Scouting Report - #UAAP77 Week 1

(c) Sherwin Vardeleon

UAAP Season 77 is finally upon us! The opening weekend saw three blowouts and an intense clash between contenders FEU and La Salle. At this stage, all of those preseason predictions and rankings [I am guilty of doing one. Or two. Come on! Its part of my job!] are proven futile and should be thrown out of the window.

And with two playdates already done, lets take a quick look on the early achievers of this young collegiate basketball season and give credit to the boys who deserve it. Here we go!

WHAT YOU MISSED

July 12, 2014 - Saturday - Araneta

UE def. UP, 87-59.

FEU def. La Salle, 82-77.

July 13, 2014 - Sunday - Araneta

Ateneo def. Adamson, 79-57.

NU def. UST, 59-40.

POWER RANKINGS

1. FEU (1-0)

Terrence who? RR who? The Tamaraws showed no signs of missing last year's star guards as Mike Tolomia, Mac Belo, and the returning Russel Escoto towed FEU to a hard-fought opening day upset win against the favored La Salle team.

2. NU (1-0)

It wasn't pretty, but the Bulldogs ushered in its post-Bobby Ray Parks era with a statement win versus their tormentors last season UST, blasting their rivals with ease in a total team effort.

3. UE (1-0)

"Thunder" Dan Alberto zapped UP with five treys to set the wheels in motion for the Red Warriors' trek to the Final Four. The bench production for UE allowed coach Derrick Pumaren to go easy on Roi Sumang's exposure in opening day.

4. ADMU (1-0)

Sign of things to come? Kiefer Ravena might just have opened Chapter 1 of his "Eff-You" season this year, torching the lowly Falcons and posterizing defenders not once, but twice. "Eff-You" indeed.

5. DLSU (0-1)

The Green Archers might be stunned with an opening day loss against FEU, but it just wasn't their game to win. Expect the defending champs to bounce back in their next game – against rivals Ateneo.

6. UST (0-1)

Its just not the same without coach Pido. That's not a dig towards new coach Bong dela Cruz, but in the Tigers' first outing, the runner-ups seemed to be discombobulated [Did I spell it right?] against a more ready NU squad. The good thing is its just their first game; the bad thing is that they have to get it fast.

7. ADU (0-1)

With 11 rookies, even coach Kenneth Duremdes didn't expect the mugging they would get from Ateneo in their opener. He hoped that they would at least compete, but the team's immaturity surfaced, forcing "Captain Marbel" to reassess his plans, even if it needs him to exit the dugout in the fourth quarter of the succeeding game.

8. UP (0-1)

I'll just let this meme do the talking.

(c) UAAP-NCAA Memes

MVP WATCH

(c) Sherwin Vardeleon

(weekly production/ averages in parentheses)

1. Mike Tolomia (23 points, 4/6 3PT FGs, 3 rebounds, 5 assists in W vs DLSU): The fourth-year guard made the most of his extended responsibility, bucking a slow first half and torching La Salle with 20 second half points, as the defending champs struggled to find an answer against the Tams in the endgame.

2. Kiefer Ravena (22 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals in W vs ADU): It was a statement game for the elder Ravena sibling as Kiefer really showed the way for Ateneo. It also won't hurt that he had two slam dunks which sent Mika Reyes wildly cheering from her seat.

(c) Sherwin Vardeleon

3. Mac Belo (20 points, 4 rebounds in W vs DLSU): Belo has shown tremendous improvements from his days in the Sinag Pilipinas squad, and the forward has been a workhorse in the paint against taller counterparts.

(c) Sherwin Vardeleon

4. Dan Alberto (15 points, 5/6 3PT FGs, 2 assists in W vs UP): Whoever said that Dan Alberto will be an early season MVP candidate, please raise your hands. Nobody? Exactly.

(c) Sherwin Vardeleon

5. Gelo Alolino (13 points, 6/10 FGs, 3 rebounds, 3 steals in W vs UST): It all starts with Alolino, as the NU playmaker anchored the all-around assault for the Bulldogs in exorcising the demons of their bitter UST losses last season.

