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UAAP 82 BASKETBALL PRE-SEASON POWER RANKINGS: AN ATENEO-UP REMATCH?

by Pocholo D. Hermoso / 12 September 2019

(Photo courtesy of Rappler)

With the UAAP season now with us, our collective excitement – and maybe stress? – is greatly aggravated.  But along with these sentiments come expectations for the teams we’re rooting for.  Which teams will make the postseason?  Which teams won’t?  What award will this player win?  And the biggest question of them all, who will win all the marbles?  With seniors graduating, fresh blood entering the league, and summer league stints, here’s how I think all eight UAAP teams are going to fare.

1.      UE Red Warriors

After losing super-superstar Alvin Pasaol, the University of the East is undoubtedly in full rebuild mode.  In fact, a day or so before the season opened, coach Joe Silva stepped down as team mentor, and was replaced by Philippine Basketball Association Developmental League coach Lawrence Chongson of the Tanduay Rhum Masters, who led the Red Warriors to the finals in 2009.  This team is definitely not expected to win games this season; its main goal is to expose its players to the rigors of a UAAP season and develop them for the future.  Being a rebuilding team, the Red Warriors have done a tremendous step one of the rebuilding process: recruiting a cache of young talent.  After the team’s final roster cut, 12 out of the 16 players are either rookies or sophomores.  If taught and nurtured right, the Red Warriors are poised to become one of the best teams in the league in 2-3 years’ time.  They may not be contenders now, but they absolutely will not give up on games — they will try to score an upset in all 14 games. As the UE faithful proudly roar, “Go Fight!  UE! Iwakadima!” expect team veterans Philip Manalang and Nick Abanto, along with a bevy of rookies, to keep their alma mater proud – watch out for potential backcourt star Rey Suerte among these.

2.      NU Bulldogs

With a failed season 81 for the National University Bulldogs, expectations have lowered for them this season.  After winning only four games last season, a playoff berth is still a dream for this team.  In a team filled with role players, NU would be best served running the offense exclusively through the younger Ildefonso, Dave.  The sophomore averaged a team-high in points per game with 15.2 to go along with 5.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists.  Dave Ildefonso is expected to take a leap towards being a superstar in this league, together with a developing supporting cast of Senegalese Issa Gaye, streaky scorer John Lloyd Clemente, elder brother and skipper Shaun Ildefonso, and the only two blue-chip recruits of the Bulldogs, Miguel Oczon and Robert Minerv, both from NU Bullpups.  NU has become popular in its recruitment and development of players, particularly from its juniors squad.  NU must emphasize developing star players from the young core, along with continued recruitment from its uber-talented Bullpups squad.

3.      FEU Tamaraws

After making the playoffs in dramatic fashion, the Far Eastern University Tamaraws lost the man that made it all happen.  While FEU’s offense doesn’t revolve around a star, losing your best scorer will always hurt the team.  That star, Arvin Tolentino, is now graduated, so FEU’s focus should shift towards grooming their next best scorer.  The Tamaraws are also generally young so their search for a new star may take long, but once they do get to do it, FEU should be back in the postseason in no time.  With the team now built around veteran combo guard Wendell Comboy, expect a faster-paced Tamaraw squad on both ends of the floor.  Together with him in the backcourt is point guard LJ Gonzalez, who is a shifty ballhandler and can score if he needs to.  Other vets like forwards Kenneth Tuffin and Barkley Eboña should help beef up the Tamaraw frontline and ably back up rookie center Patrick Tchuente of Cameroon in the post.  For sure, celebrated Blue Eagle and now-FEU mentor Olsen Racela and his assistants – former PBA legends Johnny Abarrientos (who also starred for the Tamaraws in college) and Jojo Lastimosa (himself a former Blue Eagle), as well as retired PBA slotman Gilbert Lao – will have their hands full pushing their wards to vie for a playoff spot.

