Head Coach: Rey
Madrid (2nd season)
Last Season:
Eighth Place (0-14 in the eliminations)
Key Losses: Raul
Soyud, Sam Marata, Chris Ball, Paul Desiderio, Jason Ligad, Kyle Suarez, Julius
Wong, Andre Paras
Holdovers: Kyles
Lao, Henry Asilum, JR Gallarza, Agustini Amar, Andrew Harris, Martin Pascual,
Mo Gingerich
Key Acquisitions:
Mikee Reyes (returnee), Dave Moralde (transferee), Mark Juruena (returnee),
Diego Dario, Gelo Vito, Jarell Lim, Carlo Escalambre, Darwish Bederi
The Coach Says:
“For us, there’s no pressure. It’s an expectation on our part that we should come out with three wins this season. We are capable of winning against any other team on a good day.” – coach Rey Madrid
The Players Say:
“We’re being realistic. Unlike the previous years, we’re
looking one game at a time this year. We want to compete and give ourselves a
chance to win in the end game. We know na mahirap yun kasi other teams have way
better lineup on paper. But we just have to stay in the game and pagpasok ng
crunch time, give ourselves a chance to win.” – Mikee Reyes, guard
“We want to come through for coach Rey. For him to guarantee three wins, I think we can really get that for him. For the things he has done for us, we will fulfill his promises as our coach.” – JR Gallarza, forward
“Last year, it was really a shocking surprise for us na nag-change (ng coaches during the season). Right now, I can say that the coaching staff are more ready. We’ve been preparing since last year, and this season, we’re gonna compete.” – Kyles Lao, guard
X-Factor: Dave Moralde
Taking his talents to a UP squad which badly needs firepower, the former San Beda Red Lion has made the most of the minutes he has been given in the Fighting Maroons lineup.
Moralde, 22, will bring his championship pedigree from the
Red Lions in the NCAA, but it would take more than experience to lift UP, as he
and JR Gallarza are at the forefront of the Maroons’ wing rotation.
“Kahit may mga nawalang key players, magko-compete kami.
Panibagong year ‘to for us and gagawin lang namin yung mga pinapagawa ni coach
para manalo,” he said. “We just need to have maturity sa games when it comes to
decision making, on making our teammates involved with our plays.”
Prognosis:
For the first time in a few years, we can really say that,
as cliché as it may sound now, things are looking up for UP.
Better prepared this year with Madrid manning the sidelines
from the start of the preseason, the young guns of Diliman has shown a lot of
upside and could still develop as the season goes.
Expectations weren’t really high after uneventful outings in
the better part of the past decade, but with the Maroons’ current crop of guys,
the team has the potential to make noise in the next two to three years.
Last season’s Rookie of the Year Kyles Lao could be seen as
a key component in UP’s season, as he and returning guard Mikee Reyes will
anchor the plays as Henry Asilum and rookie Diego Dario will miss a chunk of
the games due to their national youth team obligations.
Moralde and Gallarza will be there, but with a team that has
a low ceiling, Mark Juruena and Gelo Vito needs ample help in the paint when it
comes to rebounding.
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