BEST FIVE

G - Mike Tolomia (FEU)

G - Kiefer Ravena (ADMU)

F - Mac Belo (FEU)

F - Russel Escoto (FEU)

C - Troy Rosario (NU)

ROOKIE WATCH

(c) spin.ph/ UAAP-NCAA memes

(weekly production/ averages in parentheses)

1. Ivan Villanueva (15 points, 6/9 FGs, 9 rebounds in L vs ADMU): Extra Rice Jr.? The former Letran Squire showed his soft shooting touch even as the Falcons struggled in its first game of the season.

2. Arvin Tolentino (12 points, 2/6 3PT FGs, 5/12 FGs in W vs ADU): The ex-San Beda Red Cub lived up to his hype as he joined forces with Kiefer Ravena in the early Ateneo pullaway, draining threes amd setting the tone for the W.

3. Rev Diputado (8 points, 2/2 3PT FGs in W vs UST): Diputado, a former Bullpup, showed that his spot in coach Eric Altamirano's rotation is safe as he was solid in his time on the floor while Alolino is resting on the bench, drilling occasional threes while setting his teammates up in offense.

WHAT THEY SAID

"We're playing undersized. Si Carl Bryan Cruz nasa kili-kili na ni AVO. Sacrifice." - Nash Racela on FEU's bigs matching up with La Salle's big men.

"Maganda ba or di maganda? Kung maganda, itutuloy namin. Kung ayaw nyo eh di palitan namin. Baka mas maging topic nyo pa yung outfit namin than the result." - Juno Sauler on the coaching staff's coat-and-tie uniforms

"I didn't do anything. I'm a good boy." - Kiefer Ravena on the unsportsmanlike foul whistled on him in their Adamson game.

WEEKLY NOTABLE

The La Salle coaching staff donned these uniforms which set the Twitter world ablaze last Saturday. What do you think?

UNI-WATCH

Just a quick word on the opening day uniforms.

The Nike jerseys (Ateneo, La Salle, FEU) are still the usual, but I observed one thing which bugs me until now. The school's names, regularly emblazoned on the shirt's chest, is now placed on a lower position, particularly the "tummy area." We believe that this space is alloted for the advertising patches, but isn't it too spacious for a certain patch to be placed in the center of the uniform?

Unless... they are pushing for a sponsor's logo to be placed above the school's name in the jerseys (which just further hammers a discreet belief on the league's commercialization, if its not yet that commercialized).

NU and UST, for me, had the best opening day uniforms.

Without any biases, I liked the loudness of the UST golden yellow uniform bearing a tiger print lining in both sides.

I also liked the simplicity of NU's white uniforms, going away from the usual "big U" NU logo and the one bearing a bulldog, and rather opting with the simple "National University" text upfront. Plus points for the style of the numbers at the back, which is the same font face of those of San Mig Coffee's. [Quick tangent: NU assistant coach Mon Jose also served as a video coordinator and later, an assistant coach for the Coffee Mixers during the 2014 PBA Governors' Cup.]

Still not digging UP's threads. Its nice that you have the word "Pilipinas" written on your jersey's front (with a little "Unibersidad ng" text written above it), but the white "bibs" that hug the maroon jersey just doesn't make the cut. And I'm using that term lightly. It really resembles an infant's bib, right?

The author covers the UAAP for Balls Channel, Solar Sports Desk, and occasionally, for Inquirer Libre.

The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the author's employers.

My post-mortem for the PBA's 39th season

The 39th season of the PBA has now come to an end, and in my first season of covering the Asia's oldest professional basketball league, I have been honored to write about the games, the players, and the PBA.

I have to admit that writing basketball for eight months straight is a daunting task for anyone, more that you have to deal with keeping the inspiration afloat despite the rigors of having the usual routine, not to mention other external factors. But at the end of the day, its a fulfilling job to do.

Through the Yeng Guiao rants (which sometimes result to fines), Ryan Gregorio's vocabulary, Mark Caguioa tweets, June Mar Fajardo's honest (and more often than not, funny) one-liners, Tim Cone-isms, and Marc Pingris promises, this has really been a season to remember.

And in that light, I picked some stories I think I have written well throughout the course of the season which all appeared in the PBA website, and I hope I can do a better job for the following seasons to come. Enjoy!

