don't like college basketball. too much arrogance from dlsu and ateneo. and it's like they're the only team playing for that tournament, to hell with them.
i only like PBA when brgy ginebra is playing. it's only NBA for me, baby. go Lakers!
I originally posted this here
http://hoops.blink.ph/2008/07/04/the-uaap-pre-season-71-entry/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I apologize for the late entry but what the heck, better late than never eh?
University of the Philippines
Key Holdovers: Woody Co, Migs De Asis, Mike Gamboa, Martin Reyes and Magi Sison
Key Subtractions: Vicmel Epres, VJ Serios and Soc Rivera
Key Additions: Coach Aboy Castro
Diagnosis: Yes they won’t be winless this year but expect this team to have another forgettable season. They’re main problem is how they’ll match on the interior against guys like Jervy Cruz, Nonoy Baclao and Rico Maiherhoffrer. Another thing that would be huge for UP is the consistency of their swingmen. Migs de Asis, Martin Reyes and Woody Co are all very talented players but they need to play consistently. My thoughts on how they’ll end up after the elims? Still in the last place, with a win or two maybe.
National University
Key Holdovers: Raymond Aguilar, Edwin Asoro, Jonathan Jahnke, Chris Catamorra and Michael Luy
Key Subtractions: Jonathan Fernandez, Joseph Lingao-Lingao, Cyrus Malagueño and Michael Salvado
Key Additions: Kevin Batac, Jerome Tungcul
Diagnosis: The Bulldogs are a very good team last year, after all, they were my darkorse pick last year. They managed to put together a string of wins and that’s what I expect from this team this year. They’re still not Final Four bound this year but I guarantee you they’ll give some good matches. A sixth place finish for NU with a couple of huge upsets against favorites is my prediction for this squad.
Adamson University
Key Holdovers: Lester Alvarez, Jerick Canada, Rey Gorospe and Jeff Ollalia
Key Subtractions: Leo Canuday, Patrick Cabahug and Roel Hugnatan
Key Additions: Coach Leo Austria, Marc Agustin, Mike Galinato and Alex Nuyles
Diagnosis: Just like the Bulldogs, this team isn’t Playoff bound this year but they’ll give out the best games this season. And if their pre-season league games would be any indication, I wouldn’t be surprised if they pull off an upset and go all the way to the Final 4. The return of Coach Leo Austria would be huge for the character of this team and three exciting rookies for the Falcons would help their cause this season too. A sixth or seventh finish for the Falcons this year for me.
University of Santo Tomas
Key Holdovers: Dylan Ababou, Francis Allera, Mark Canlas, Jervy Cruz, Japs Cuan, Melchor Gile, Khasim Mirza and Chester Taylor.
Key Subtractions: Anthony Espiritu, Hector Badua and Jun Cortez
Key Additions: Clark Bautista, Christopher Camus, Jeric Fortuna and Allen Maliksi
Diagnosis: They are the deepest team this year, they’re my sleepers for the season and I’m not being biased. Right now, while everyone has been talking about the prized rookies of Ateneo and La Salle, no one cared to talk about how intact UST’s line up still is. They’re going to get back last year’s MVP Jervy Cruz, Dylan Ababou, Khasim Mirza, Japs Cuan, Francis Allera and Mark Canlas. Minus Allera… that’s their starting five last freakin’ year! And take a look at their bench, they’re still going to have Francis Allera, Mel Gile and Chester Taylor plus their prized rookies Chris Camus, Allen Maliksi, Jeric Fortuna and Clark Bautista. And I had a chance to play against Bautista (When he was in BIS) and Fortuna (When he was in La Salle) back in the Juniors division and I tell you, they’re no joke. Both are deceptively fast and both can nail the long bomb especially Bautista. If they can be injury free, they can go as high to the number 2 spot this year. However, they can also go down as low to number 5. Yes, they’re my darkhose pick this year.
University of the East
Key Holdovers: Marcy Arellano , Fhandzmir Bandaying, Elmer Espiritu, Paul Lee, Rudy Lingganay, Narciso Llagas, James Martinez and Hans Thiele
Key Subtractions: Mark Borboran, Jorel Canizares, Mark Fampulme and Kelvin Gregorio
Key Additions:
Diagnosis: Just like the Tigers, this team is still intact. However, they lost some ceiling after losing Mark Borboran, Mark Fampulme, Kelvin Gregorio and Jorel Canizares. They have all the tools to make it back to the finals this year after getting the oh so important experience from last year’s loss to La Salle. However, just like the Tigers, they can also go up to the number 1 seed and down to Number 5. That’s how close this season’s tourney is.
Ateneo De Manila University
Key Holdovers: Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Nonoy Baclao, Yuri Escueta, Kirk Long, Jobe Nkemakolam, Jai Reyes, Eric Salamat and Chris Tiu
Key Subtractions: Ford Arao and Zion Latterre
Key Additions: Ryan Buenafe, Vince Burke, Justin Chua, and Nico Salva.
Diagnosis: They have the best set of rookies this year to go along with the veteran holdovers from last year. A favorite on paper, but most of their rookies really didn’t impress me (Except for Ryan Buenafe) in the pre-season games. Chris Tiu will still be this team’s overall leader and the Salamat-Reyes backcourt combo is still lethal. The interior presence of Nonoy Baclao and Al Husseini is rock solid. So yeah, I think they can go all the way up to number 1 and slid up to number 4. This team is playoff bound.
Far Eastern University
Key Holdovers: Marlon Adolfo, Mac Baracael, Mark Barroca, JR Cawaling, Reil Cervantes, Benedict Fernandez, Jens Knuttel and Paul Sanga
Key Subtractions: Jr Gerilla
Key Additions: Robert Kave
Diagnosis: Last year’s overachievers could be this year’s contenders. They have an ample set of veterans who has proven that they can deliver at clutch. Add to it their acquisition of Papua New Guinea Under 19 national team member Robert Kave.. this team screams Championship Contender all over it. However, with other teams keeping their line up intact, nothing is for certain this season, especially in the seeds 2 to 5. So just like the Tigers and the Warriors, I expect this team to move all the way up to Number 2 and slid out of the Playoffs to Number 5.
De La Salle University
Key Holdovers: Rico Maierhoffer, JV Casio, Peejay Barua, James Mangahas, Simon Atkins and PJ Walsham
Key Subtractions: TY Tang, Cholo Villanueva
Key Additions: LA Revilla, Jonathan Webb, Hyram Bagatsing and Maui Villanueva
Diagnosis: This team is always a contender. The La Salle system is still prolly the most effective system in Collegiate basketball today. Rico Maierhoffer and JV Casio is going to lead the green attack this time around now that they’re not playing with Tang and Villanueva anymore. La Salle also boasts probably the best rookie this year in Hyram Bagatsing, who showed flashes of greatness in the Fil Oil Pre-Season league. Add to it the additions of LA Revilla and Jonathan Webb and this team is a championship contender again. I expect nothing but a final four entry for this team who could go all the way up to the Number 1 seed after the Eliminations.
