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| Top left: Can Kiefer Ravena lead Ateneo in its attempt at redemption? Top right: Ryan Monteclaro and Adamson are in rebuilding mode. Bottom left: Gelo Alolino has been thrust into a leader's role for NU. Bottom right: Karim Abdul seeks a return to the UAAP Finals. |
It’s day two of Season 77 of the UAAP and so we
preview the last four teams who’ll take to the hardwood – the Blue Eagles, the
Soaring Falcons, the Bulldogs, and the Growling Tigers!
AdMU BLUE
EAGLES
Last season: Won seven games and finished fifth.
Roster:
Name
|
Height
|
Position
|
APACIBLE, John
|
6’4
|
PF
|
BABILONIA, Gboy
|
6’6
|
C
|
CAPACIO, Gwyne
|
6’3
|
F
|
DOLIGUEZ, Clint
|
6’1
|
G/F
|
ELORDE, Nico
|
5’9
|
PG
|
GOTLADERA, Ponso
|
6’4
|
F/C
|
JAVELOSA, Jay
|
6’5
|
PF
|
LIM, Isaac
|
5’6
|
PG
|
NEWSOME, Chris
|
6’2
|
F
|
PESSUMAL, Von
|
6’2
|
G/F
|
RAVENA, Kiefer
|
6’0
|
G
|
RAVENA, Thirdy
|
6’2
|
G/F
|
TOLENTINO, Arvin
|
6’5
|
F/C
|
TOLENTINO, Vince
|
6’3
|
PF
|
PORTER, Kris
|
6’5
|
PF
|
ASISTIO, Anton
|
5’10
|
G
|
Prognosis:
The climb back to the Final Four will not be a
pleasant one for the once-dominant Blue Eagles of Loyola Heights. This team’s
biggest deficiency last season, a gaping donut hole, is still that – a
deficiency. Not even the entry of marquee rookies Arvin Tolentino, Jay
Javelosa, John Apacible, Clint Doliguez, and Thirdy Ravena could have covered
for that weakness. Gboy Babilonia will probably alternate at the slot with
former Green Archer Ponso Gotladera and maybe even Arvin Tolentino, but, by and
large, that will be the sore spot of coach Bo Perasol for the next fourteen
games.
His backcourt and wing arsenals, however, comprise an
entirely different story. With Kiefer Ravena in the pink of health, the Eagles
should be a threat to anybody they face. Let’s not forget, too, that the Phenom
is one of the fiercest competitors out there. He has more than enough
motivation to try and punch through any defense this season. I mean, he was
part of the squad that missed the Final Four for the first time since 1998.
Deep down, that’s eating at him, and that’s what will drive him to be among the
five best players in the league by season’s end.
Keifer’s not alone in his redemptive campaign,
though. Perennial running mate Von Pessumal is there to be the Pippen to his
Jordan, while veterans Nico Elorde and Gwyne Capacio should provide even
stability. We also must not discount the presence of Chris Newsome, who will
surely want to build on his great debut in Season 76 by being even more of a
threat this year. When all is said and done, Ateneo should have enough to make
a triumphant return to the Final Four.
AdU SOARING
FALCONS
Last season: Finished seventh with only four wins.
Roster:
Name
|
Height
|
Position
|
AQUINO, Matthew
|
6’7
|
C
|
BARRERA, Alexis
|
PF
|
|
BAYTAN, John Kevin
|
6’3
|
PF
|
BUTRON, Harold
|
||
DONAHUE, Francis
|
||
GARCIA, Christian
|
||
GUMTANG, John Ryan
|
||
INIGO, Axel
|
5’6
|
PG
|
MONTECLARO, Ryan
|
5’7
|
PG
|
NALOS, Joseph
|
||
OCHEA, Dawn
|
6’3
|
PF
|
PEDROSA, Jessiery
|
6’1
|
G/F
|
POLICAN, William
|
SG
|
|
RIOS, Jansen
|
6’2
|
SF
|
TROLLANO, Celedonio
|
6’3
|
PF
|
VILLANUEVA, Ivan
|
6’1
|
PF
|
Prognosis:
There’s not much to say about the Soaring Falcons
because, well, there really isn’t much to see here. Sure, there’s Marlou
Aquino’s son and there’s Marlou Aquino himself on the sidelines right beside
former teammate Kenneth Duremdes, but apart from them, there just isn’t much to
compel anybody to watch the San Marcelino five.
I mean, this is an outfit that only has five
holdovers from Season 76 – FIVE!!! Gone are impact players Jericho Cruz, Roider
Cabrera, Ingrid Sewa, and Rodney Brondial. Heck, even role players like Harry
Petilos and Ar-Raouf Julkipli are no longer around. This is both a curse and an
opportunity, of course, but in a league as unforgiving as the UAAP, reality
should be closer to the former.
I don’t even really whom to peg as this team’s main
man. I’m tempted to say it’ll be among veterans Ryan Monteclaro, Jansen Rios,
or Celedonio Trollano, but that would just reveal how dire the situation is for
Adamson even more. It’s THAT crazy.
Still, there are some upstarts who can turn some
heads. Watch out for John Kevin Baytan. He was Chiang Kai Shek’s main muscle
for a couple of seasons before he took a year off in 2013. Now he’s back in
Manila and ready to wage war as a bona fide Falcon. It goes without saying,
too, that 6’7 Matthew Aquino is a prime prospect. His size makes him matter,
but, as far as what I’ve heard, he can also be a potentially solid two-way
center given some ripening. JR Gumtang from San Beda, Dawn Ochea from Cebu, and
burly Ivan Villanueva from Letran are also a few kids who can grow into vital
contributors in the long term. As for the immediate future, however, things
look bleak – like maybe “worse than UP” bleak.