BARAKO VETS OUT TO PULL SURPRISES, SILENCE DOUBTERS

Nov. 21, 2013: Barako Bull's early season win against GlobalPort

PETRON GIANT ‘RAISES THE ROOF’ AND HIS GAME

Nov. 21, 2013: June Mar Fajardo's inspired play tows Petron over GlobalPort

DESPITE LATE-GAME HEROICS, JAPETH STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS

Dec. 9, 2013: Japeth Aguilar on his "coming of age" after Ginebra's win against Talk 'N Text

CABAGNOT BAILS PETRON BLAZE OUT OF TROUBLE

Dec. 11, 2013: Alex Cabagnot nails a game-winner in his first game back for Petron vs Air21

EXPERIENCE OVER YOUTH

Dec. 29, 2013: Barako Bull's veterans once again propel them over GlobalPort

THE DEMOLITION RESUMES FOR DANNY I

Jan. 6, 2014: Danny Ildefonso's first game for Meralco

“FIRST TIME KO YUN!”

Jan. 15, 2014: JR Quinahan hits a game-winner to zap Meralco

WITH FAJARDO BACK TO FORM, PETRON ENDS ELIMS IN A BLAZE

Jan. 18, 2014: Petron Blaze vs Meralco. Fajardo vs Ildefonso.

A TALE OF TWO BASKETS

Feb. 9, 2014: James Yap's Game 5 game-winner in semifinals against Ginebra

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAUL

Feb. 14, 2014: Paul Lee gives Rain or Shine first blood in Game 1 of Philippine Cup Finals series vs San Mig Coffee

GIVING HIS ALL

Feb. 27, 2014: Mark Barroca on his Philippine Cup Finals MVP award

SLAUGHTER, LASSITER BEG OFF FROM GILAS PILIPINAS POOL

March 8, 2014: Greg Slaughter and Marcio Lassiter shock everyone with their announcement

MORE OF A BOON(E) THAN A BANE

March 10, 2014: Josh Boone plays a superb game despite looming import change

DOWN BY 20, MERALCO GRINDS WAY BACK TO BEAT AIR21

March 23, 2014: Brian Butch helps Meralco crawl back and win the game vs Air21

RAIN OR SHINE GETS BACK ON TRACK

March 26, 2014: Alex McLean plays his final game and helps Rain or Shine stop their skid

GREEN LIGHT FOR 3 NEW TEAMS

April 10, 2014: PBA Board approves the entry of the expansion teams

HAPPY ENDING FOR BATANG PIER

April 13, 2014: GlobalPort wins first game under coach Pido Jarencio

THE ROCK IS STILL ROLLING

April 27, 2014: Asi Taulava helps Air21 book its first franchise semifinals appearance

PERFECT FIT

April 30, 2014: Sean Anthony rises to the occasion for the Express

SAN MIG MAKES IT 3 STRAIGHT

May 15, 2014: San Mig Coffee wins Commissioner's Cup title

THE ACCIDENTAL COACH

May 27, 2014: Alex Compton takes the head coaching reins for Alaska

BLATCHE TO PLAY WITH PUSO & PINOY PRIDE

June 10, 2014: Andray Blatche presser

TAULAVA BUCKS BLOODY CUT AS AIR21 BOOTS OUT GLOBALPORT

June 11, 2014: Asi Taulava comes back and helps Air21 in win over GlobalPort

REID STARS AS RAIN OR SHINE FINISHES NO. 2

June 16, 2014: Arizona Reid shoots the lights out for ROS to grab number two-seed

SAN MIG SUPER COFFEE NAILS GOVS’ CUP, COVETED GRAND SLAM 

July 9, 2014: San Mig Coffee achieves four-peat, Grand Slam. Tim Cone wins his second Triple Crown

A new lesson for the UE Red Warriors

Originally posted on the Solar Sports Desk on July 9, 2014

It's once again the start of the school year and as expected, eager freshmen are up to claim their fresh set of athletics shirt and jogging pants.

Up on the fifth floor of the P.E. Building, students slowly filled up the bleachers as new head coach Derrick Pumaren mapped out plays for the Red Warriors. Curiously, 6-foot-8 big man Charles Mammie is seen sitting on the sidelines, not participating in practice.

I asked him what was he doing as he sat and watched his teammates make the whiteboard plays into reality. I also wondered if he was late again, if his tardiness was what made the coach decide to sit him out just like in the past. After all, Mammie had the reputation of being a hard-head, which forced coaches to discipline the Sierra Leone-born center by keeping him on the bench.

But Charles said, “I just went from therapy and coach is reserving me for the season,” pointing to his knees.

