Originally posted on the Balls Channel website
Head Coach: Eric
Altamirano (4th season)
Last Season: Fourth Place (10-4 in the eliminations)
#1-seed
in the Final Four, lost twice-to-beat advantage to UST in the Final Four
Key Losses: Bobby
Ray Parks, Emmanuel Mbe, Robin Roño, Jeoff Javillionar, Dennice Villamor, Mark
de Guzman, Maurice Porter, Cedric Labing-isa
Holdovers: Troy
Rosario, Gelo Alolino, Glenn Khobuntin, JJ Alejandro, Kyle Neypes, Paolo
Javelona, Tristan Perez
Key Acquisitions:
Alfred Aroga, Henri Betayene (returnee), Reden Celda (returnee) Rev Diputado,
Raph Atangan, Dave Yu, JP Cauilan, Mohammed Salim, Ralph Tansingco
The Coach Says:
The Players Say:
“Yung pagkawala ni Ray (Parks), eye-opener sa amin yun para mag-step up kaming mga veterans. Kailangan naming ipakita yung standard ng last year’s team sa mga rookies para maka-adapt sila agad.” – Troy Rosario, forward/center
“Syempre masakit yung nag-back to zero na naman kami. Sayang kasi andun na kami eh. Panibagong umpisa ulit, kaya dapat ma-control na namin yung mga ginagawa namin. Sobrang gigil kami makabawi, pero gagawin lang lagi namin yung mga pinapagawa ni coach.” – Gelo Alolino, guard
“Di ko makalimutan yung pagkatalo namin sa UST last year. It was a tough loss. Gigil ako bumawi this season kasi ayoko nang maulit yung nangyari last year. Ready na ako sa season. Kung pwede nga lang magsimula na yung UAAP bukas, handing handa na akong lumaro ulit.” – Glenn Khobuntin, forward
X-Factor: Reden Celda
After two years, Celda makes his return to the main squad,
and this time, with a lot of key cogs gone, he will have a lot more
responsibility lying in his 6-foot frame.
And with the Bulldogs’ need for an instant sparkplug higher
than ever, the 22-year-old guard has proven himself worthy in the preseason to
be Altamirano’s super-sub, igniting the NU offense with his daring drives and
sweet jumpers.
But for the 6-foot Celda, he’s just stepping up to the plate
for his team.
“Ginagawa ko lang yung kaya ko sa binibigay na minutes sa
akin. Gusto ko, may ma-contribute ako sa team everytime na nasa court ako.
Malaking bagay rin yun para manalo kami,” he said.
Prognosis:
Is NU earning more for the team by losing its key cogs?
That question will be answered as NU verges on its post-Bobby
Ray Parks era, and for Altamirano, he needs the rest of the Bulldogs to pick up
the slack.
The enhanced emphasis on team play would be very vital in
the Bulldogs’ campaign, more if they can find the right pieces to fill in the
gaps left by their former stalwarts.
Alfred Aroga finally makes his long awaited debut for NU,
and the Cameroonian is expected a lot this coming season. He would not be left
hanging as Gelo Alolino, Troy Rosario, and the rest of the team wants to
exorcise the bitter taste left by last season’s setback – blowing a
twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four against UST after securing the
school’s first-ever number-one seed finish.
Though the holdovers believe that they already gained enough
experience after two years of staying at the top, it would really matter more
if they can share that learning to their stellar cast of rookies.
With a lot of fresh set of legs, Altamirano promised an
exciting brand of basketball, as his young wards are ready to run the
opposition to the ground. But playing in a fast-paced style is a totally
different thing from playing run-and-gun and staying with the system.
It begs to ask if this young team of NU can play their
exciting style and still have the maturity to make the right plays in the
endgame, staying composed in their offensive sets and not gambling on the
defensive end.
Those miscues could be crucial for the Bulldogs, more that
the league’s competitiveness is at a high, where one win can spell the
difference between making the playoffs and missing the Final Four.
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