1987 SEASON PREVIEW

THE UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST WARRIORS

The University of the East Warriors are favored to recapture the 1987 UAAP Basketball tournament on the account that they have the most holdovers and most of them experienced more seasoning in the Philippine Amateur Basketball League.  Leading their charge is the 6’6 slotman Jerry Codinera who is the National Team’s first-string center.    Giving valuable support are their guards Vernie Villarias,  David Zamar,  Restituto Ella and Modesto Hojilla. Villarias is their most accurate three-point shooter, Zamar and Ella alternate at the point guard position while Hojlla was the Juniors MVP in 1985. Up front are Vilmer Banares, Conrado Barile, Alfred Bartolome and Jojo Mariquit. This frontline is loaded with shooters in Banares and Bartolome and inside the paint Barile, Mariquit and of course Codinera. The Warriors have called back UAAP 1960 MVP and member of their champion team Roehl Nadurata. The key factor in their return to the top is their experience and defense. 

THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHIIPPINES MAROONS

If the University of the Philippines makes it to the championship round you can bet that they will win it back to back. The Maroons will rely heavily on the troika of National team mainstays Ronnie Magsanoc, Benjie Paras and Joey Guanio but will miss the services of Duane Salvatera and last year’s finals MVP Eric Altamirano who decided to forego his final year. Coach Joe Lipa has also called it quits and former Maroon Ramon Bernabe will now be calling the shots.  The only problem that the Maroons will face is that their Big 3 will be out for a minimum of three to four games and how the rest of the team will hold the fort in those games. Left to hold the fort will be their old reliables in  Ramil Cruz, Warren Clemente, Bobby Noriega,  and Chris Somera while  Jigs Mendoza and  Primo Rodriguez will be joined in the backcourt by rookies Alfie Manlulo and Lito Vergara. The Maroons will live and die by their three stars.

THE FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY TAMARAWS

The Far Eastern University Tamaraws are one of the two dark horse teams this year.  Just like the UE Warriors this team is stacked with veterans starting with 6’5 National Team campaigner Jack Tanuan who mans the middle.  Adding more firepower to the FEU offense if their exciting forwards Andy de Guzman, Ronald Carodan and Dodong Postanes who also played in the PABL and got great exposure add to that rookie forward Victor Pablo.  Unfortunately, point guard Gerry Esplana was deemed ineligible to play for the Tamaraws that somewhat dimmed their chance for a team that is complete in every position.  Doubling up in that position are Oscar Latoreno, Elias Burden and Olan Cruz while forward Teofano Tiu  and Gerardo Nicolas are the other back-up players. Calling the shots for the team from Morayta is Coach Fidel Que.  Considering that this season there are a lot of excellent point guards from the other teams, if the Tamaraws overcome their point guard woes then they can probably go all the way.

THE ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY BLUE EAGLES

The Eagles have the height by adding in 6’6 rookie center Daniel Francisco with 6’6 Alex Araneta and strong power forwards in 6’4 Eric Reyes and 6’2 Albert Mendoza. They have good shooters in Nonoy Chuatico, Joseph Canlas, Haj Jeongco and rookie Jojo Habana. They can slash through the basket with the greatest of ease with JV Gayoso, Mel Basa, Raymund Morales and Jet Nieto and they have an excellent point guard in Jun Reyes that orchestrates the Blue Eagle symphony.  Rookie Olsen Racela who comes from the Ateneo Junoirs squad is Jun’s chief reliever.  The Blue Eagles are a complete team with new Coach Cris Calilan who is a Ron Jacobs disciple. Scouts say that the Blue Eagles executes Jacob’s motion offense to perfection. The only downside is that experience is not at the side of the Blue Eagles with Jun Reyes the only one with PABL experience. But if the Eagles peak at the right time, they might dislodge one of the favored teams from the top to vie for the title.

 THE DE LA SALLE GREEN ARCHERS

The new kids are carefully rising as competitors with three solid players and a good coach but is somehow has a shallow bench.  Coming into the fray is Dindo Pumaren one of the best point guards in the amateurs. His stint with the National team helped sharpen his skills and he will be conniving with Joey Sta. Maria and Richard Bachmann to put offense for the Archers. The inside toughness of both Sta. Maria and Bachmann will definitely help the Green Archers get more wins and more importantly surprise the favored teams. Former Red Cub Teddy Monasterio is an able ball handler and scorer if given the right circumstances and so are the other Archers namely Rafa Dinglasan, Eddie Viaplana, Eric Afable , Richard del Rosario, Virgilio Mababa and rookie Binkie Favis a former La Salle Greenhills standout.

THE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS GLOWING GOLDIES

Coach Aric del Rosario brought the Goldies to the title game in 1984 and 1985 but lost steam last school year when Pido Jarencio left, this year they lose ace-gunner Bennet Palad. Leading them this year is 6-5 Gido Babilonia who has been playing big in the PABL and ably backing him up is another 6-5 center Julian Rabbi Tomacruz. The forwards of the team include 6-3 Bobby Jose who gave a credible performance in the recent 1986 RP Youth tournament and Rohimust Santos. Do it all Alfrancis Chua carries the guard corps of the Goldies with Amadito Tabora and newcomer Fedencio Oblina. The Goldies are quite there and can surprise the front runners but is quite lacking in materials. The Goldies will be one of the spoilers this year but is not envisioned to make it to the finals.

THE ADAMSON UNIVERSITY FALCONS

The Falcons have excellent shooters in Nandy Garcia, Joven Banez and Juancho Estrada, good forwards in Jethro Doromal, Glen Francisco and Ronnie Cahanding. But their middle will be held by the untested Joseph Valdez and Francisco Saitanan.  Same with the lower half of the teams this team has firepower but not enough. The Loss of Louie Alas and Edgardo Valencia definitely hurt them and their frontline is in need of some help.  The Falcons are untested and should go were there scorers lead them. Nemie Villegas is the Head coach of the Falcons.  Just like DLSU and UST they can spoil any team on a given day their shooting becomes hot. 

THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS

The NU Bulldogs just like the previous six years is here to complete the eight teams in the UAAP. No chance at all to even make it about of the cellar but have scorers in Jerry Rey, Rey Artificio, Patricio Matias and Alex Divino. Conditioning is suspect and so is consistency. Coaching the Bulldogs is Sonny Paguia who doesn’t even remember when was the last time their team won a game in the UAAP. Good luck to the Bulldogs.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

The most important item of the season is that the players of the National Team will be our for at least two to three games. That means if the team remaining wont hold the fort then it might spell doom to the favored teams. The teams with National players are the UP Maroons with three - Ronnie Magsanoc, Benjie Paras, Joey Guanio, UE Warriors with one - Jerry Codinera and DLSU Green Archers with one - Dindo Pumaren.

NEXT BLOG ENTRY: THE 1987 UAAP SEASON: FIRST ROUND

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