Let's start the ball rolling for UAAP Season 75 Men's Basketball!

[zoman114]

Wow. No love for the S73 Juniors MVP?

Oh yeah Kevin Ferrer! Yeah my bad! Left him out tsk tsk

[Tamunggoy]

Oh yeah Kevin Ferrer! Yeah my bad! Left him out tsk tsk

Aww.. you hurt their ego

[RuckuS]

A 14-0 sweep of Ateneo MBT is not possible, IMO. With the improvement of all teams during off-season and the inclusion of hyped rookies from different squads, this will be a hard season for the guys in blue.

Prediction:
F4 Spot (No particular order)
Ateneo
NU
UST
FEU/La Salle

i agree.. 13-1 is what im expecting. (with the lone loss coming from UP again, or UE, basta one of the irrelevant teams)

[Red_Engr]

i agree.. 13-1 is what im expecting. (with the lone loss coming from UP again, or UE, basta one of the irrelevant teams)

lol will take that 1 win coming from ADMU anytime of the day just to save the season from 0 - 14
were happy for 1 - 13

STILL

GO FIGHT RED & WHITE

[ExApparatus]

Anyare na nga pala sa UE MBT? Sayang ang 7-peat legacy.

[zoman114]

UAAP Season 75 Outlook: The LONG SHOTS: UP Fighting Maroons & UE Red Warriors




UP FIGHTING MAROONS

Who's out:
Vergel Evangelista, Don Fortu, Moriah Gingerich, Carlo Gomez, Miggy Maniego, Martin Pascual, and Mark Juruena

Who's new:
Returnees: Mark Lopez, Alvin Padilla, Diony Hipolito
Newbies: Raul Suyod, Chris Ball, Joseph Gallarza, Renzar Asilum

Season 74 Record & Finish: 2-12, dead last

2012 Filoil Record & Finish: 1-7, dead last in Group A

Preseason Positives:
Surprisingly enough, the numbers reveal that the UP Fighting Maroons weren't half-bad on defense. They topped the entire Filoil cast in fewest three-pointers allowed per game (just 2.5 opponent threes per match), and blocks per game (5.9bpg). At 15.4 turnovers per game, UP was actually not as turnover-prone as one might think. In fact, they turned the tables on their opponents, forcing roughly 19 turnovers per outing.

Preseason Concerns:
So UP played pretty solid defense, and defense wins championships. Sadly, however, UP won't win the championship this year, at least not with the way they've been playing offense. The Maroons were dead last in the Filoil field in points scored with just 59.4 per game. They were also the worst UAAP team in the preseason when it came to field goal % and three-point %, shooting just 34.1% and 23.6% respectively. And since they do have a penchant for settling for outside shots, the Maroons also didn't go to the line much. Their foes shot about 9 more charities than they did per game. UP's opposition, on average, made about 16 FTs per game, while the Diliman five connected on just 8.6. And despite having Alinko Mbah and a promising new big man in Raul Suyod (or is it Soyud?), they were also -7 in rebounds per game. Their playmaking also left a lot to be desired -- dishing out 13.3apg was last among UAAP squads.

What should work in S75:
Alinko Mbah was great last year in terms of rebounding and patrolling the paint on defense, but his offense wasn't up to snuff. Carlo Gomez was perhaps UP's best legit low post threat, but he's gone now. This is where Raul Suyod comes in. Suyod was UP's third-best scorer in the preseason while also leading the team in rebounding. His weakness, it seems, is his penchant for foul trouble. He was third among all UAAP players in terms of fouls per game in the preseason.

The return of Alvin Padilla and Mark Lopez should add more wing options/threats for coach Ricky Dandan. In the event Mike Silungan and/or Jett Manuel get cold, both Padilla and Lopez can take on the scoring cudgels.

Another potentially exciting prospect for the Iskos is the development of youngsters Paolo Romero, Renzar Asilum, and Manuel. Manuel, last season's Most Improved Player, should see even more playing time this season even if Padilla and Lopez play pretty much the same way he does. Romero is undersized at the 4 or 5, but his grit is nothing to scoff at, while Asilum has a lot of upside. Look for these former RP-Youth standouts to have many bright moments this season.

What will be tough in S75:
For UP to match or improve on its Season 74 standing, they'll have to score more consistently. Mike Silungan is still going to be their best scoring threat, but he's not the type of player who can carry a team UNLESS he shoots the lights out. He's not a prototype facilitator who can make plays from anywhere. His biggest weapon is his shooting, which is not saying much since, at least in terms of percentages, he's not exactly Mr. Velvet Touch. He did finish in the top 5 in the Filoil tourney in terms of 3pt field goals made per game, but he shot at an un-amazing 30% clip. On average, that's maybe 2 converted threes out of 6-7 tries per game. Volume shooter, but volume misses, too.