NU BULLDOGS
Last season: Finished as the top seed, but got the boot in the
Final Four.
Roster:
Name
|
Height
|
Position
|
ALEJANDRO, J-Jay
|
6’0
|
SG
|
ALOLINO, Gelo
|
5’11
|
PG
|
ATANGAN, Raph
|
6’1
|
G/F
|
BETAYENE, Henri
|
6’6
|
C
|
CAUILAN, JP
|
6’4
|
PF
|
CELDA, Reden
|
6’0
|
SG
|
DIPUTADO, Rev
|
5’9
|
PG
|
AROGA, Alfred
|
6’6
|
C
|
JAVELONA, Paolo
|
6’0
|
SG
|
KHOBUNTIN, Glenn
|
6’4
|
PF
|
NEYPES, Kyle
|
6’4
|
PF
|
PEREZ, Tristan
|
6’4
|
PF
|
ROSARIO, Troy
|
6’7
|
C
|
SALIM, Med
|
6’3
|
SF
|
TANSINGCO, Raplh
|
6’1
|
F
|
YU, Dave
|
6’2
|
SF
|
Prognosis:
The two biggest missing pieces from this roster are,
of course, Ray Parks and Emmanuel Mbe. That’s about 33 points and 13 rebounds
right there. In addition, impact guys like Denice Villamor and Robin Roño are
also no longer eligible, while top power forward Jeoff Javillonar will sit out
the whole season due to a torn ACL. In short, much like Adamson, this NU team
is clubbed and crippler.
Unlike the Falcons, however, these Bulldogs still
pack quite a bite, especially since they have a bumper crop of newcomers ready
and able to contribute from Day 1. J-Jay Alejandro is not a newcomer, but he’s
just entering his second UAAP season. He will, however, be one of the focal
points on offense for this NU squad. The former Mapua/Malayan Red Robin used to
be the RP-Youth team’s top scorer in international campaigns, and we should
look for him to, perhaps, take a lion’s share of the shots from the wings.
Rookies like JP Cauilan, Rev Diputado, Med Salim, and
Dave Yu should also be good enough to see action and light up the board. Cauilan
and Salim, in particular, are two kids worth keeping tabs on. Both have good
size and possess great skill-sets. Cauilan is listed as a PF, but he showed a
lot of wingman skills in his days as a Bullpup. Salim, too, has great size for
his position, and he was one of Chiang Kai Shek’s main men in the Tiong Lian
wars.
By and large, though, the fortunes of coach Eric
Altamirano’s crew is hinged on the performances of veterans Gelo Alolino, Glenn
Khobuntin, Kyle Neypes, and Alfred Aroga. If those guys can consistently put up
solid numbers and help their young guys develop, then maybe NU can return to
the Final Four, but, if not, then the Bulldogs have a strong chance of missing
the bus this season.
UST
GROWLING TIGERS
Last season: Squandered a 15-point second half lead in Game 3 of
the Finals and lost in OT.
Roster:
Name
|
Height
|
Position
|
ABDUL, Karim
|
6’6
|
C
|
BASIBAS, Regie
|
6’3
|
F
|
DAQUIOAG, Ed
|
6’0
|
G
|
DELA CRUZ, Levi
|
5’9
|
PG
|
FAUNDO, Jeepy
|
6’6
|
C
|
FERRER, Kevin
|
6’4
|
SF
|
GAYOSA, Alfren
|
6’2
|
F
|
LAO, Kent
|
6’4
|
PF
|
LO, Kim
|
6’1
|
SF
|
MACASAET, Joco
|
6’3
|
PF
|
MARIANO, Aljon
|
6’3
|
PF
|
PE, Paulo
|
6’4
|
C
|
SABLAN, Raymart
|
6’4
|
PF
|
SHERIFF, Sheak
|
5’7
|
PG
|
SUBIDO, Renzo
|
5’9
|
PG
|
VIGIL, Louie
|
6’2
|
G/F
|
Prognosis:
Despite losing Jeric Teng and Tata Bautista, this is
still a team with plenty of talent and a lot of experience. In short, UST
should still be a contender this season. I mean, coach Bong Dela Cruz can still
churn out a starting unit composed of Karim Abdul, Aljon Mariano, Kevin Ferrer,
Ed Daquioag, and Sheak Sheriff. That’s solid. And then coming off the pine?
Paulo Pe, Kim Lo, Louie Vigil, and rookie Renzo Subido. Not too shabby.
I suspect Abdul will have another big season, and I wouldn’t
be the least bit shocked if he norms a near-double-double again. I just hope he’s
worked on his FT shooting (under 65% last season) and his taking care of the
ball (3.2 turnovers last season). Mariano and Ferrer should pair up to form
maybe the most dynamic forward duo in the league (Jason Perkins and Jeron Teng
might have something to say about that, though), and, well, I’m sure Mariano is
itching to make up for his boo-boos in the Season 76 Finals.
The critical thing here will be the backcourt. Can
either Daquioag or Sheriff blossom into the kind of floor general who can
provide stability on both ends like Jeric Fortuna once did? Both guys had
flashes of brilliance last year, but they were far from consistent. The entry
of Subido is also timely, and he might just be what the doctor ordered. Subido
is a prime scorer in the mold of a Roi Sumang, but under the proper tutelage,
he might just be this team’s #1 choice at PG as early as the middle of Season
77.
Don’t sleep on UST’s other young ‘uns, too. Former
Staglet Joco Macasaet should have a bigger role in his sophomore season, while
former UPIS Junior Maroon Raymart Sablan can turn some heads with his
rebounding and defensive prowess.
After everything, UST should be a shoo-in for the
Final Four, but they’ll need to muster something special to return to the
Finals and challenge for the crown anew.
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