UAAP Team Profiles

[TeamPEx]

ADAMSON UNIVERSITY

AGUSTIN, Mike – F
ALVAREZ, Lester – G
BRONDIAL, Rodney – C
CABRERA, Roider – F
CAMSON, Eric – F
CAÑADA, Jerick – G
COLINA, Jan – F
ETRONE, Allen – G
LOZADA, Janus – F/G
MANUEL, Genesis – F
MANYARA, Austin – C
MONTECLARO, Ryan – G
NUYLES, Alex – G/F
OLALIA, Jeff – F
PETILOS, Harry – F
RIOS, Jansen – F
Head coach: AUSTRIA, Leo (5th season)


ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY

AUSTRIA, Bacon – G/F
CAPACIO, Gwyne – F
CHUA, Justin – C/F
CIPRIANO, Bon Jovi – G
ERRAM, JP – C
ESTRADA, Jeric – C
GOLLA, Frank – F
GONZAGA, Tonino – G/F
LONG, Kirk – G/F
MONFORT, Emman – G
PESSUMAL, Von – G
RAVENA, Kiefer – G
SALVA, Nico – F
SLAUGHTER, Greg – C
SUMALINOG, Oping – F
TIONGSON, Juami – G
Head coach: BLACK, Norman (7th season)


DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY

ANDRADA, Yutien – F
ATKINS, Simon – G
DE LA PAZ, Luigi – G
GOTLADERA, Ponso – C
MARATA, Joseph – F
MENDOZA, Jovet – F/C
PAREDES, Papot – F
REVILLA, LA – G
REYES, Martin – F
SARA, Roldan – G
TAMPUS, Jarelan – G
TORRES, Norbert – C/F
VAN OPSTAL, Arnold – C
VILLANUEVA, Maui – F
VOSOTROS, Almond – G
WEBB, Joshua – F
Head coach: PUMAREN, Dindo (2nd season with DLSU, 7th season overall)


FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY

BRINGAS, Mark – F
CAWALING, JR – F
CRUZ, Carl Bryan – C/F
ESCOTO, Russel – F
EXCIMINIANO, Chris – G
FABIAN, AA – G
FORONDA, Clarence – C
GARCIA, RR – G
KNUTTEL, Jens – G
MENDOZA, Gryann – F
NOUNDOU, Pipo – F
POGOY, Roger – F
RAMOS, Aldrech – C
ROMEO, Terrence – G
SENTCHEU, Christian – C
TOLOMIA, Cris – G
Head coach: FLORES, Bert (3rd season)


NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

ALOLINO, Angelo – G
CELDA, Reden – G
CELIZ, Robby – F
EMAN, Spencer – C
IGNACIO, Jul-Ashri – G/F
JAVILLONAR, Jeoff – F
KHOBUNTIN, Glenn – F
LABING-ISA, Cederick – G
MAGAT, Marion – C
MBE, Emmanuel – C
NEYPES, Kyle – F
PARKS, Bobby Ray – G/F
ROÑO, Robin – G
SINGH, Ajeet – G
TERSO, Joseph – G
VILLAMOR, Denice – F
Head coach: ALTAMIRANO, Eric (1st season with NU, 3rd season overall)


UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST

CASAJEROS, Lord – G
CHAVEZ, Von – G
DE LEON, RR – F/C
DURAN, Erwin – F
ENGUIO, Biboy – G/F
FLORES, Jairold – F
JAVIER, Chris – F/C
MONTELIBANO, Nico – F
NOBLE, JM – F
SABANGAN, Jessmar – G/F
SANTOS, Adrian – F
SUMANG, Roi – G
SUMIDO, Jay-ar – G
TAGARDA, Lucas – G
ZAMAR, Paul – G
ZOSA, BJ – G
Head coach: CODIÑERA, Jerry (1st season)


UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

EVANGELISTA, Vergel – C
FORTU, Don – G
GAMBOA, Mike – G
GINGERICH, Moriah – F/G
GOMEZ, Carlo – F
JURUENA, Mark – F
MANIEGO, Miggy – G/F
MANUEL, Jett – G
MBAH, Alinko – C
MONTECASTRO, Jelo – G
PASCUAL, Martin – F
ROMERO, Paolo – F
SILUNGAN, Mike – G/F
WIERZBA, Robby – G
WONG, Julius – G/F
Head coach: DANDAN, Ricky (1st season)


UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS

ABDUL, Karim – C
AFUANG, Carmelo – F
AYTONA, Eddie – G
CAMUS, Chris – F/C
FERRER, Kevin – F
FORTUNA, Jeric – G
JAVIER, Ron – F
LAO, Kent – F
LO, Kim – F
PE, Paolo – F
SARCIA, Jaypee – G
SHERIFF, Jamil – G
TAN, Robin – G
TENG, Jeric – G
UNGRIA, Aljohn – F
VIGIL, Louie – F
Head coach: JARENCIO, Pido (6th season)


Updated final list from inboundpass.com

[PEx_UAAP]

by pex_uaap_journo

While a few stars from last season may have graduated, used up their eligibility or decided to turn pro, a slew of talented rookies and a bunch of improved players are ready to see action in this year’s UAAP. This makes the basketball tournament even more exciting. The usual suspects are tipped to dominate the league, but with the crop of talent every squad has acquired or retained, people just cannot discount the supposedly lower-seeded teams.

UAAP Season 74 commences with a bang on Saturday, July 9, and PinoyExchange gives a preview of the eight teams in contention.

University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons (S73 last place): No where to go but UP?

Notice the question mark? After being relegated at the cellar for a few seasons now, and two winless campaigns in just four years, the UP Fighting Maroons will try to exorcise their horrendous past with newly-installed coach Ricky Dandan. The troika of hot shooting Mike Silungan, imposing Alinko Mbah, and the returning Mike Gamboa will lead the Maroons in trying to put the fight back in their moniker and their game. To do that, they must figure out if they are ready to bust out of the slump they have gotten used to in the past years.

University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers (S73 7th place): Putting the pieces together

Since winning the championship in 2006, the UST Growling Tigers have failed to sustain a victorious run, and have instead found themselves at the bottom of collegiate basketball’s pecking order. As UST celebrates its Quadricentennial, the Tigers are pressured to at least barge into the Final Four, if not churn out another miraculous Cinderella run similar to their Season 69 conquest. Good thing for Coach Pido Jarencio is that he now seemingly has found the right players to fit and improve his run-and-gun system. The Growling Tigers will be parading the services of two former high school MVPs in Kevin Ferrer of UST High School and Louie Vigil of JRU High School. Also suiting up for the Tigers are former Rookie of the Year Jeric Teng, Jeric Fortuna, and UST’s first dominating legit center since Jervy Cruz left the team, Cameroonian Karim Abdul.

University of the East Red Warriors (S73 6th place): Searching for answers

Amazing the difference two years make. In Season 72, the UE Red Warriors looked like they were ready to take their first championship in decades after advancing to the Finals against eventual victors Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles. Last year, despite the return of sharp shooter James Martinez, the Recto-based squad failed to enter the Final Four. The Warriors’ woes, however, do not stop there. This year, they have lost former Mythical Five members Paul Lee and Kenneth Acibar, setting up a rebuilding stage for UE, which has been one of the league’s most celebrated teams in the past decade. Taking on that arduous task are alumnus Jerry Codiñera who assumes coaching duties from Lawrence Chongson, and holdovers Paul Zamar, Adrian Santos, and JM Noble. Also expected to make an impact are rookies RR de Leon and Chris Javier.

National University Bulldogs (S73 5th place): Their bark comes with a bite

While the last two years have been frustrating for the Warriors, the contrary can be said about the NU Bulldogs. Since the Sys have taken over the school and its sports program, NU has become a viable option for players and a feared team for its opponents. This season, the Bulldogs are ready to show the league that the former whipping boys of the tournament are now ready to dominate. Up for this challenge are Ray Ray Parks, who was just given the go signal to play last July 5, and former Mythical Five member Emmanuel Mbe. This explosive duo is backstopped by one of the deepest benches in the league as NU employs the services of high school standouts Kyle Neypes, Cedrick Labing-isa, and Angelo Alolino. Talent and depth may be on NU’s side, but their lack of experience as a unit may serve as a roadblock to their campaign.

