I started writing about way back, filing stories about the UP Fighting Maroons for an old incarnation of Peyups.com. With the new UAAP season opening this Saturday, I unearthed an old article I wrote in 2003, a running diary of the league's opening.

I'm posting it now for a couple of reasons: it's fun to look at how my writing has changed (or hasn't changed) since eight years go, and it fits in well because Ateneo is hosting this season again.

A few more notes:

- I was totally ripping off Bill Simmons in this diary, something I would freely admit, except no one called me out because he wasn't the sportswriting superstar he is today, and not as many people read him back then.

- A couple of interesting figures turn up in the diary: play-by-play guy Jude Turcuato, who was really the first mainstream media person who gave this blog the time of day, and analyst Ryan "The Genius" Gregorio, who needs no introduction to readers of this website. Funny how these things work out.

- The Karl in the article is the owner of Peyups.com; he's now one-half of the famous wedding photography tandem Mimi and Karl.

- While it's not exactly excellent writing, I still enjoyed my gratuitous potshots at Ateneo.

Oh, sorry, *the* Ateneo.

Enjoy.

It's July, ladies and gentlemen, which means it's time once again for Eat Bulaga's annual Little Miss Philippines pageant. Oh, the 66th season of the UAAP is opening too? Wow.

It's an interesting new season for the league, as we head into the competitions with a few burning questions like. Will the Ateneo Blue Eagles retain their UAAP Men's Basketball championship? If the UE Red Warriors and the FEU Tamaraws meet in the championship like they're expected to, will Studio 23 still throw a pricey rave party at the Araneta Center, or will they just rent out the April "Boy" Regino music center? And if one of those teams win the championship, will we see guys like Arnold Booker or Mark Isip appearing on ABS-CBN shows?

(By the way, the answer to the first burning question, whether the Eagles will repeat as champs, is "I sure hope not." I mean, we all thought the DLSU basketball fans were bad when they were champs, but the Ateneo basketball fans have been as intolerable and annoying as LA Tenorio's smirk.)

The UAAP opening ceremonies comes to us live from the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City. Our boss Karl also makes appearances through text, courtesy of his boss, Mimi. Let's get it on:

- The Studio 23 slogan for their UAAP coverage is "We make it look good" which sounds like they stole it from Kikay Machine. Apparently, they chose that because their original idea, "Ganda ng lola mo noh?" was already taken.

(By the way, Kikay Machine is a show all about kikay stuff on the channel Juice. Uhm, not that I watch that show regularly or anything.)

- The ceremonies open with the national anthem and an invocation led by the Ateneo Glee Club. They sing "The Warrior Is a Child" which prompts Karl to send his first message, "Uy, Rico Yan!" But I promised not to make any Rico Yan jokes anymore, even when Joseph Yeo, erstwhile president of the Rico Yan fans club, is involved. But that's only because Yeo is now the president of the F4 fans club, DLSU chapter.

- After the invocation, we're treated to the usual production numbers. Which reminds me, I attended a dance concert earlier this year. Yes, it was a concert where we just sat there and watched people dance, and no, unfortunately, the event did not involve the words "floor show" and "cover charge". So I guess my question is, does that disqualify me from whining about all these dance numbers?

- Karl sends his second text message of the afternoon, as clowns make appearances on the court, "Kelan lalabas si Kuya Germs?"

- Street dance performers take to the court, and a rapper guy comes out to cap it all off. Maybe this Ateneo rapper guy can rap, but the question is: Can Ateneans Rap Like Old School?

- Karl seems to be on fire, as he sends me his third text message of the afternoon, saying the Ateneo CADS ripped off their moves from that same dance concert I was talking about earlier. Yep, he was there too, and he actually remembers the moves. Go ask him about the Angela-Regine incident from a few months ago, and he'll probably give you a blow-by-blow account of the showdown.

- We see people hanging from pieces of cloth hanging from the rafters. I think I saw this once on Eat Bulaga.

- They present the mascots for each team. I was surprised to find out that we've dumped the Oblation for UP's new mascot, Grimace.

- The mascot parade is finally over, and they introduce to us the members of the UAAP board. Huge pops from the UP gallery for our representative, Dr. Emerlinda Roman. UP fans are so sad; we don't really have a lot to cheer for in the basketball team, so we've taken to cheering for our UAAP board representatives.