Two elementary students soon approached Mammie and exchanged pleasantries with the big man. “They're my friends,” Mammie said, while telling stories about the kids cheering for him loudly whenever they watch the UE games.

“One of them is Ken, and the other one, I don't really know his name,” said Charles, trying to contain his laughter. He soon found out the other kid's name was Joriel. The children sat at the bleachers near Charles until an assistant coach waved them off to the other side of the court.

Later on, Pumaren asked his first and second group to proceed with their press, as the energy level in the gym got a notch higher.

Mammie stood up near Pumaren and looked on as the play transpired on the other end of the court. The 22-year-old, with a white towel draped on his hulking shoulders, barked instructions like a coach to help his teammates go to their spots.

Moments later, Pumaren blew his whistle and called his players to center court and prayed.

For some, this might signal that the practice is over. But Pumaren is no ordinary coach. The team went to one corner of the court where a whiteboard was waiting for them.

With brother and assistant coach Dindo standing, the players sat and listened as coach Derrick slowly drew arrows and circles with a marker.

Coach Derrick is now Professor Derrick.

One by one, he picked a few Red Warriors to go up and take a shot at the whiteboard. One of them was Charles. He took the marker from coach Dindo, mapped out the play, and explained what happens where. He looked at his coach waiting for a response, and the eye-glassed mentor said, “Correct.” Mammie did a little bit of showboating, looking to his teammates and pointed his index finger to his head, saying, “I know this! I'm listening,” which triggered laughs among the squad.

“Coach is a perfectionist and we have to prove that we fully understand what he is teaching to us,” Mammie said. “He's more focused on me, because when you get it wrong, you have to keep on doing your assignments.”

For coach Derrick, basketball is more than just being physically prepared for the games. That's why he has subjected the team to these post-game classes.

“I just want the players to get involved,” he said.

“I am trying to find out if they really know the plays. Its more of getting their minds ready,” the seasoned mentor said, admitting that this is the first time he has done this exercise with any squad he has coached in his almost three decades of experience.

Taking the head role in the UE fray has been quite a ride for the 51-year-old, baring that when he first took the job, he didn't even know the players' names, including the spitfire Roi Sumang.

Now? “Roi will be our number one point guard. He's one of the best point guards out there in the UAAP,” said Pumaren.

Looking at it, Pumaren's coaching career has really been a wild ride ever since he first took hold of this capacity, serving as an apprentice of Ron Jacobs with the national team in the '80s.

Through the course of his illustrious coaching career, he has seen days in La Salle, Magnolia in the PABL, and had stints in the PBA with Pepsi, Sunkist, Sta. Lucia, Purefoods, Tanduay, FedEx, and Talk 'N Text.

Before taking the UE appointment, Pumaren has been more involved in coaching consultancy duties, namely with JRU and La Salle, before lending his inputs to the Hong Kong national team for the past three years. “Sa Hong Kong, it’s like half-baked coaching. I've been in touch with basketball, but I really want coaching talaga – full-time coaching.”

And now, he's back in the collegiate circles, reinstating the patented Pumaren press in the amateurs - something the UAAP had not seen since his brothers Franz and Dindo left La Salle.

“So far, I'm very happy with how the team accepted it,” he said. “We know that we will be a pressing team. We know that our defense will be our number one offense.”

“The team is very, very into it. They're embracing the system and they are probably 60-to-70-percent there. They are not familiar with it, but they're getting there.”

Also, Pumaren said he has brought a little more than his signature press in this tour of duty with the Red Warriors.

“Discipline,” he said, as he explained how he used this technique in handling UE. “I really instilled discipline because we're going to play disciplined basketball for 40 minutes.”

“It's not just on the floor, but in and out of the court. We need to have that discipline because we have to carry that. I'm not saying that they didn't have discipline then, but I am very hard on that so we can carry that to the games.”

“For example, coming in on time. When I say nine o'clock, we start at nine. If they don't come here at nine, there will be repercussions. When its nine o'clock, its nine o'clock,” the stern coach channeling in his inner five-star general. “I don't allow players walking around on slippers, not wearing jerseys, talking, things like that. Syempre, it’s still hard. They still have their habits before, but it will take some time and we'll get there naman.”

He added, “We will be under control. We're not just going to be run-and-gun like the other teams, but we're going to play a disciplined brand of basketball.”