The re-entry of Padilla and Lopez might also bring in some unexpected challenges -- like whose minutes will get slashed. I definitely think Manuel and Silungan should be the main options in the wing rotation, which means Padilla can be the top reliever. Both Lopez and Jelo Montecastro (yet another wingman) can pinch-hit at the PG spot, but that means less time for UP's other playmakers (Mike Gamboa and Asilum). Looks like coach Dandan will really have to evaluate his rotation. Oh, and where is Mark Juruena anyway?

In conclusion:
UP will not make the Final Four this season. Of course, that's barring injuries and other fortuitous events, but, the way things stand, they might not even win more than 3 or 4 games. We will see improved defense from the Maroons, but they will find it tough to score consistently. They also will be wanting of a true leader (my fingers are crossed for you, Jett Manuel).

Looks like UP will, again, finish at 8th spot.


UE RED WARRIORS

Who's out:
Paul Zamar, Biboy Enguio, Von Chavez, Lucas Tagarda, Nico Montelibano, RR De Leon, JM Noble, Lord Casajeros, BJ Zosa, and Jess Sabangan

Who's new:
Returnees: Sam Razon
Newbies: Dan Alberto, Ian Valdez, Gene Belleza, Ivan Hernandez, Roy Villarias, Carlo Duncil, JP Mena, Mark Olayon, and Pedrito Gallanza, Jr.

Season 74 Record & Finish: 3-11, 7th place

2012 Filoil Record & Finish: 3-5, 6th place in Group A

Preseason Positives:
The Red warriors can look back on several good things that happened this past preseason. The troubling thing is most of those good things are because of just two guys – Roi Sumang and Adrian Santos. Not surprisingly, Sumang led UE in scoring with 14.6ppg, which was tops among all point guards in the Filoil meet. He was also the top playmaker bar none with 5.5apg while turning the ball over just 2.5 times per game. That gives him a 2-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, which is rare in this part of the globe. He was also a pretty good defender, netting 1.3 swipes per game. Sumang is the biggest reason why UE was the second-best playmaking UAAP team (15.6apg) next to NU.

The other guy UE coach Jerry Codiñera might be able to count on is forward Adrian Santos, who is in his third playing year. Like he did in Season 74, Santos was near the top of the heap in field goal shooting (61.9%), and rebounds (7.6rpg) during the Filoil wars. He’s a good reason why the Warriors topped all other UAAP teams in rebounding with 45.1 a game.

Preseason Concerns:
Apart from Sumang and Santos, however, there are certainly a lot of chinks in the Warriors’ collective armor. When measured against all other UAAP teams, UE was the worst in points allowed (74.1ppg), which can probably be explained by them allowing their foes to shoot 40.8% from the field and 27.3% from beyond the arc, both dead last among UAAP squads. Coach Codiñera’s boys also need to sharpen their sights from the charity stripe, since they shot just 58.5% from the line. And, unlike UP, UE was quite turnover-prone at 18.4 miscues per game.

What should work in S75:
Despite the risk of sounding foolish in the face of other awesome floor generals like RR Garcia, LA Revilla, and Jeric Fortuna, I’m calling it right now – Roi Sumang is going to be the best point guard of Season 75. That’s in terms of numbers, at least. He’ll also be pretty much the only reason for any non-UE fan to tune in to any UE game, unless the Warriors happen to be playing against one’s own school, of course.

Still, like last season, nobody can put it past these fearless Warriors to spring a few upsets and beat up a few giants. They did that against the Green Archers and the Tamaraws last year, and they repeated over DLSU this past summer. In short, one shouldn’t expect big things out of the Recto-based five, but nobody should drop his guard either. This is the saving grace of a team replete with young talents who are willing to grind it out in every match. That’s the kind of team coach Codiñera has built, and that’s the kind of team the other seven teams must prepare for.

What will be tough in S75:
The other side of the coin when it comes to a young team, of course, is inexperience. As great as Roi Sumang will be, I’m pretty sure he’ll fumble in some crucial moments – maybe a pass too late here, or maybe a hurried shot there. Ditto with the other guys on the team. This is why, despite definitely not being the number one option on the team, not having someone like JM Noble is significant. In what could've been his last tour of duty with UE, he would've been able to fulfill the role of “old wise man” in their scheme of things.

Another stumbling block this season will be UE’s depth, or lack thereof. The biggest reason why only Roi Sumang and Adrian Santos figured prominently in the preseason player rankings is that the rest of UE’s roster is filled with players of promise, not necessarily players of, umm, awesomeness. Don’t get me wrong. When compared to many other collegiate programs in the country or in the metro, UE is stacked, but when measured against Ateneo, FEU, DLSU, UST, or NU, it’s undeniable that UE’s depth is, well, not so deep. The danger with that, of course, is that this could be the Roi Sumang show, which is not the worst thing in the world, but it’s certainly not what will propel the Warriors back into title contention.