De La Salle University Green Archers (S73 4th place): Taft’s got talent

The big, mean, green machine is well oiled and ready to run and run over its opponents again. In the pre-season, La Salle has made a lot of noise by recruiting some of the land’s most talented high school players, letting go some of its talents, welcoming back a returning son, and beating its fiercest rival once in Dubai, and one more time in the Philippines. The shakeup in Taft may hardly have any short-term effect on the team, essentially because it has a talented crew ready to take back what they lost three seasons ago—the UAAP crown. After a short rebuilding stage, the Green Archers and Coach Dindo Pumaren now has a vocal leader in Simon Atkins, a shooter in Tata Marata, a spitfire in LA Revilla, and a twin tower combo in Norbert Torres and Arnold Van Opstal. These names plus La Salle’s deep arsenal and choking defense may just be enough to book them another trip to the Final Four or even back to the Finals.

Adamson University Soaring Falcons (S73 3rd place): It’s all in the mind

The Adamson Falcons have gotten so used to being overlooked by other teams that when they started being formidable, they still kept the underdog mentality. This lack of mental toughness and swagger has surely done the boys from San Marcelino in especially during their most crucial matches. Armed with experience and led by one of the league’s most brilliant tacticians, however, the Falcons hope to squash this tag and live up to their potential as a top team in the UAAP. Coach Leo Austria is expected to rely heavily on the backcourt tandem of Jeric Cañada and Lester Alvarez, and athletic Alex Nuyles. But big men Jan Colina, Eric Camson, and Austin Manyara will have to be more consistent if they want to finally bring Adamson to the apex of UAAP glory.

Far Eastern University Tamaraws (S73 Runner-up): No more heartbreaks?

After wounding up with the best record in the league at the end of the eliminations last year, the FEU Tamaraws shocked their followers when they were swept at the Finals by the Ateneo Blue Eagles. In the last two years, the cagers from Morayta seemed like they were ready to take the crown which they last won in 2005. However, a slew of controversies and a post-season meltdown have prevented them from doing so. Bert Flores, the engineer of FEU’s last championship, takes over the coaching reins from Glen Capacio, who resigned from his post shortly after his team’s Finals loss. Flores is raring to work the same magic that enabled Arwind Santos, Mark Isip, and RJ Rizada to obtain the UAAP diadem in Season 68. Leading the team’s charge this year are reigning MVP RR Garcia, and national team vital cogs Aldrech Ramos and JR Cawaling. FERN standouts Terrence Romeo, Russel Escoto, and Chris Tolomia are also expected to make a splash for the Tamaraws.

Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles (S73 Three-peat Champions): The strong keep getting stronger

For the Ateneo Blue Eagles, “you lose some, but you gain more”. This cannot be any more obvious than with Ateneo’s powerhouse lineup this season. Former team captain Eric Salamat has used up his years of eligibility, while last year’s Finals MVP Ryan Buenafe has decided to sit this season out. They will definitely be missed this year, but their absence will hardly provide a dent in the Eagles’ four-peat aspirations. This year’s hosts are parading two superstar acquisitions in Kiefer Ravena from the Ateneo High School, and Greg Slaughter who was just given the green light to play for the Eagles last July 5. As indicated by their victorious run at the Filoil-Flying V Tournament, Ravena—who was adjudged MVP—and Slaughter will be giving the biggest headaches to their opponents this season. The defense of the other teams will surely focus on these two, freeing the likes of Nico Salva, Kirk Long, Emman Monfort, and Justin Chua. Coach Norman Black and the boys from Katipunan are out to make history this season, and not even the so-called “curse of the hosts” may be enough to stop them.