Andrew Pamorada | FCF File Photo
De La Salle University is poised and favored to defend its men’s basketball crown, as the 77th University Athletic Association of the Philippines season — hosted by University of the East — opens shop on Saturday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
On paper, their lineup’s depth has made them the clear favorites to win it all and this thought echoes in the coaching seats in the entire league. However, second year Green Archers head coach Juno Sauler was quick to rebuff any of their remarks.
“Our team doesn’t focus much on the expectations of the other people. We just take it one game at a time and we hope to see improvements in each of the games that we are going to play,” said Sauler, who with other UAAP coaches graced the pre-tournament press conference at Gloria Maris Gateway on Monday.
Head Coach Eric Altamirano of National University said that their primary goal is to make it to the final four and from then on, they will take it one game at a time. The team will miss the services of former two-time UAAP Season most valuable player Bobby Ray Parks, Jr., who migrated to the United States in a failed bid to be among those selected in this year’s NBA Draft.
Altamirano added that despite the departure of the versatile 6-foot-4 forward, the team’s core of promising young players — including blue chip recruits Rev Diputado and Mohamma Al-Yusouf Salim — which, given time to adapt to the National University’s system will surely take the league by storm.
Far Eastern University Coach Nash Racela said that the departure of some of the key players in last year’s final four team has hurt the team’s competitiveness coming into UAAP Season 77. The Tams, which fell in the Final Four to eventual champion De La Salle, lost star guards, Season 76 MVP Terrence Romeo and RR Garcia along with their imposing bigman, Christopher Sentcheu.
University of the East made a big splash in the off-season with the return of the seasoned coach Derrick Pumaren on the sideline. The season’s hosts will rely once again on the likes of ex-San Sebastian Staglet Gino Jumao-as, guard Roi Sumang, Chris Javier and Sierra Leone native Charles Mammie, together with a plethora of newcomers in forward Zyron Cudal, RR De Leon, and Cameroonian center Arafat Moustapha.
University of the Philippines, which is currently competing in a pocket tournament in Taiwan, will implement a “small-ball” system under newly installed head coach Rey Madrid, mainly because of their size disadvantage against other teams.
Last season, the Fighting Maroons, which went winless for the third time in the last seven seasons, went through a topsy-turvy campaign with the sudden resignation of Ricky Dandan midway through the season, and was eventually replaced by Madrid on an interim basis.
This season, the likes of Henry Asilum, Mo Gingerich, Andrew Harris, Martin Pascual, last season’s rookie of the year Kyles Lao, and the returning Mikee Reyes will have to blend in with newcomers Diego Dario, Jarrell Lim, Carlos Escalambre, Gelo Vito, and ex-San Beda Red Lion Dave Moralde to form the team’s core this season.
Mystery teams Ateneo, Adamson, UST set to be unveiled
Among the mysteries during the summer was Ateneo de Manila, which did not compete in the summer leagues in the country, but instead chose to hold training camps in Las Vegas and compete in tournaments in Japan and Korea, according to assistant coach Yuri Escueta.
“We focused on jelling the rookies with the veterans, building team chemistry. The team went to Las Vegas, had games in Japan, and just left for Korea for a training camp. What we tried to do was to build team chemistry, so that’s why we chose not to compete in the local summer league,” said Escueta.
The Blue Eagles, which ended their run of five straight championships after missing the Final Four bus last season, will rely on veterans Nico Elorde, Chris Newsome, Von Pessumal, and Kiefer Ravena, together with top recruits Clint Doliguez, Arvin Tolentino, Jay Javelosa, and Thirdy Ravena with ex-Green Archer Fonso Gotladera as part of their rotation.
University of Santo Tomas, which also begged off from the summer tournaments, looks to return to the finals for the third consecutive year, this time under the guidance of Bong De La Cruz.
“We expect to be competitive in both ends of the floor. But, we will focus more on defense. Renz Subido will be of huge help, especially with the departure of Jeric Teng. He will be a good point guard for the Tigers this season,” said De La Cruz, the the newly-minted Head Coach of the Sampaloc-based squad.
The Growling Tigers, led by Kevin Ferrer, Karim Abdul, Eduardo Daquioag, Paulo Pe, and Aljon Mariano, the team will also welcome Alfren Gayosa, Subido, and the returning Louie Vigil in the fold.
Also, Adamson University kept mum on their plans this upcoming season under former King Falcon Kenneth Duremdes.
Despite losing Jericho Cruz, who decided to forego his final year of eligibility in favor of signing up for this year’s pro draft, the Soaring Falcons will still have the likes of Axel Iñigo, Ryan Monteclaro, Jansen Rios, and Don Trollano to guide newcomers Alexis Barrera, Francis Donahue, Harold Butron, Dawn Ochea, Ivan Villanueva, and Matthew Aquino, son of ex-Falcon Marlou Aquino.
Duremdes added that the young Aquino needs to toughen up as he will bang bodies in the post against the likes of UE’s Mammie, UST’s Abdul and the vastly improved Arnold van Opstal of De La Salle.
On opening day, UE will clash with UP Fighting Maroons in the first game at 2:00 pm, while De La Salle and FEU will square off in a rematch of last year’s Final Four at 4:00 pm. The league’s opening rites will begin at 12:00 noon.