In conclusion:
UE will be an interesting team. I doubt if they’ll get blown out left and right, but I also doubt if they can win more than a handful of games. Right now, I’ll consider it an upset if they lost to UP, but it’ll also be as much of an upset if the Warriors beat anyone else, which they will, just not often. UE should win about 4 or 5 games. Anything past that is reason to bust out the champagne.

They won’t be doormats this season, but there are a lot of reasons why they’re underdogs. 7th.

Source: HoopNut.blogspot.com

Podcast interview with AdMU's Norman Black here.

[haqseau]

^ Mikee Reyes wont be returning this season. His shoulder isnt fully healed.

With regards to Juruena I think the coaching staff has had enough of his lackadaisical attitude...shape up physically and mentally or ship out.

Mbah, almost didnt make the team. It was a decision that went down the wire so to speak.

[ExApparatus]

Good to hear they have some lookouts!

[zoman114]

^ Mikee Reyes wont be returning this season. His shoulder isnt fully healed.

With regards to Juruena I think the coaching staff has had enough of his lackadaisical attitude...shape up physically and mentally or ship out.

Mbah, almost didnt make the team. It was a decision that went down the wire so to speak.

Thanks for the added info!

[BLACKSEDAN]

UAAP Season 75: Juniors Division Standouts

9) Jolo Mendoza (AHS)
- 2012 Filoil Stats: 7.8rpg, 1.8apg, 1.2rpg, 33% 3pt shooting
- Yes, the stats aren’t objectively impressive, but don’t be quick to judge. Jolo, after all, is barely 14 years old. He’s been in high school for a little more than a month only. And the last freshman to ever make the Ateneo Juniors Team? I don’t know, you may have heard of him – Kiefer Ravena. Jolo is being hyped to be the next “Kiefer” in the same way Kobe and LeBron were supposed to be the next “MJs.” Jolo does share a lot of qualities with Kiefer, like fearlessness, the raw talent, and great basketball IQ. The thing where Jolo trumps Kiefer, I think, and this is not even “relatively speaking,” is that Jolo is a much more polished jump shooter. I’m not sure if Jolo will ever achieve the feats Kiefer has already achieved in the same span of time, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he does meet the same expectations, or even surpass them. Remember that moment in the 2007 UAAP Juniors Finals when Kiefer stole the ball a couple of times from Jeric Fortuna? That was a defining moment for the then-upstart Ravena, and I’m sure the now-upstart Jolo Mendoza will have at least one similar defining moment this season. Just wait for it.


Source: HoopNut.blogspot.com

In the past 10 years, there has been 4 true freshmen that made the AHS team but Kiefer was not the last true freshman. Gian Chiu of Xavier was a back-up big man as a freshman. Kiefer came off the bench to contribute valuable minutes. The last true freshman of AHS was Jay Javellosa who was the starting center for the eventual champion team captained by Kiefer. Jolo is the latest star out of the basketball factory called AGS and long awaited by the crazy hoop nuts of Moro. I agree with you that he is to young and small in stature at the moment to lead the under sized team but Epok Quimpo will lean on him heavily in the later stages of the second round.

A final 4 finish for AHS is not far fetched behind NU and possibly ahead of FEU. The bigger question is who is the 4th team. My choice is between Zobel and UST.

[brief]

In the past 10 years, there has been 4 true freshmen that made the AHS team but Kiefer was not the last true freshman. Gian Chiu of Xavier was a back-up big man as a freshman. Kiefer came off the bench to contribute valuable minutes. The last true freshman of AHS was Jay Javellosa who was the starting center for the eventual champion team captained by Kiefer. Jolo is the latest star out of the basketball factory called AGS and long awaited by the crazy hoop nuts of Moro. I agree with you that he is to young and small in stature at the moment to lead the under sized team but Epok Quimpo will lean on him heavily in the later stages of the second round.

A final 4 finish for AHS is not far fetched behind NU and possibly ahead of FEU. The bigger question is who is the 4th team. My choice is between Zobel and UST.

Isn't Joe Silva the coach?

[haqseau]

Thanks for the added info!

You're welcome. I was assured that there'll be...ehem...more changes in that UP line up of yours in the next few days.

[BLACKSEDAN]

Isn't Joe Silva the coach?

My bad, Joe Silva is indeed the coach of AHS. Epok Quimpo coaches the lady eagles. Sorry.

