1988 UAAP SEASON PREVIEW

ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY

When you win a championship convincingly and only two of your players are going to graduate then it’s a no brainer that your team is the team to beat. The core of the champion Blue Eagles will still be back with only Nonoy Chuatico and Haj Jeongco using up all their playing years. The triple towers of Katipunan features Danny Francisco, Alex Araneta and Eric Reyes with Albert Mendoza coming in if any of the three are in foul trouble. Coming up from the juniors division is 6’4 center –forward Rico Santiago who will be learning the ropes this year. The forwards are also interchangeable with JV Gayoso, Jet Nieto, Joesph Canlas and Mel Basa taking turns on shooting those threes and slashing to the paint if needed. The guards will be led by Jun Reyes, back-up Olsen Racela, Raymund Morales, Jojo Habana and returnee Gene Afable. Cris Calilan has moved over to the PBA with Purefoods and former Blue Eagle Fritz Gaston makes a return to Katipunan. Journalists were one in saying that Ateneo will get that back to back title.

DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY

Where Dindo Pumaren goes the De La Salle team goes. Saying that Dindo is unstoppable is an understatement but this year he has more help than ever as the Green Archers go ten man deep which is why the Green Archers are serious contenders to win the title. Just like the Blue Eagles, they won a National title last March after beating UST in the finals of the National Students Inter-Collegiate Basketball championship in Iloilo. Pumaren shared the limelight with Eddie Viaplana who topscored in that game with 20 pts. The DLSU frontliners are back with Joey Sta. Maria, Dickie Bachman and Richard Del Rosario who will be further bolstered with 6’6 rookie Zandro “Jun” Limpot and one and done player George Peralta who is a graduate of PATTS and is having his Masters in DLSU. Eddie Viaplana will still be there together with other reliables Gie Abanilla, Teddy Monasterio, Rafa Dinglasan and rookies John Edel Cardel, Lincoln Lim and Jonas Mariano.  With the entry of National Youth Campaigners Cardel, Limpot and Mariano, the Archers have reliable back-ups to their strong frontline. Coach Derrick Pumaren is now on his third year as head coach and is ready to make the finals an Ateneo – La Salle affair.
 
 

            UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

The UP Maroons have speed, good shooting and Benjie Paras. Paras is now the most dominant figure in amateur basketball and is a more mature basketball player. The Maroons were also favored to win last year if they made it to the finals but unfortunately due to the national team commitments of Paras, Ronnie Magsanoc and Joey Guanio, the Maroons lost three crucial games against Ateneo, Adamson and NU.  This year, Paras begged off from the National team and will be available the whole season together with Joey Guanio. The loss of Magsanoc is big and filling up that role is former Blue Eaglet Alfie Manlulo and rookie Sammy Marata. Other holdovers include Ramil Cruz and Jigs Mendoza who will hopefully blend in with Bong Arroyo, Hans Bayaborda, Fernando Pineda, Victor Dy and Jun Manuel. Coach Mon Bernabe, now on his second year, will still be the one calling the shots for the Maroons. If there is a team that will break the projected Ateneo vs. La Salle finals it’s the Maroons. 

FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY

Coach Turo Valenzona is back with the Tamaraws and this usually spells trouble when he is in the UAAP. (Please google UAAP three-peat in the 80’s). Valenzona said he will make this year’s team fast paced owing to the fact that last year when center Jack Tanuan was around they would go for slow breaks and set plays. This means that Andy de Guzman, Olan Cruz, Dodong Postanes will most likely fill the lanes for some fastrbreaks while Victor Pablo and rookie Sixto Mondarte will likely clog the lanes. Valenzona is also excited with his other rookies namely Pat Codinera who is a 6-3 point guard. The other rookies include Ronnie Calungcauiin and Joel Gaspar. The Tamaraws are considered dark horses for this year and can also win it all if they get their cards right.

UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST

How the mighty have fallen. For the first time in six years the UE Warriors are not favored to win it all. With Jerry Codinera using up all his eligibility the Warriors will be hard pressed to match up with the big men of Ateneo, DLSU,  and UST. Leading the way is the cat cool Vernie Villarias, Vilmer Banares and Boysie Zamar. The rookie to watch is 6’2 forward Ferdinand “Bong” Ravena who has been good in their practice games. Also returning are center Ildefonso Mariquit, Rommel delos Santos, former Juniors MVP Modesto Hojilla and youth campaigner Rodel Namuco. Conrado Barile and Alfred Bartolome are also gone and rookies Rino Magsalin, Eduardo Velasquez and Victor Villarias are expected to hold the fort. As mentioned by second year coach Roehl Nadurata, we don’t have a natural center, just natural fighters. The Warriors will fight and all its opponents will have a hard time securing a win against them.

ADAMSON UNIVERSITY

This team will be unpredictable this year. They don't have much up front as Joseph Valdez and Estanislao Saitanan are just adequate plus guards Joven Banez and Juancho Estrada are good but inconsistent.  But when you put together a proven scorer like Nandy Garcia, former Youth Campaigner Mulong Orillosa, Jethro Doromal, Ronnie Cahanding and Teddy Naluz at the guard- forward sports then that's a source of constant offense. The Falcons started well last year but got  lost then faltered in the second round, in that round they failed to win a single game and was the last victim of the NU Bulldogs on the last playing day.  Coach Boy Ascue who will be calling the shots this year has a lot of things to tweak and improve but when that happens expect the Falcons to pull out some surprises.

 

UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS

The UST Glowing Goldies have the big guys in Gido Babilonia, Julian Rabbi Tomacruz and Bobby Jose. Reliable guards in Amadito Tabora and Joseph Marcadillo and able forwards in Rohimust Santos and Alfrancis Chua but are underachieving. New Coach Orly Bauzon has brought in Segundo dela Cruz III the much heralded point guard from the juniors division to strengthen their team and hopefully boost their chances of winning. Last year, after going 6-3, they went backwards by forfeiting four games and struggled the rest of the way. Bennet Palad was supposed to get back but had some eligibility issues and was taken off UST’s roster. The Goldies will definitely play inside out in order for them to get those wins which will most probably come very hard this year.
 

 NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

Last year was a banner year for the National University Bulldogs as they registered two wins. The last time the Bulldogs won was in 1981 that means five consecutive winless seasons.  This year the Bulldogs are stronger up front with the arrival of 6-5 center Cris Bolado and 6-2 forward Michael Ballesteros. Returning this year are gunners Rey Artificio, Jerry Rey, Gilbert Lascano, Warren Bautista, Patricio Matias, Arnold Balotro and Alex Divino. Jesus Ferrer went to Australia and failed to get back on time for enrolment. Other rookies include Paul Wilson and Rosel Dineros. All that the Bulldogs want is to improve to three wins or surprise the big schools and that will be enough. Coach Sonny Paguia returns as coach for the nth time.

NEXT BLOG: THE 1988 SEASON 1ST ROUND

BLOG LIST