FEU denies firing Capacio

MANILA, Philippines - FEU team owner Anton Montinola yesterday debunked rumors that Glenn Capacio was sacked at halftime of Game 2 of the UAAP senior men’s basketball finals against Ateneo and said Dr. Mikey Bengzon advised the Tamaraws coach to go to the hospital after a 150-100 reading of his blood pressure in the dugout.

“It was a high-pressure, high-intensity atmosphere,” said Montinola of last Thursday’s game which the Blue Eagles won, 65-62, to clinch the title at the Araneta Coliseum. “Glenn was dizzy. We didn’t want to risk him suffering a stroke in the middle of the game. It would’ve been in FEU’s collective conscience if we had let him go on coaching. We couldn’t risk it. Glenn, his family, his kids and his health are of paramount importance. In the end, it’s really just a basketball game. It wasn’t worth the risk of maybe, Glenn suffering a stroke and being a vegetable.”

Montinola said Dr. Bengzon, whose father Dr. Alfredo was a former Secretary of Health, recommended sending Capacio immediately to Medical City for tests. After the game, Montinola visited Capacio and made sure he was cared for. Capacio was discharged from the hospital the other day.

Game 2 was a thriller as FEU, its back against the wall, surged to an early 11-point lead but led by only a point at the half. The Tamaraws were embarrassed in Game 1 and lost by 23, 72-49.

“The loss was painful and very disappointing,” said Montinola. “We were up by 11 then the referees started, you know. There was the double block on (Ryan) Buenafe with the referee, who was not in the right position, calling a foul. Then there were the illegal picks. The long and short of it was we led by just one at the turn. The stats showed a big disparity in fouls called and uncalled. It took a toll on Glenn.”

But Montinola gave credit where it was due. “You can’t blame our defense for allowing Buenafe to shoot the killer three with 22 seconds left,” continued Montinola. “He’s a seven percent three point shooter. He took it and made it. Overall, Ateneo won with team defense. I don’t know if we were overconfident, like we had a glad-to-be-in-the-finals mindset. Maybe, it would’ve been better for us to have lost to Ateneo in the second round. But we did well in coming back to beat La Salle in overtime in the semis – that showed our character.”

Montinola said throughout the season, FEU played only two horrendous quarters – the fourth in the 80-66 loss to La Salle and the first in the 72-49 defeat to Ateneo.

“Game 1 of the finals was over in a flash, in the first five minutes when we got hit by an uppercut,” said Montinola. “It was fastbreak after fastbreak, we hurried our shots, our defense collapsed. Our inexperience showed. We lacked focus. But our consolation is we’ve improved in the last three years. In 2008, we were No. 3 in the Final Four and lost to La Salle in the semifinals by five. That was the season when Mac Baracael was shot. In 2009, we were No. 2 in the Final Four and lost to UE despite a twice to beat advantage. That was highlighted by the Mark Barroca fiasco. And this season, we were No. 1 in the Final Four. I recall in 2003, Ateneo was No. 1 and we were No. 2 in the Final Four. We swept Ateneo in the finals. So I guess they just returned the favor.”

Montinola said no decision has been made as to the coaching staff for next season but in the coming Uni-Games in Dumaguete, the Tamaraws will be piloted by Richie Ticzon, Bert Flores and Mike Oliver. “It’s still too early to decide,” said Montinola. “We’ll start with our coaching staff for the Uni-Games then we’ll go from there.”

Montinola said nobody can ever be sure of a team’s chances in the UAAP. “It’s not how you start but how you finish,” he said. “The key is to peak in the end. That’s how to win in the UAAP. And I’m very happy for Norman Black who has found success in his new career as a college coach. I call him the Philippines’ Mike Krzyzewski.”

Next season, Montinola said he expects FEU to be more competitive, bringing back its entire lineup except for Paul Sanga and welcoming five rookies, including Mike Tolomia and Russell Escoto from Eric Altamirano’s Philippine under-18 squad. Returning to the fold are league MVP R. R. Garcia, Rookie of the Year Terrence Romeo, center Reil Cervantes, Aldrech Ramos and J. R. Cawaling of Smart Gilas and Cameroon center Pipo Noundou.

“This year’s overachievers were Ateneo and La Salle,” said Montinola. “It was a great start for (La Salle coach) Dindo Pumaren. I expect both to be stronger next season with Greg Slaughter, Gwynne Capacio, Von Passumal and Kiefer Ravena joining Ateneo and Norbert Torres and Arnold Von Opstal joining La Salle. The other teams will also be stronger, particularly NU, Adamson and UE.”

Joaquin Henson, Philippine Star