[zoman114]

In the past 10 years, there has been 4 true freshmen that made the AHS team but Kiefer was not the last true freshman. Gian Chiu of Xavier was a back-up big man as a freshman. Kiefer came off the bench to contribute valuable minutes. The last true freshman of AHS was Jay Javellosa who was the starting center for the eventual champion team captained by Kiefer. Jolo is the latest star out of the basketball factory called AGS and long awaited by the crazy hoop nuts of Moro. I agree with you that he is to young and small in stature at the moment to lead the under sized team but Epok Quimpo will lean on him heavily in the later stages of the second round.

A final 4 finish for AHS is not far fetched behind NU and possibly ahead of FEU. The bigger question is who is the 4th team. My choice is between Zobel and UST.

You're absolutely right about Javelosa! I guess I was thinking of the last freshman guard. My bad! #howcouldimissthat?!?!?!

Right now I'm ranking NU ahead of AHS and FEU with Zobel as 4th. UST and UPIS are the dark horses.

Looking back, unless I'm mistaken, the freshies who've gone directly to the AHS's Jrs team are:

Gian Chiu -- 2004-2005 (moved to the US after I think)
Kiefer Ravena -- 2007-2010
Jay Javelosa -- 2010 (moved to Reedley afterwards to focus on the RP Youth Team)
Jolo Mendoza -- 2012

[zoman114]

UAAP Season 75 Outlook: The DARK HORSES: Adamson Soaring Falcons & UST Growling Tigers




ADAMSON FALCONS

Who's out:
Lester Alvarez, Jerick Cañada, Janus Lozada, Jan Colina, Austin Manyara, Genesis Manuel

Who's new:
Ar-Raouf Julkipli, Jericho Cruz, Eric Cabigas, Gian Abrigo, Celedonio Trollano, James Deans

Season 74 Record & Finish: 10-4, seeded second in the Final Four, but lost twice to the FEU Tamaraws

2012 Filoil Record & Finish: 4-4, tied for fourth in Group B, but because of the win-over-the-other provision, College of St. Benilde was the one that advanced.

Preseason Positives:
One big concern for the Falcons going into this UAAP season is the point guard position. It’s very difficult, after all, to replace a duo as dynamic as the one Adamson had with Lester Alvarez and Jerick Cañada. Ryan Monteclaro is next in line for the Falcons, but he doesn’t exactly send shivers down anybody’s spine. So far, he’s accounted relatively well, especially in terms of taking care of the basketball. With him as coach Leo Austria’s chief playmaker, Adamson ended the preseason as the team with the third fewest turnovers per game, and as the third best UAAP team in terms of assists. Does this mean Alvarez and Cañada won’t be missed? Of course they’ll be missed, but maybe their absence won’t be as bad as once thought.

Another good thing about Adamson in the preseason was that they played reasonably good defense. They were the best among all the UAAP teams in terms of forcing turnovers, and were near the top in both the blocks and steals categories. This is mainly because of the development of Rodney Brondial at the slot, and the emergence of newcomer Jericho Cruz as a good on-ball defender.

Most impressive, however, was how Adamson enjoyed a plus 4 difference in terms of scoring average. The Falcons averaged 71.0ppg, while allowing just 66.9 for the opposition. This means that Adamson has what it takes to be a winning team, but, of course, that alone doesn’t automatically mean they WILL be a winning team.

Preseason Concerns:
For one thing, despite the improvement of Brondial and the generally solid play of Eric Camson, the Falcons still floundered in terms of rebounding. They were the worst UAAP team in terms of rebounds, and were, on average, -4 against the opposition. When one considers that they didn’t even battle the bigs of Ateneo, DLSU, and UST in the Filoil tourney, it seems their rebounding average of 40 per might sink even further when the UAAP wars commence.

Despite generally scoring better than their opponents over the summer, Adamson also showed a disturbing propensity to sputter from the charity stripe and from behind the arc. At just 56% shooting, the Falcons were the worst UAAP team in terms of free throw accuracy. They were also near the bottom of the rankings when it came to three-point shooting with a paltry 23.9% success rate.

Still, the most significant concern coming off the preseason is the underperformance of Alex Nuyles. With the exit of most of Adamson’s core after last season, the onus is on Nuyles to really take over. He has, however, so far been overtaken. In the preseason, the once prolific wingman averaged just 8.5ppg while shooting 33% from the floor and 46% from the line. He also had the second-highest turnover rate on the team. Needless to say, those aren’t the numbers the San Marcelino faithful are expecting from their undisputed leader.

What should work in S75:
Aside from Alvarez and Cañada, two other names no longer on the roster are Jan Colina and Janus Lozada. Both were highly regarded players, and they had their share of brilliance in the past few years. They will be missed, but maybe not as much as one might assume. This is because their exodus leaves just enough room for Brondial and Cruz to blossom.