Though it seems like Pumaren is a hard shell to crack, you might be surprised. He is also a character. He put on a wacky smile when he gamely posed with Mammie and Moustapha Arafat for a photo. He even joked around with his players.

And maybe that’s how the UE Red Warriors will be this season: a bunch of characters.

From coach Derrick, to Roi Sumang and Chris Javier mimicking Gregg Popovich’s quotes, Bong Galanza saying he’s not Bong Galanza, Arafat striding around the court like a bird out of its cage, to Charles Mammie vowing to be mature while fooling around with his little buddies.

“I practice every day, trying to be the best I can so I can improve myself for the team,” he said. “I’ll still play with a lot of emotions, but I’m still gonna be me – Charles Mammie.  I’m more matured now and more responsible. I’ll be good.”

The only certain thing is uncertainty, like if coach Derrick really lives up to his call for his players to be matured, or if Charles can really contain his emotions this season.

But for now, the only truth is that the players will have another play to study for tomorrow’s practice-slash-lesson.

'Barometer' La Salle will be this season's favorites

Originally posted on the Balls Channel website on July 7, 2014

With an almost intact lineup and an impressive set of rookies, all will agree that De La Salle University is still the heavy favorite to reclaim the crown.

And even the other UAAP coaches are in unison in saying that the Green Archers will be this season's team-to-beat, as evidenced in the UAAP Season 77 press conference Monday at Gloria Maris in Gateway, Cubao.

Even though Ateneo and UP, which are both out of the country for their preseason buildup, are absent in the gathering, the Green Archers' impressive resume is still the talk of the town one week before the UAAP season. And every ine's eyes are solely focused on the squad in green and white.

"La Salle will still be the favorites. I think they have a better line-up this season compared to last season," said FEU coach Nash Racela.

UE coach Derrick Pumaren added, "They still have the team that won the championship last year."

"Maganda yung lineup nila because they have Fil-foreigners and locals who blend well with each other's style," said UST coach Bong dela Cruz.

NU coach Eric Altamirano butted in, saying, "It's obvious that they are a team to beat because they have a good team and they have a good coach."

"Definitely, La Salle is going to be the barometer for this UAAP season," said Ateneo assistant coach Yuri Escueta.

And who could argue that claim? The squad only lost LA Revilla last year due to graduation and will be parading "class A" rookies in Julian Sargent, Abu Tratter, Terence Mustre, and Prince Rivero, to join the complete Green Archers core bannered by Jeron Teng, Almond Vosotros, and Arnold Van Opstal.

But for coach Juno Sauler, he said that all of these preseason fanfare means nothing if his team can't focus on its set goals this coming season.

"In my humble opinion, I don’t really focus too much on expectations and what the future is according to the opinions of others," he said. "Day-by-day, game-by-game, we need to get better. We need to do that in every practice and perform every game, that’s what's most important rather than expectations."
But for this season's commissioner Andy Jao, he sees an even playing field.

"I know the teams are very competitive. I looked at their line-ups and I've seen their games in the preseason. We've seen a lot of things in basketball wherein teams have improved as the season goes along. But pre-season is very much different than the real games," he said.

"To be perfectly honest, I really see very difficult competition. As matter of fact, I expect the game of La Salle and FEU, and NU and UST to be very tough," Jao said, talking about the main games in the opening weekend.

"You know the other teams, they're very tough teams," he said. "We have some of the better coaches in the country. We are appreciative of the fact that they’ve put their talents in this league and you know it’s the premier amateur league. Schools have really supported them."

The UAAP Season 77 kicks off on Saturday, July 12, at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum, with the opening ceremonies tipping off the festivities at 12:30 p.m.

Hosts UE will face off with UP in the curtain-raiser at 2 p.m., while defending champs La Salle try to open their back-to-back bid against the tough FEU squad at 4 p.m.

BALLS Channel will air same day replays of the games.

BALLS can be seen on SkyCable channel 34 or Destiny Cable channel 36.