4.      DLSU Green Archers

If you are a diehard De La Salle University alumni or fan under the impression that your Green Archers will win the championship, let alone make the playoffs, then this is a season to forget.  The three imports that the Green Archers recruited last year were one-and-done this season, and one wonders how this will help in securing their team’s long-term prospects.  In addition to having no reliable recruits yet, the team lost former team captain Kib Montalbo and Santi Santilian. With two key cogs gone, La Salle is due for an elevated performance from sharpshooter Aljun Melecio and Mythical Five selection Justine Baltazar.  La Salle isn’t picked to make the playoffs this year, but with the team’s rich history and championship DNA, it may be too early to count the Archers out.  Let’s see what type of noise they can make.

5.      UST Growling Tigers

The University of Sto. Tomas is a sexy pick to make its postseason return this year.  As CJ Cansino resumes rehabilitation of his torn ACL (he is expected to play in the season opener against UE), the team’s roster represents a predominantly young team, with majority being rookies.  While many of these Growling Tigers may be rookies, their potential is off the charts and they have the mentality and talent to make it to the playoffs.  These new and fresh faces include Beninese big man Soulémane Chabi Yo, former La Salle swingman Brent Paraiso, the long and athletic small forward from Pangasinan, Rhenz Abando, and Mark Nonoy, a UAAP “seniors-ready rookie” from the juniors program of UST.  Spearheaded by this army of newcomers, the Growling Tigers are ready to make some noise this season 82 under highly-regarded coach Aldin Ayo.

6.      Adamson Soaring Falcons

After having fallen short season after season after season, the Adamson University Soaring Falcons’ window of opportunity is closing; this year may be their last chance to win a UAAP championship.  Definitely, they will have to rely on sweet shooter Jerrick Ahanmisi to deliver the goods for them, as for the first time in his collegiate career, he is the alpha dog of this team.  Bolstered by a more-than-solid supporting cast, the Soaring Falcons are once again a contending team this year.  This season, they aren’t generally picked to end up with the twice-to-beat advantage they had last season.  This puts them in familiar position.  From Seasons 79-80, the San Marcelino-based squad was challenged with having to beat the then-Ben Mbala-led Green Archers.  Despite losing to those Archers in both seasons, an upset victory in a playoff series with any team should heal the wounds of all the Falcons’ past playoff shortcomings.

7.      UP Fighting Maroons

To be the champions, you gotta beat the champions.  The Fighting Maroons of the University of the Philippines are primed to win it all this season 82.  After coming out of nowhere to reach the finals last year, everyone now knows what to expect from this team.  This is because despite losing star skipper and leader of the “Atin ‘to” movement, Paul Desiderio, the Maroons have reinforced their squad with former La Salle star Ricci Rivero and the ever-popular Kobe Paras.  After years of winless seasons and playoff absences, this is the deepest team the Fighting Maroons have ever had since their last championship team back in ’86, when Kobe’s dad, Benjie Paras, Ronnie Magsanoc and Eric Altamirano starred for the Maroons.  With the two new stars combining with the uber-talented Gomez de Liaño brothers and floor general Jun Manzo, Bo Perasol’s army is in the running for becoming eventual UAAP champions.  The only team in their way...

8.      Ateneo Blue Eagles

Fresh from a back-to-back championship victory last season, the Ateneo Blue Eagles have the proverbial target on their backs.  In a general interview by ABS-CBN, Ateneo is the consensus team to beat.  Despite losing two games in the regular season last year, the Blue Eagles elevated their game onto extraordinary levels that they looked practically unbeatable. However, season 82 will be completely different from last season.  Many teams have bolstered their rosters.  Moreover, they are playing this season without Raffy Verano, Jolo Mendoza and the graduated Anton Asistio.  Most importantly, their biggest threat, the UP Fighting Maroons, may even be more star-studded than themselves — this season would definitely be no walk in the park for the Blue Eagles.  But despite being a team full of star power as well, coach Tab Baldwin’s men do not rely on a superstar (even someone of Thirdy Ravena’s caliber); they have a system, a system so successful it has led them to three finals appearances, along with two chips.  But considering all circumstances surrounding the team, Ateneo should get ready to be able to defend its crown and continue its dynasty.