The bleach-haired Brondial showed his top-tier potential by averaging about 11 points and 8 rebounds in the preseason, both stats just second to Camson’s numbers. For his part, Cruz has been as good as advertised, too. He normed better than 10 points per outing to go along with about 2 dimes and a team-leading 1.3 steals per game. Brondial should now start at center, especially since Austin Manyara won’t be returning. Cruz will probably start, too, unless Nuyles slides to the two and streak-shooter Roider Cabrera starts at the three.

No matter what scheme coach Austria uses, though, he should still have a really solid starting unit for each game. Imagine a first five composed of Brondial, Camson, Nuyles, Cruz, and Monteclaro. Not too shabby, right? Whether that’s championship or even Final Four material, however, is still up for discussion.

Having said that, what the Falcons may lack in depth should be compensated to some degree by their Final Four experience last season and the high level of coaching Leo Austria is sure to bring. The Falcons are going to be plenty competitive in Season 75.

What will be tough in S75:
Being competitive, however, is never really enough to get high praise from all corners. There will be many moments in the next few months when Adamson fans will be left wondering about the “what ifs” of last season, which many viewed was the Falcons’ best chance at really vying for a title. After beating Ateneo (finally, after a gazillion and one tries), everyone and his granny thought Adamson had finally figured things out, that they were good enough to dethrone the Blue Eagles. In reality, maybe they WERE good enough, but they never really found out because they squandered their twice-to-beat edge against FEU. It’s this mentality of crumbling under the pressure that really gets Adamson down, and, coupled with the dearth of talent, the proverbial mountain might just be too high even for these Soaring Falcons.

In conclusion:
Like I wrote, Adamson will be a competitive team, but they won’t be a winning team. They should still be a notch above both UE and UP, but, unless Alex Nuyles rediscovers his old fighting form, they might not figure prominently in the Final Four race. I expect Adamson’s win ceiling to be at 7 games, which is a couple of wins away from a Final Four berth. 6th place.


UST Growling Tigers

Who's out:
Chris Camus, John Sheriff, Ed Aytona, Aljohn Ungria, Kent Lao, Ron Javier

Who's new:
Returnees: Clark Bautista, Aljon Mariano, and Eduardo Daquioag
Newbies: Janrey Garrido, Errol Villar, Robert Haingan, and Ken Mamaril

Season 74 Record & Finish: 8-6, advanced to the Final Four where they got eliminated by Ateneo

2012 Filoil Record & Finish: 5-3, advanced to the quarterfinals, but got eliminated by NU.

Preseason Positives:
Despite the absence of energy man Chris Camus, UST still defied expectations by being a good rebounding team. That’s mainly due to Karim Abdul averaging nearly 10 boards a game, and returnee Aljon Mariano being surprisingly effective on the glass, collecting a little more than 6 caroms per outing.

The return of Mariano also added another dimension to UST’s offense, as the slasher brought his devil-may-care penetration to the fore. The result? UST led all UAAP teams in free throw attempts and free throws made per game. The Tigers attempted about 24 charities a game, converting about two-thirds of that amount. That means they made 16 extra points per game, which should be significant since they were mainly a jump-shooting team last season.

Another preseason plus was being one of the top 5 Filoil teams in scoring at 70.6ppg, but, knowing how coach Pido Jarencio is fixated with lighting up the scoreboard, that shouldn’t be much of a shock. At least the España fans can still expect a lot of buckets this coming season. I guess some things never do change.

Preseason Concerns:
Another thing that hasn’t changed is UST’s penchant for turning the ball over. The Tigers were the second most turnover-prone UAAP team in the preseason with 18.1 per game. And the times when they did have the ball? They weren’t particularly stellar, either.

UE and UP were the only teams who fared worse from the field, and a 25.8% clip from rainbow country isn’t exactly inspiring. Considering how UST attempted nearly 19 threes a game during the summer? Uh oh.

Another “uh oh?” There’s a big donut-hole where Camus used to be. The athletic Fil-Am was one of the best interior defenders last season, and one of the more immediate results of his absence was UST becoming the worst shot-blocking UAAP team in the Filoil tourney. Consequently, the Black & Gold became the second worst defending UAAP team, too, allowing their foes to score about 69ppg.

What should work in S75:
Having said that, UST still made the quarterfinals of the preseason tournament by winning 4 of their 8 elimination round games. Among their victims were UE and UP. Backed by a solid starting unit, the Tigers should continue to be at least marginally better than both the Warriors and the Maroons. Imagine Abdul at center, Kevin Ferrer at PF, Mariano as swingman, Jeric Teng at off-guard, and Jeric Fortuna calling the plays. Rock-solid. Championship class? Hmmm…

I guess if Aljon Mariano does bust out the way Jojo Duncil did in 2006, then perhaps UST can make the Final Four. But will he? Early signs indicate he just might. He averaged more than 15 points per outing while shooting about 45% from the field in the preseason. The only UAAP players who scored better were Ray Parks and Greg Slaughter. Pretty good company, right? I doubt he’ll supplant Parks as the best SF in the league, but if he continues to be effective, then the other 7 teams should definitely watch out.

