UAAP Season 77 Preview: Who will pose biggest challenge to Green Archers?
La Salle is heavily favored to win this year’s UAAP Men’s Basketball plum. There is little debate here. The Green Archers have an almost intact line-up plus some promising new reinforcements. They also have the tallest and deepest roster in Season 77. And they have the most dreaded starting five anybody can wish for – Jeron Teng, Almond Vosotros, Jason Perkins, Arnold Van Opstal and Thomas Torres.
Coach Juno Sauler enjoys a solid line-up that hardly any team this year can match up with. Imagine having as back-ups Norbert Torres, Yutien Andrada and the sweet-shooting big forward Matt Salem.
But if you ask the Gang Green, they are mostly excited about their highly touted rookies, especially Fil-Ams Abu Tratter and Julian Sargent. Tratter is a force to reckon with inside the paint with his strength and athleticism while Sargent is a 6’3” wingman with a long-range arsenal. Add to the mix Terrence Mustre, a talented point guard from London and son of former PBA guard Mike Mustre, and former La Salle Greenhills star Prince Rivero. Also coming off the bench are highly skilled guards Kib Montalbo and Robert Bollick.
On paper, it looks like this year will be a walk in the park for the Green Archers.
But in my humble opinion, there are two teams this season that cannot be ignored. I think the FEU Tamaraws and UE Red Warriors will be tough customers for La Salle.
FEU may have lost its dynamic duo of Terrence Romeo and RR Garcia. But Coach Nash Racela’s charges are playing beautiful music together more than ever. What they have right now is an assemblage of workhorses that’s focused on attaining a common goal.
Last year, the Tams swept the First Round and made it to the Final Four only to lose to eventual champion La Salle. This year, despite a less talented roster without Romeo and Garcia, they look more dangerous with guys prepared to work hard and play their respective roles the way Racela wants them to. In the pre-season tournament Fil Oil Cup, the Tams defeated eventual runners-up San Beda Red Lions in the elims, and gave the Archers a scare in the semis despite a clear size disadvantage in both games. Their offense is a marvel to watch with continuous ball movement and quick attacks. Their defense is a nightmare to crack.
FEU’s Achilles heel is its lack of size. Anthony Hargrove will have to double his efforts this year as he is tasked to defend against the UAAP’s mammoths like AVO, Perkins and Charles Mammie. Mark Belo is an undersized big forward but he plays so much bigger than his size. He has improved tremendously and has now become a serious scoring threat. The good news is that Russell Escoto is back after being sidelined last season with a knee injury. He spreads FEU’s offense because of his superb shooting ability.
But the Tams have an abundance of shooters. Leading the charge is Mike Tolomia, the new go-to-guy. He has been remarkable in the pre-season games, coming out with explosive performances. He now takes the spot of Romeo as the team’s main gunner. But Tolomia can be potentially deadlier as he is also an excellent passer. Leaving him wide open for a three-point shot would be a mortal sin.
Carl Cruz and Roger Pogoy will also play key roles this season just like last year. Both can provide the muscle and outside threat.
The Tams, under Racela, have become a disciplined and cohesive unit.
On the other hand, the University of the East will be parading perhaps the scariest tandem of foreign players in the UAAP to date. Mammie was a dominant center last season with unparalleled strength inside the paint. He was a monster off the boards and certainly a beast in the low post. And now, he has a partner. Moustapha Arafat has been impressive in the Fil Oil Cup. He is not a powerhouse like Mammie. But the 6’6” Cameroonian can play multiple positions because of his ball-handling and shooting skills. He is an accurate shooter from mid-range and can even occasionally hit from beyond the arc. He can also dribble penetrate, making him a tough match-up for anybody. Although the two imports cannot play at the same time, UE has that rare luxury of having a dominant player on the floor the entire game. This way too, Mammie can be able to preserve his fouls.
But the Warriors also have remarkable locals. Roi Sumang remains the team’s undisputed take-charge guy. He is, without a doubt, one of the best scorers in the league in the last three seasons. His cat quick drives and lethal jumpers make him a defensive predicament for any squad.
Chris Javier is more than just a back up to Mammie and Arafat. The former San Beda Red Cub is an adept post player with a soft touch from the outside. He has also drilled some game-winning shots for UE in previous seasons.
Gino Jumao-as and Mark Olayon can contribute significant numbers off the bench.
But the Warriors have another potent weapon. During the off-season, UE appointed veteran strategist Derrick Pumaren as new head coach replacing Boyzie Zamar. A former Red Warrior himself, being a member of the back-to-back 1978 and 1979 champion squads, Pumaren is one of the most accomplished local coaches. His patented full-court press has wreaked havoc in the UAAP when he handled the La Salle Green Archers in the 80’s and early 90’s. His brother Dindo, also a former UE head coach, will be assisting him along with ex-PBA player Noynoy Falcasantos.
Expect UE to be a major stumbling block for DLSU.
