FIRST WIN . The Ateneo Blue Eagles opened Season 75 with a 73-57 win against the Adamson Soaring Falcons on July 15. Photo by Abram P. Barrameda
IF THE preseason is to be any indication of what lies ahead this coming UAAP Season 75, then the Ateneo Blue Eagles are facing a daunting road to a fifth title. In fact, the fight to make it to this season’s Final Four may be the most difficult yet.
Just a year ago, the National University Bulldogs (NU) and the De La Salle Green Archers, the top two teams of the 2012 FilOil Flying V Preseason Hanes Cup, finished at the wrong end of the ranks. The sudden resurgence of these teams has proved one thing: the other teams are improving and may just have matched—if not surpassed—Ateneo’s caliber.
Given that competition looks to be very stiff this season, which teams are most likely to have a strong claim for the title?
Two-man Tamaraws
The Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws were last season’s first runner-up and have always been a force to be reckoned with. This year, however, it seems like the odds are against them.
Veterans RR Garcia and Terrence Romeo have been FEU’s one-two punch over the past three years and remain to be FEU’s go-to men this season. This is exactly where the Tamaraws’ weakness lies: when one underperforms, the team pays for it. Stop the two, stop the Tamaraws—this was precisely what Ateneo did in last year’s finals.
The Green and Yellow’s bench, however, is not as formidable as it once was. The only other key returnees are Russell Escoto, Mark Bringas and Chris Tolomia. Prized center Anthony Hargrove will aid the Tamaraws with his dominant post presence. Meanwhile, center Christian Sentcheu’s effectiveness is dubious.
Essentially, FEU is considered a contender as long as the starters play like a well-oiled machine. Otherwise, they are prone to implode just as they did in last year’s finals.
Rekindling the animo
After a disheartening Season 74 campaign, the De La Salle Green Archers did some management changes. They are now endowed with new coaches, and a fresh perspective revolving around one main idea: bringing back the “animo.”
Despite being touted to have one of the deepest benches last season, the Archers were unable to pull the right strings. New head coach and former Green Archer Gelacio “Gee” Abanilla will employ a new system for the Archers this year. “I believe in a balanced attack and I put premium on defense,” said Abanilla in an exclusive interview with the Philippine Star. “I want to maximize the talents that I have and put the players in a position to succeed.”
Additionally, center coach, three-time UAAP MVP and former Green Archer Jun Limpot has revitalized DLSU’s post-game. The preseason performances of Norbert Torres, Alfonso Gotladera and Papot Paredes showed drastic signs of improvement. Torres, in particular, showed an improved game as he barreled through the FilOil with double-double performances. With the return of Arnold van Opstal to the fold, the Torres–van Opstal combo sounds potentially deadly.
La Salle’s backcourt is gifted with the likes of LA Revilla, Luigi dela Paz, Almond Vosotros and star rookie Jeron Teng, who Abanilla hailed as a “very talented player who has a great attitude.” For chance to win this season, it boils down to La Salle choosing the right guard combinations.
While the Archers have the skill, some will point out that they lack experience. Nevertheless, Ateneo’s archrivals are done playing second fiddle. “Coming from the horse’s mouth,” declared team manager Raffy Villavicencio, “La Salle will perform better than last year.”
Brand new Bulldogs
Gone are the days when NU was the squad who finished in the bottom four. Labeled by many as the team to beat this season, the NU Bulldogs demonstrated their strength by clinching the FilOil title with a spotless record.
The reason for the Bulldogs’ rise is simple: Bobby Ray Parks, arguably the best player in the UAAP. After bagging the Most Valuable Player accolade in his rookie year, the 6’4’’ shooting guard brings an unstoppable style of play: effective handling, potent shooting and powerful driving. Racking up 20 points per game last season, he is central to the NU winning machine.
Aside from Parks, the Sampaloc-based squad can also boast of players who can do considerable damage. Senior Emmanuel Mbe has once again become a dominating force. Forwards Jeoffrey Javillonar and Dennice Villamor provide additional firepower. Another boost is NU’s outside shooting, which played a big role in the 85-68 thrashing of Ateneo during the FilOil tournament.
In the preseason, Parks was not the only player in double-digits; two or more players were as well. “Their offense is very fluid,” said Blue Eagles Head Coach Norman Black after their encounter. He then added that the Bulldogs’ defense has been strong in recent years, but this year differs because scoring has been more distributed among them.
On his second year as head coach, Eric Altamirano has turned things around for NU. If the Bulldogs maintain or build on their preseason form, they are certain to have high chances of winning the title.
One Big Five
Despite the competition, the Ateneo Blue Eagles are still the reigning four-peat champions.
While the team continues to have an intact core, though, the exodus of Emman Monfort, Kirk Long and Bacon Austria are deeply felt on the defensive end. Meanwhile, the return of Ryan Buenafe brings in another offensive threat for Ateneo. “Once we get him in shape, I’m sure he’s better than any freshman in the UAAP,” Black said during the summer.
“We have to make sure we stay healthy,” said Kiefer Ravena, when asked about what was key to winning this year. Another factor would be the Blue Eagles’ commitment to playing unselfish basketball, which was how they bested FEU and San Beda in the preseason.
Surprises lurk around the corner as the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers and the Adamson Falcons promise to be this year’s dark horses. Indeed, this season will be an entirely different ballgame as compared to the previous turnouts.
While many believe that a preseason performance foreshadows the regular season, one can only speculate to a certain extent. Since form is temporary and can change drastically—especially if a team peaks too early—it is not impossible for a sudden boost in team performance.
Sustaining such a high-level of potential throughout the UAAP season, however, is an entirely different thing. Still, while nothing is certain as to how this season will pan out, the Blue Eagles are definitely bringing their game for one big fight.