Couple Mariano’s production with a refined Abdul and an accurate Fortuna, and UST can give any team a run for its money. Abdul should average at least close to a double-double this season, and Fortuna should continue his hot shooting form from the summer, where he led all UAAP players with 50% accuracy from three-land. Factor in the experience from the last season’s Final Four run and anything can happen.

What will be tough in S75:
What will happen, though, is that the shallowness of UST’s bench will be its undoing. Sure, Clark Bautista is back and Melo Afuang isn’t exactly the worst big man in the country, but the talent really tapers off relative to the depth of other UAAP squads like Ateneo, FEU, DLSU, and NU.

The thing UST’s got going for itself is its trademark streakiness. With Fortuna, Teng, and Bautista, coach Jarencio has a group of shooters who can erase a double-digit deficit in a flash. That same group, however, can also shoot the Tigers out of any game if left untempered.

And this is where Chris Camus’s absence really hurts, because even in the moments when UST suffered a shooting drought, he could keep them in the game thru sheer athleticism and will. If Camus were still here, UST would be a cinch for the Final Four. Without him? UST might be outside looking in.

In conclusion:
UST is too streaky to be taken for granted. When they’re on, they’re really on. And for how many games will they be ON? Maybe 6, 7 at best. By the middle of the season, we’ll all talk about how UST is in the thick of the Final Four race, but when the dust settles, we’ll see España flooded with tears again. 5th spot.

Source: HoopNut.blogspot.com

[zoman114]

UAAP Season 75 Outlook: The CONTENDERS: De La Salle Green Archers & FEU Tamaraws




DE LA SALLE GREEN ARCHERS

Who's out:
Sam Marata, Simon Atkins, Dan Sara, Maui Villanueva, Martin Reyes

Who's new:
Returnee: Jed Manguera
Newbies: Mark Tallo, Jeron Teng, Gabby Reyes, Thomas Torres

Season 74 Record & Finish: 5-9, 6th place

2012 Filoil Record & Finish: 7-4, finished third in Group B and advanced to the Finals, where they lost to NU

Preseason Positives:
There were a lot of things that went well for the Green Archers in the preseason, and many of these were really due to one overarching reason: defying what their moniker might suggest, the Archers went inside deep and often.

They went inside to Norbert Torres and Yutien Andrada. Star rookie Jeron Teng repeatedly made beelines to the basket. The Archers had the second-fewest three-point attempts among all the UAAP squads. Quite uncharacteristic, right?

Yes, but that could be what’ll make them more dangerous in Season 75. With the exit of both Simon Atkins and Sam Marata, it’s pretty clear rookie UAAP coach Gee Abanilla will have to look down low for most of his offense. And he has great tools in Torres, Andrada, and Teng.

The early returns indicate Abanilla’s onto something here. La Salle was top 3 among UAAP teams in FG shooting at 39.4%. That’s not exactly stellar, but it’s a definite plus knowing your team is taking it strong instead of settling for jumpers. The focus on the interior has also led to DLSU attempting 22 freebies per game, which was third among UAAP clubs.

The Green & White have also seemed to tighten up on the defensive end. La Salle finished as the second-best shot-blocking team in the preseason with 4.7bpg. That’s thanks mainly to Torres and Andrada pairing up for almost 3 rejections per outing. That improved inside D has also helped the Archers become one of the top defensive teams, allowing just 63.8ppg for their opponents. At 45.0 rpg, DLSU was also the second-best rebounding group in the summer, netting an average plus 4 difference on the boards against their foes.

Looks like the big changes post-Season 74 might be reaping dividends faster than expected.

Preseason Concerns:
Before the DLSU fans can break out the alcohol, however, they have to temper their expectations with the following chinks in their armor.

Perhaps due to the fact that much of their offense revolves around pounding the ball down low to Norbert Torres or watching Jeron Teng break his man down and go strong/fish for a foul, the assist numbers of DLSU aren’t super impressive. At 13.7 dimes per game, the Archers were second-worst among UAAP teams in the preseason. A bright spot, though, was the play of almost-Blue Eagle Mark Tallo, who led the Greenies with 3.1 assists per outing.

Another surprising dip for the Taft quintet was steals. In Season 74, DLSU averaged about 4.7 steals per game, but that number went down to just 3.5 in the preseason. The culprit? I’m not really certain, but I’m guessing the absence of the Pumaren press might be a factor.