- The priest from Ateneo (oh, excuse me, *the* Ateneo) gives a speech, before joining UAAP board chairman Jun Capistrano (also from the Ateneo) to award last year's overall championship to the University of Santo Tomas. I wish life were a lot more like professional wrestling. Then, during the awarding, Capistrano could take the trophy from the UST representative and bash her in the head with it, as the announcers scream, "Good God almighty! Has Jun Capistrano lost his mind?! This is not right, dammit! THIS IS NOT RIGHT!!!" Then the Ateneo guys could declare that they're not satisfied with just the basketball championship, they want the overall title too. They could then tell every other contender "Don't sing it, bring it!" before exchanging high fives as the Ateneo music blares in the background.

- Mikee Cojuangco gives a speech. I almost fall asleep, but fortunately, I was able to cut a wound on my left arm and sprinkle some calamansi on it. Leave it to the organizers from the Ateneo to book someone like Mikee Cojuangco when everyone would really like to see something like, say, the Viva Hot Babes.

- Mikee's speech mercifully ends, and now we have the parade of athletes. When the Maroons take the court, the announcer says that this may be the year that UP regains its lost glory. Yes, in the cheerdance competition.

- Wesley Gonzales leads the Oath of Sportsmanship for the athletes. Unbelievable. This guy talks more smack during games than any other player in the UAAP. Making him lead the Oath of Sportsmanship is like asking Rosanna Roces lead the Oath of Virginity.

- We take a short commercial break, and when we come back, we are happily greeted by the lovely Patty Laurel, who proceeds to conduct the most Ateneo-centric interview with Mr. Capistrano.

- Mr. Capistrano tells us about the preparations of his school for the UAAP, and tells us that it's the school they choose, and that they rock, and that everyone else sucks. Mr. Capistrano also announces that they are requiring their students to attend their games against UE, FEU, Adamson, and NU as part of their "immersion" program.

- Patty finally gets Mr. Capistrano to stop talking, and tells us that the next video we're about to see is from the pep rallies from the UAAP schools. She adds that this video peaked at no. 2 on the charts last weekend. They show us the video, as her producers scream, "UAAP! This is the UAAP! You won't be taping for MTV until later."

- After the video, we see Patty again, and once more, she introduces the next video, this time of players and cheerdancers. After the montage, Patty tells us that she's getting the hell out of there. She tries to make it easy on us by saying she'll just be watching the UP Fighting Maroons vs. NU Bulldogs game, but we all know she's blowing us off for some MTV taping.

- We go to a commercial break, and Kaboom! The UAAP hasn't started until we see Jude Turcuato's mug. He says his usual spiel before introducing his broadcast partner...

- ...AND HOLY MOTHER OF GOD! It's former UP coach Ryan Gregorio. Doesn't he also coach Purefoods? No wonder that team sucks, their coach is out here calling college basketball games.

- The two discuss the teams. Ryan sounds happy pointing out that former King Maroon Mike Bravo is no longer in the lineup. Ryan tells Jude that UP is building a new gymnasium from all the bricks Bravo put up as a player for the Fighting Maroons.

- The game tips off, and UP races off to a 4-0 lead, courtesy of two assists from Toti Almeda, the player who replaced Bravo in the starting lineup. Almeda's two assists is also one shy of Bravo's five-year career assists total.

- The game goes back and forth, and the score is tied at 10-all when the new UP courtside reporter makes an appearance. She's ok, although she's not really exactly drop-dead gorgeous. Meanwhile, male UP fans everywhere are disappointed.

- After a UP timeout, the NU courtside guy makes his first report... and it's none other than former Bulldog Jeff Napa, who was so nervous that his mic was visibly shaking on camera. Seriously, I don't even have a joke here. This is a landmark in Philippine television history, just like last Tuesday's "Kool Ka Lang" episode where Joey Marquez and Philip Salvador dueled over a kris.

- The comebacking Robson Bornancin enters the game for UP, with a new look complete with cornrows. Is it wrong for me to hope that he takes this whole cornrow thing to another level, like maybe he could start hanging out with Salbakuta, then release a record under Dongalo Wreckords, and then give himself a "cool" nickname like Madskillz? Ok, I'll just settle for him not spiking the ball.

- Another comebacking player, Kenneth Robin, enters the game for the Maroons. I've been secretly praying for Robin to become a superstar in the UAAP, not only for the sake of the basketball team, but also so that I could start calling him "Baby Ama". Seriously, would anyone be against this? We could even start chanting "Baby Ama! Baby Ama!" when he enters the game, like those inmates did in those "Anak ni Baby Ama" movies. We could take it even further and start calling him "Hari ng Selda". The only thing holding back all of these is the fact that, well, right now, he kinda sucks.

