Basketball Diaries

From a sport started by young college men to become the world’s second most popular team game (most popular sports locally), basketball has come a long way. In every street corner, you can see boys and girls of all ages playing basketball.

West Negros University is not an exemption to that fever. The schools has created a splendid history of the said sport – the WNC Mustangs. They are revered by the school, as it constantly gives West Negros College pride and honour since its beginnings up to now.

They were subject of most news articles but it focused on their winnings rather than its origins. Here is a peek on the Mustang’s colourful history.

Have you ever wondered why they are called the “Mustangs”?

According to Mr. Anthony A. Agustin (Director, Sports Office) “Mustang is a top of the line sports car by General Motors, whose exquisite line (Mustang) and fine performance is of par excellence with a breed of horse known for its strength and beauty.”

The team was conceived in the year 1970 under the administration of Mrs. Delia A. Espino and later Atty. Alex D. Espino with its first instructor Coach Romulo V. Estribillo. Ely Henrida, Romel Melacoton, Augosto Sobreano, Romeo Lopez, Jimmy Ortiz, Ely Yanson, Sam Penabeiz, Angel Arroyo, Nestor Talagon, Fernando Alejandro, Jolian Redonio, Jayme Nobleda, Dan Celis and Primitivo compose the original team.

The team’s first involvement was in 1970 to 1971 in the Negros Amateur Athletic Association (NAAA) followed by Negros Occidental College Athletics Association (NOCAA). When NAAA was suspended during the Martial Law rule, Negros Occidental Private School Sports, Cultural, and Educational Association (NOPSSCEA) was born. NOPSSCEA merely the refinement of NAAA.

Mustang’s first bagged the championship in 1972 in NAAA and reigned supreme up to 1980 with 8 NOCAA titles. Mr. Agustin considered the 19 and last National PRISSA on March 12-18, 1972 held at WNC gym as their most remarkable winning moment.

The WNU Mustangs continued their winning streak. In 1998, under Coach Elvis Atinado they provided evidence to our country that they are the paramount team when they seized the championships in the Palarong Pambansa. The winning form did not stop there. They were also recognized as champions in the 2005 UniGames.

In the concluded Intercollegiate Basketball Championship held in Bicol last February 27 – March 2, 2006 they won over the well known Perpetual Altas in the semis and went head-to-head with National University Bulldogs in the finals. In the end, they were emphasized as champions with a great game showed by point guard Ely Olarte (jersey #5) and shooter Vengie Vergara (jersey #11 and the MVP of the said game). “We are very proud that we have come this far… I think this is not just a one man game that brought us up to the pedestal but it’s the fire to win and the unity among us is the key,” said by team captain Stanley Tizon (jersey #7). Mustangs have acclaimed themselves as the Kings of Hard court in the NOPSSCEA for seven consecutive years now.

The team and the players have proved their ability not only locally but also excelled in national level as well. Proofs of this statement are the players who have reached the professional national leagues. The players who have reached the PBL (Philippine Basketball League) are Mark Moreno playing with Happee Toothpaste in Maharlika Cup ’02, and was named as the PBL’s “Rookie of the Year” in the same year, and Michael Mustre who played on Chowking.

Players of the Mustangs are undeniably talented that they are recruited in the PBA (Philippine Basketball Association). Among the players where Ely Henrida played for 7-up in the old MICCA (later to become PBA), Jayme Nobleda became a PBA star; Philippine Youth Member, Django River (Pepsi Cola), Michael Mustre (San Miguel Beermen), Yves Dignadice (San Miguel Beermen). Another is Richard Mendoza, a Philippine Team member that regained ABC title under Ron Jacob.

With all these unblemished trophies and indisputable fame, Mr. Agustin has this to say, “Training is by itself a combination of motivation, discipline, hard work, high sense of moral values, skills, development of strength, mental process and logistical support, the absence of any one factor can spell difference of success and failure.” In all their games, the team considered all the opposing teams as threat and no game is won until the last whistle is blown at the end of the game.

The team is now with their new head coach, Coach Dennis Tumayan. Coach Tumayan graduated in West Negros College with a course of B.S. Accountancy in the year 1999. He was also a Mustang in his college years, from 1994-95 and 1998-99. This 30-year old coach was also the head coach of WNU-HS and the Assistant of Coach Elvis Atinado (now the GYM Coordinator) last 2002.

“It’s a little harder right now to coach the team because I need to adjust with them… before I treated them as one of my buddies because I was an assistant coach but now it’s a different story”. Now he’s putting a barrier between him and the players in order to gain respect from them. With his own style of coaching he said that he would do his best for the team to continue what the past coaches have started that brought the team to the championship.

“We don’t have to change the style of the game, we only add new drills especially on ball handling,” said by the new Assistant Coach Joebert Pastias (also a former Mustang).

The new coaching staffs face concerns as two experienced centers, Baclao and Abaring are now out of the team to cuddle a wider opportunity in basketball. Baclao is now training in Ateneo De Manila Blue (ADMU) Eagle for the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) next year. Abaring is in Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws for the same purpose. Now, the team will have to focus on training the new players in its offense, defense and in the field of ball transition. Adjustment on the new style of ball handling was given emphasis by Coach Tumayan. The team is now preparing for the upcoming NOPSSCEA, driven with the fervour of continuing the winning legacy of previous years. Now they are ready to face the rage of their tough competitors like University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos (UNO-R), Collegio de San Agustin-Bacolod (CSA-B), University of Saint La Salle (USLS).