Of course, La Salle wouldn’t be La Salle without awful free throw shooting. Last season, they shot about 51% from the line. They upped that in the preseason to a more respectable 63.6% clip, but that still places them in the bottom half of all Filoil teams. The good news is the guy who got to the line the most during the summer, Jeron Teng, actually hit 74% of his freebies. The bad news, however, is that the other guys who normed about 2 free throw attempts per game, Norbert Torres, Jovet Mendoza, and Joshua Webb, collectively shot just 59%.

What should work in S75:
Those preseason issues notwithstanding, the La Salle faithful should feel renewed hope for the coming UAAP wars. This is primarily due to the new coaching staff seemingly able to adjust well to what the team really needs – a new system.

What we all have to remember is that by and large this is not Gee Abanilla’s team, or, more accurately, this is not a team he formed 100%. Of the guys on his roster, Abanilla directly recruited (maybe not even) the bona fide rookies – Teng, Gabby Reyes, and Thomas Torres (Tallo is technically not counted because he’s in his sophomore year in college already). The natural implication of this is Abanilla has to put in a system that plays to the strengths of the players. He cannot, or should not, force the players to buy into a system they’re not really suited for.

This early, it’s pretty evident Abanilla is utilizing his best players’ strengths. Norbert Torres is carving space down low instead of mimicking Dirk Nowitzki. Yutien Andrada’s defense is making us all remember why there were Tayshaun Prince comparisons in his rookie season. Almond Vosotros’s outside shooting is being maximized. Mark Tallo has enough room to create, given his awesome streetball handles. And Jeron Teng is being cleared enough space to wreak havoc with his trademark penetration.

So far it’s all looked good.

And speaking of Teng – man, he’s exceeded my expectations so far. Not that it matters to him, but I really thought his progress would start a little slower than it has. Instead, at least in some preseason games, it looked as if he has already become La Salle’s main man. Think of that big three in the waning moments against Ateneo, and you can be forgiven for making Mac Cardona comparisons. Will he do a Parks and become the MVP? I don’t think so. Will he do a Kiefer and be a shoo-in for the ROY? Barring any injuries, I think it’s a foregone conclusion.

What will be tough in S75:
What isn’t a foregone conclusion, however, is whether all those positive things can actually outweigh all the team’s negatives throughout a 14-game season.

Like what was mentioned earlier, free throw shooting is still a nagging issue. Sure, Teng, Webb, Luigi dela Paz and Co. might be able to continuously slash and get hacked, but if they cannot hit their charities, then what’s the use?

Another possible issue is the distribution of playing time. On some level, this undoubtedly factored in on the numerous green-to-elsewhere defections of the past couple of seasons. Will guys be given the playing time they expect? Will their talents be utilized enough? Will they see enough burn time for them to warm up and/or get a rhythm going?

For guys like Jovet Mendoza and Jed Manguera, that might not be a problem. So far, they’ve shown a propensity to really play their respective roles to the hilt, but what about the other guys?

What about guys like Jarelan Tampus, Ponso Gotladera, dela Paz, or even Arnold Van Opstal? These guys need to see significant daylight to really be effective. Will they be able to adjust, or will the prospect of green pastures turn into broken promises instead?

In conclusion:
I think Norbert Torres will give Greg Slaughter, Emmanuel Mbe, and Karim Abdul a run for their money as the league’s best big man. I think Jeron Teng is the standard for all newcomers this season. I think Gee Abanilla is on the right track. I see DLSU making the Final Four and making life difficult for whomever they’ll face, but, like in previous seasons, I also see them having the occasional stumble to a team like UE or UP. 4th spot.


FEU TAMARAWS

Who's out:
Aldrech Ramos, JR Cawaling, Ping Exciminiano, Pipo Noundou, Christian Sentcheu, AA Fabian

Who's new:
Raymar Jose, Arvie Bringas, Anthony Hargrove, Mark Belo, Patrick Guerrero, Antonio Iñigo, Jr.

Season 74 Record & Finish: 9-5, 3rd seed in the Final Four, where they beat Adamson twice, and then advanced to the Finals, where they got swept by Ateneo

2012 Filoil Record & Finish: 6-3, advanced to the quarterfinals, but got eliminated by Ateneo.

Preseason Positives:
FEU is FEU. They’re good at playing two-way basketball. They excel offensively and defensively. Their performance this past summer is proof.

They were the second-best UAAP team in FG shooting (39.6%) and were top 3 overall in scoring (71.3ppg). They didn’t have much trouble on the offensive end, what with RR Garcia, Terrence Romeo, and Anthony Hargrove all averaging in twin digits. Garcia and Romeo lived up to their billing as volume shooters while Hargrove was well-settled at the slot, averaging 10 points and nearly 8 rebounds per game. FEU was also the second-best UAAP team in terms of taking care of the ball.