*****

UAAP Previews: Adamson | Ateneo | La Salle | FEU | NU | UE | UP | UST

UAAP Season 77 Primer: La Salle Green Archers

Originally posted on the Balls Channel website

Head Coach: Marco Januz "Juno" Sauler (2nd season)

Last Season: Champions (10-4 in the eliminations)

                #2-seed in the Final Four; beat FEU in one game in the Final Four

                beat UST in the Finals, 2-1

Key Losses: LA Revilla, Luigi dela Paz, Gabby Reyes, Jarelan Tampus

Holdovers: Jeron Teng, Almond Vosotros, Jason Perkins, Arnold Van Opstal, Norbert Torres, Thomas Torres, Kib Montalbo, Matt Salem, Robert Bolick

Key Acquisitions: Yutien Andrada (returnee), Julian Sargent, Terrence Mustre, Prince Rivero, Abu Tratter

The Coach Says:

“My expectation for us is to play good basketball. I don’t believe in rankings and favorites. What’s more important is how you conduct yourselves during the season, during the games, and hopefully, whatever it is you want to get, you can get to that destination. We want to play good basketball. Wherever that will take us, then we’ll accept that.” – coach Juno Sauler

The Players Say:

“May pressure din sa amin kasi champions, kasi out of all the teams, kami yung team to beat. Na-feel namin na kami yun this season, because last year’s defending champion (Ateneo), sila yung target ng lahat.” – Jeron Teng, forward

“No expectations. Sakto lang, walang gaanong pressure. We’ll just promise na we will work harder time times ten than last season.” – Almond Vosotros, guard

“People are out there to get us. But we’re just getting focused on getting better as a team. We’ll be doing all we can to execute better. Every team will be a challenge.” – Jason Perkins, forward

X-Factor: Almond Vosotros

If there’s someone who has saved La Salle for a number of times in the past year or so, it’s no less than Almond Vosotros.

The 5-foot-10 killer will be playing his final year for the Green Archers, and it seems like coach Juno Sauler’s stoic demeanor which comes with his no-nonsense approach to the craft has already rubbed off to Vosotros.

“Sakto lang,” he said, when he was asked on the team’s expectation for this season.

“Honestly, si Coach Juno, the way he talks sa team, he’s very inspirational. Bihira lang siya magsalita ng marami, as in few words lang talaga. Pero talagang mage-gets mo kung ano yung point niya, kung ano gusto niya sa team, kung ano ang gusto niya para sa amin at para sa future,” Vosotros said.

And it really helps that being the floor general is like being the team’s coach on the floor.

Aside from embodying Sauler’s persona in the hard court, you better expect the 24-year-old guard to once again hit a number of those backbreaking shots, not to mention being the squad’s anchor on offense and defense.

If someone’s going to end his collegiate career with a bang, expect Vosotros to be a sure shot at it, the same way La Salle expects his treys to go in every single time.

Prognosis:

No doubt, La Salle is overwhelming favorite to repeat this season.

With a virtually intact lineup and an athletic cast of rookies coming into the fray, coach Juno Sauler will have an impressive roster at his disposal.

Already loaded from point guard (Vosotros, Thomas Torres, Kib Montalbo, Robert Bolick), wingers (Jeron Teng, Jason Perkins, Matt Salem), to the big guys (Arnold Van Opstal, Norbert Torres, Yutien Andrada), the Green Archers will also get a big boost with the inclusion of swingman Julian Sargent and hardworking forward Abu Tratter.

But despite the downpour of praise rained to La Salle, Sauler has always reminded his boys on the importance of constant improvement, and at the same time, shutting down the talks of them being the number-one team when Season 77 tips off.

Aside from the nitty-gritty of their playbook, the coach of a few words also wants to see more of the team’s consistency in their performance, as even though the Green Archers have won the Filoil preseason tilt, it showed times when the team tended to be sloppy and did relaxed when they owned big leads, costing them games in the process.

Though La Salle is convinced that their back-to-back championship aspirations would not be a walk-in-the-park, if their team, which is oozing with potential, can get its bearings together and live up to their hype, the Green Archers will be a very, very hard team to beat this season.