- The Maroons go off on a furious 7-1 run to end the quarter, as I take a bathroom break. UP 25, NU 18.

- The 2nd quarter starts, and the teams play some basketball. Nothing special really happens, except for another appearance by Jeff Napa. Let's just say I'll be trying to watch as many NU games as possible this year. We go to a time out, as UP leads, 27-23

- More basketball, but no more Jeff Napa. NU cuts the lead to 2, before they mercifully call a timeout. UP 31, NU 29.

- We come back from the break, as UP freshman point guard Marvin Cruz gets stripped so many times in the backcourt that when he goes back to the bench, he only has his jock strap on. UP couldn't stop the bleeding though, as NU takes a 6-point lead at the half. Nu 41, UP 35.

- Halftime break. Jeff Napa introduces the segment. This is turning out to be the most perversely-entertaining viewing experience on TV since George Estregan, Jr. tried out being a newscaster on IBC a few years ago.

- The UP courtside reporter, Michelle, closes the segment. She has nice teeth.

- The 3rd quarter starts, as we see Robin wearing a different headband to start the half. Yeah, like that has any effect on his game.

- The Bulldogs come out firing, as the Maroons get their asses handed to them. A little-known forward, Nestor David, decides, what the heck, he'll carry the Fighting Maroons on his shoulders and courageously takes on the whole NU team by himself.

- The players play, while we see a shot of Mike Bravo in the crowd. Ryan tells us he misses Bravo and openly weeps, which leads us to an NU timeout. NU 47, UP 39.

- The game turns sloppy and boring, as Jude doesn't even scream "Kaboom!" on three-pointers anymore. Meanwhile, Ryan is openly rooting for UP.

- More good things from David, as he does everything on the court for UP and single-handedly keeps UP in the game. The announcers tell us that after the game, David will be staying in the arena to help clean up. He works that hard.

- Jino Ferrer ends the third quarter with a running buzzer-beater from 25 feet out that caps an 8-0 UP run anchored by David. The basket cuts the NU lead to 1. NU 57, UP 56.

- The 4th quarter starts, and David continues to carry UP. The game gets exciting, as the see-saw match gets Jude to start screaming "Kaboom!" on three-pointers once again. Meanwhile, Ryan sounds like he's about to have a stroke on each UP possession.

- I'm so into the game that I don't even bother to make fun of Jeff Napa at this point. The game is tied at 65 for the longest time, as UP center Jay-R Reyes blocks a few shots on one end while Marvin Cruz gets stripped some more by the NU guards.

- NU unleashes a killer 7-0 run capped by a Froilan Baguion 3-pointer, with a little more than a minute remaining in the game. "Kaboom!" goes Jude, as UP coach Lito Vergara calls a timeout. NU 72, UP 65.

- UP shows its fighting heart by scoring five straight points to cut the lead to two with 34 seconds remaining. NU 72, UP 70.

- All UP needs is one stop, and they force Baguion to throw up a wild shot over the outstretched arms of Reyes. However, the Maroons fail to box out NU's Bryan Tolentino underneath the basket, and he lays it in to give the Bulldogs a more comfortable 4-point lead with 12 seconds left. NU 74, UP 70.

- UP misses on their final attempt, and NU runs out the ball to win the game.

Final score: NU 74, UP 70

So what do I think of this year's Maroons? Well, we're going to be championship contenders. In a couple of years. We have a really promising young core led sophomore Jay-R Reyes and freshman Marvin Cruz, but we're not going to win much with them this year, as Jay-R continues to be pushed around by scrubs, and Marvin continues to look lost on the court (maybe he misses Jolina). Looking at the direction of the basketball program, we'll be ok. But this year is going to be really painful.

On that note, like Ryan Gregorio, I'm going to miss Mike Bravo. He's the player we all love to hate, but he's also the one guy we had who could get hot enough that he could carry the team to victory against heavyweights like Ateneo and La Salle, or at least give the coaches of those teams cardiac arrest. Sure, teams with Mike Bravo as the star can never win a UAAP championship, but they made for very entertaining basketball games for fans of the UP Fighting Maroons. We never were quite good enough to contend for the championship, but we were good enough to win against the very best teams on our lucky days.