UST, Ateneo and NU will, of course, be threats as well. But I believe FEU and UE will be more dangerous.
The Growling Tigers still have a competitive roster. With the exit of Jeric Teng, Kevin Ferrer will have the burden of becoming the new leader of the team. The former UAAP Juniors MVP has improved tremendously from last year. He has become an excellent all-around player equipped with a striking long-distance arsenal and post up moves. But Ferrer alone cannot bring UST to the Promise Land.
I think a lot will depend on how Aljon Mariano will perform this year. If Mariano will blow hot and cold like last year, the Tigers will struggle to make the Final Four. But if he shows up like the Aljon of Season 75, they could be in the hunt for the title again this year.
But Teng is a huge loss for UST. He was a leader on the floor and he carried most of the fight for UST last year. Somebody must be able to fill in that role for the Tigers in this campaign.
Of course, Karim Abdul will still be a major factor for the team being the lone legitimate big man. He will have the heavy duty of containing the Mammies and Van Opstals in the league. If only he could play all of 40 minutes with quality, UST will have another crack at the title.
But you see, this is exactly what UST’s problem is – the bench. The Tigers do not have a deep bench. Ferrer, Mariano, Abdul, Ed Daquioag and Sheik Sheriff lack a steady support team. Former high school standouts Renzo Subido from La Salle Zobel and Alfren Gayosa from San Sebastian are notable recruits but they have yet to get used to college ball.
The Tigers will also need time to adjust to newly installed mentor Segundo “Bong” Dela Cruz, who took over from Pido Jarencio only during the summer.
As for former UAAP five-peat titlists Ateneo Blue Eagles, they will remain a decent squad with the “Phenom” Kiefer Ravena and Chris Newsome leading the charge. In fact, I believe they have more talent this year with several topnotch high school recruits. Former NCAA Juniors standout Arvin Tolentino from San Beda and Kiefer’s kid bro Thirdy Ravena are two of the best players coming out of high school. Both are dynamic scorers that can make an immediate impact in their rookie year. Von Pessumal and Nico Elorde will still be around to dip their fingers in the scoring pie.
But the Blue Eagles will have a handicap in the center and point guard positions. Other than ex-Green Archer Pons Gotladera, there really is no other quality post player in the team that can hold his own against the other UAAP behemoths. Elorde will likewise have to play extended minutes on the floor as playmaker as prized recruits Jerie Pingoy and Hubert Cani will still need to sit out one more year.
Coach Bo Perasol will need to draw a lot from his newcomers to have a chance at the Final Four this year.
National University will remain a force to contend with, but it seems the Bulldogs have not been the same without Ray Ray Parks. Nonetheless, the team is still deep in talent and experience with players like Joshua Alolino, Jeth Rosario, Jay Jay Alejandro, Paolo Javelona, Kyle Neypes and Cameroonians Alfred Aroga and Henri Betayene suiting up in Season 77. New addition Rev Diputado, a blue-chip former point guard of the National Youth and San Beda Junior teams, can give major contributions.
But somebody needs to step up as the leader that Parks was last year. The Bulldogs had a so-so performance in the Fil Oil because I thought they lacked a leader on the floor. But if Coach Eric Altamirano can find a suitable leader, NU might just be the dark horse this season.
Like last year, Adamson and UP will most likely remain at the bottom of the standings in Season 77.
The Falcons have an almost completely overhauled squad. Gone are old reliables like Jericho Cruz and Rodney Brondial. First year bench tactician Kenneth Duremdes will have a daunting task of matching up against the more veteran teams with his rookie-laden unit.
Expected to carry most of the scoring load for the Soaring Falcons are Celedon Trollano, Jansen Rios and Ryan Monteclaro. Incoming rookies Jay-Ar Gumtang from San Beda, Alex Barrera from La Salle Greenhills, Ivan Villanueva from Letran and 6’7” Matthew Aquino from Lourdes Mandaluyong all look promising. But they need time to learn the ropes in college basketball.
Duremdes’ deputies are fellow former PBA stars Marlou Aquino and Vince Hizon.
The University of the Philippines may be able to score a win or two this year with an improved line-up. Making another tour of duty for the Fighting Maroons are Mikee Reyes, Henry Asilum, Kyles Lao, Mark Juruena and skipper Joel Gingerich. But it’s first-year player Dave Moralde, a transferee from San Beda, who is expected to lead UP’s offense this year. Also suiting up for UP for the first time are high school recruits Angelo Vito from LSGH and Diego Dario from UPIS.
However, UP does not seem to have somebody to fill in the void left by big man Raul Soyud. Second-year coach Rey Madrid will have another Herculean task this season even as the Maroons are likely to improve on their winless record last year.
The way I see it, La Salle will be tough to unseat this year and has a solid chance of coveting a second straight UAAP title. The battle for the semis slots will also be very interesting with FEU, UE, UST, NU and ADMU all having almost equal chances.
But I have a feeling either the Tams or Warriors will tangle with the Green Archers for this year's crown.