*****

UAAP Previews: Adamson | Ateneo | La Salle | FEU | NU | UE | UP | UST

UAAP Season 77 Primer: UST Growling Tigers

Originally posted on the Balls Channel website

Head Coach: Segundo "Bong" Dela Cruz (1st season)

Last Season: Runner-up (8-6 in the eliminations)

                #4-seed in the Final Four, overcame NU’s twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four

                lost to La Salle in the Finals in three games

Key Losses: Coach Pido Jarencio, Jeric Teng, Clark Bautista, Robin Tan, Robert Hainga, Bryan So, Jeepy Faundo, Edcor Marata

Holdovers: Karim Abdul, Kevin Ferrer, Aljon Mariano, Ed Daquioag, Jamil Sheriff, Kim Lo, Paulo Pe, Kent Lao, Joco Macasaet

Key Acquisitions: Louie Vigil (returnee), Gelo Sablan, Levi dela Cruz, Alfren Gayosa, Regie Basibas, Renzo Subido

The Coach Says:

“Basta kami, ganun pa din: pride, puso, palaban. Sana maging maganda yung outcome ng season, basta’t every game, every practice, kailangan nagi-improve kami. Maraming expectations dahil complete pa yung veterans. So ine-expect nila na makakabalik kami ng Finals. Kaya lang, mahirap magsalita agad. Kailangan naming magtrabaho, mag-work hard yung players and coaches para magawa namin yun.” – coach Bong dela Cruz

The Players Say:

“Lalaban pa rin yung team. Pipilitin pa rin naming makapunta ulit ng Final Four at Finals. Yun din naman yung gusto naming makuha eh – yung (championship) ring.” – Kevin Ferrer, forward

“Last chance ko na ‘to. Last opportunity para makuha yung championship sa team namin. Mas gutom ako kasi ang sama ng laro ko last season. Di na ko nag-dwell sa nangyari last season. Ginawa ko na lang yun na motivation, kumbaga back to zero kami para makapag-focus this year. This season, redemption ‘to para sa kin at para sa team namin.” – Aljon Mariano, forward

“Championship pa rin ang target namin. Ngayon kasi, we’re more on team offense and team defense. Malaki kasi yung nawala sa amin, pero naramdaman na namin yung ganito dati nung na-injure si (Jeric) Teng, so yung responsibility naman, naka-adjust na kami ng konti. Kailangan na lang talagang punan yung shooting ni Tata (Bautista).” – Ed Daquioag, guard

X-Factor: Louie Vigil

He’s one of those “secret weapons” coach Pido Jarencio brought up two seasons back, and after sitting out last season, new coach Bong dela Cruz and the Growling Tigers pin their hopes on a much improved performance from Louie Vigil.

Now tasked to take a bigger role after the gaping hole left by star gunner Jeric Teng, the former NCAA Juniors MVP is eyed to be one of those key scorers for UST after an impressive showing in the select preseason tourneys joined by the boys in black-and-gold.

The 22-year-old guard said that the one year break allowed him to rediscover his old self, subjecting his body on a better conditioning program and developing a killer instinct.

“Wala namang masyadong nagbago. Although nag-sit out ako last year, I’m still with them kaya walang major adjustments na nangyari,” Vigil said. “Kung ano yung kaya kong i-ambag sa team, yun yung kailangan kong gawin. Mas malaki na yung responsibility ko kasi malaki yung nawala kaya dapat lagi lang akong handa.”

Prognosis:

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

UST will have to subject itself on that way of thinking, as the Growling Tigers verge on its post-Pido era. Coming along with that is the departure of Jeric Teng and Clark Bautista, who have been key cogs in the back-to-back Finals trip for the España boys.

And they will not be the only one, as a number of opponents still believe that UST will be a force to be reckoned with, as it is set to once again parade seasoned veterans in Kevin Ferrer, Aljon Mariano, Ed Daquioag, the much-improved Jamil Sheriff, and the hulking Cameroonian Karim Abdul.

The Growling Tigers also welcome Louie Vigil back to their fold, alongside its heady rookie recruits like Gelo Sablan from UPIS, Alfren Gayosa from San Sebastian, and Renzo Subido from La Salle-Zobel.

Dela Cruz says that the ideals of coach Pido will remain there, but his system will zero-in more on offense, as he is set to unveil a more exciting running game for the Growling Tigers.

He also said that preparation for this season has been a rocky one, with a lot of reasons due to a number of injuries the players had. But he promises that when they finally get to their full strength, UST will no longer have to wait for long to once again get a crack on that championship. 

It still begs to wonder if Dela Cruz, as much as he has served two years as an assistant under Jarencio, has seamlessly incorporated his coaching ideals to the squad, the same way if he has as much charisma as his predecessor had.

*****

UAAP Previews: Adamson | Ateneo | La Salle | FEU | NU | UE | UP | UST