also marks the first time that ABL has broken the 50-division barrier.
The alumni sector still accounts for the most teams and divisions with 148 and 23 respectively. This year, a record 5 batches, AHS 1987, 1999, 2002, 2003, and 2004 have been able to form divisions made up primarily of their batchmates from grade school, high school, and college.
The grade school sector has drawn over 315+ participants who will be grouped into 30 teams and 7 divisions, all of which are record highs for the grade school sector. With about 100 participants, the Grade 7 division will be split into two divisions.
Duplicating the feat of Grade 7, the 2nd year high school batch will also be split into two divisions as over 80+ students have joined this year. This will mark the first time in ABL history that a grade school and high school batch has drawn enough players to be split into two divisions.
The high school sector will also include 23 teams in 5 divisions as well as the AHS Intramurals and AHS Basketball Club which will have 57 and 8 teams respectively.
The regular ABL college divisions will have 18 teams in 4 divisions. The MEA Inter-Batch (MIB) will be participating in its third season with 10 teams in two divisions. This season, the ABL will also be integrating its first IAC (college intramurals) division.
As in the previous years, there will still be divisions for the Ateneo Law School (8 teams), the Ateneo employees (12 teams, 3 divisions), Ateneo women (5 teams), and parents of current Ateneo students (10 teams, 2 divisions).For the parents sector, this will be the first time that there will be two divisions.
AHS Batch 99 – We Are Together!
By Enzo Flojo
Finally! It has been a long time coming, but AHS Batch 99 (a.k.a. AGS Batch 95) now has an ABL division to call its own.
Spearheaded by members of majority of the 12 AHS Batch 1999 sections, 5 teams were formed – AHS 4E 99, AHS 4J 99, AHS 4BG 99, AHS 4H99 and AHS 4I 99.
Four of these teams took to the hardwood last Sunday, January 8, 2012, for a spirited reunion with each other and with the game they love.
In the first game, inside operator Pope Gumabao teamed up with super swingman Bogey Bernardo and slick shooter Angelo Cabalona to score 33 combined points and lead 4E 99 to its maiden win, 68-34, over 4J 99.
This was a keenly-anticipated encounter since both sections used to lord it over the competition in the sportsfests and intramurals of old. Both sections also provided vital cogs to the 1998 Blue Eaglets team – Jing Naynes, Anton Dayrit, Mikki Pinzon, and current PBA player Paolo Bugia all came from 4J, while former Blue Eagle Bajjie Del Rosario, Andrew Araneta, and Justin Abrera came from 4E. It turned out, however, to be a showcase of 4E’s power. Sporting many players who were in great playing condition, the E-boys shot well from the field (46%) while limiting the J-boys to an ice-cold 17% clip. 4E also converted on 7 of its attempts from rainbow country (3 from Cabalona and 2 from Bernardo). Curiously enough, 4J was led by its two reinforcements – former Blue Eaglets Marty Gallego of 4L and Joe Silva of 4F, who is also the current Blue Eaglets head coach. Both players combined for 18 points and 11 rebounds. I’m pretty sure 4J would love nothing more than to bounce back strong in their next game and, possibly, get back at 4E when the second round begins!
The second game featured the hybrid team of 4BG 99 against the solid core of 4H 99. On some level, 4BG was favored since their on-paper roster boasted of big ABL names like smooth operator Yong Gregorio, sharpshooter Kenneth Cordova, bull strong Clint Erestain (Ateneo and San Beda stalwart), and the versatile Joey Puno. 4H, though, wasn’t lacking in talent, as they had the cat-quick Chickoy Antonio, shifty Jomar Go and tough-as-nails Niño Avenido (of Greyhoundz fame) leading the charge. 4BG missed the services of Gregorio in this game, but the void was ably filled by Sandro Paredes, who showed his prowess by making all but one of his shots, including 3 conversions from beyond the arc. Paredes scored 17 points in all, leading 4BG to a big opening day win, 62-32.
It was a truly wonderful experience to rediscover healthy competition amongst one’s batchmates again. It was refreshing to push each other to excel and relive the great memories of times past.
More than these things, though, it’ll probably be the enduring camaraderie and fellowship that will make the first of, hopefully, many editions of the AHS Batch 99 Division absolutely special.
*Reportedly, other sections from AHS Batch 1999 have been forming their own teams, with some imports, for the past few seasons. These are 4D 99 (Fritz Gaston Division) and 4F 99 (a.k.a. Team Respicio in the Dionisio Calvo Division). It would be even better if both these teams, if not all 12 sections, will eventually be represented in the AHS Batch 1999 Divison.
Enzo Flojo teaches English at the Ateneo de Manila High School. He also maintains a sports blog – HoopNut.blogspot.com.
DIVISION SPOTLIGHT: BATCH-SPECIAL DIVISIONS (AHS 1987, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004)
The 2012 season has drawn a record 5 batch-special divisions.
Batch-special divisions are divisions made up primarily of teams whose players all come from the same grade school, high school, and/or college batch. These divisions are a priority of the ABL since fostering camaraderie among batchmates is one of the primary thrusts of the ABL.
The first batch division was established in 2007 by AHS 2003 as seniors in college. The following year, AHS 2001 became the first alumni batch to establish a batch-special division. In that same year, AHS 2004 became the second college batch to establish a batch division.
In 2010, AHS 2000, AHS 2003, and AHS 2004 became the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th alumni batches to establish a batch-special division. AHS 2003 and AHS 2004 became the first two to do it both in college and as alumni.
Last season, AHS 2004 became the first batch to have an alumni batch-special division for at least a second season. They will be the first to do it for a third season this year.
This season, AHS 2003 will become the second batch to have an alumni batch-special division for at least a 2nd season. Along with AHS 2004, they will be joined by first timers AHS 2002, AHS 1999, and AHS 1987.
AHS 1999 and AHS 1987 will be the first to form at least 10 years after graduating from high school. For AHS 1987, the feat is especially remarkable not only because of their age as all players are at least 40 years old, but that it will also serve as their kick-off activity for their 25th year anniversary initiatives.