The Tamaraws were plenty to handle on defense, too. They forced more than 16 turnovers from their opponents on average, and were top 5 overall in points allowed. They allowed the opposition to score just 65.8ppg. And because nobody on the FEU roster is really near the top in terms of blocks and steals, we can only assume that their team defense and rotation really contributed to making life difficult for their foes.

Preseason Concerns:
That’s not to say life was all rosy for the Tamaraws themselves. It seems that even with shooters of renown like Garcia, Romeo, and Cris Tolomia, the Green & Gold still found a way to be tied as the worst-shooting UAAP squad from beyond the arc. They connected on just 39 of 165 attempts from rainbow country, which is good for well under 24%. Considering how they hoisted, on average, about 19 threes a game, that might just be a really slippery slope for them.

It seems they also struggled with defending the three, as they allowed their opponents to make about 4.6 triples per outing, which is the highest of any UAAP squad. Coach Bert Flores will have to tinker with his close outs if the Tams are to improve these numbers.

Another thing FEU will probably have to look at is just how serious RR Garcia’s ankle injury is. In one interview about a week ago, he said was just at 70%, which, considering how players like underplaying their pains and aches, might be an optimistic estimate. If, indeed, Garcia plays around or below 70%, then can anyone else facilitate the offense with relative efficiency? Neither Romeo nor Tolomia are known playmakers, they’re both scorers, so who will take the cudgels?

What should work in S75:
Still, a 70% RR Garcia is better than the 100% of most guards out there. He should remain a steadying force for FEU, and, last I checked, point guards can still make good decisions even with gimpy ankles.

Suffice to say, FEU’s backcourt trio is going to be the most prolific this season. LA Revilla, Mark Tallo, and Almond Vosotros will be interesting. Jeric Fortuna, Jeric Teng, and Clark Bautista will all put up a lot of shots. The group of Gelo Alolino, Mark De Guzman, and Cedrick Labing-isa in NU is pretty good, too. But this Morayta combo is going to be the best of ‘em. They combined for 35.6 points, 8.3 assists, and 4.2 treys per game in the preseason – scary by any standard.

FEU also has the requisite title contender intangibles in spades – experience and toughness. Their last two trips to the Finals, though both ended in utter defeat, should continue to make them headier in critical moments, while the addition of Baste bruiser Arvie Bringas should make their fierce frontline even more menacing.

What will be tough in S75:
What FEU has in spunk and toughness, however, they somehow lost in terms of versatility. Garcia, Romeo, and Tolomia can all play 1 or 2. Hargrove, the Bringas boys, Carl Cruz, and Russel Escoto are all strictly frontcourt beasts. What’s missing?

Think Reil Cervantes, Arwind Santos, Mac Baracael, JR Cawaling, and Marlon Adolfo – the prototypical FEU swingman who’s long on limbs and talent. Solid guards and big men coach Flores has, but who will he use to counter Jeron Teng, or Ryan Buenafe, or Ray Parks? Cruz might be too slow. Tolomia and Romeo might be bullied in the post. Roger Pogoy? Unless he becomes the new Ping Exciminiano, then forget it.

In conclusion:
There aren’t a lot of things wrong with FEU. Truth be told, much of the criticism here is nothing more than nitpicking. Having said that, the Tams aren’t the juggernauts they once were. With RR Garcia and Terrence Romeo explosive, but volatile, scorers, and Anthony Hargrove yet untested in actual UAAP competition, it’s difficult to place the Morayta quintet at the very top. Still, anything less than a Final Four berth will be complete failure. 3rd place.

[jayvee1323]

si Melvin Baloran magiging assistant head coach ng bullpups

[binomial24]

My Fearless Forecast:

I cannot really see a team who can sweep the elimination round this season. Every team is dangerous; unpredictable (refers also to UE and UP, by the way hehe). My prediction is that the top seed team will end with either 12-2 or 11-3. I expect upsets this season  And defending champions Ateneo should be careful with it (for at least five teams can beat them this season).

About the rankings, here is mine:
1. National University – they already have the momentum after sweeping and winning the Filoil Cup. The duo of Bobby Parks and Emmanuel Mbe will play big for NU’s “hopefully” sweet victory this season. But everything is unpredictable. Although many sports analysts expect them to show their fangs 
Strength: Mbe and Parks, % FG
2. Ateneo de Manila University – experience will be their main factor. With coach Norman Black coaching for his last year, of course he wants to end his UAAP career with a championship, a rare five-peat championship. But the departure of experienced players Emman Monfort and Kirk Long will definitely affect their roster.
Strength: Big man Greg Slaughter, fastbreaks, experience
Three teams are expected to battle with the last two spots in the Final Four. The retaliating De La Salle Green Archers under a new tactician, the more intact UST Growing Tigers, and last year’s first runner up FEU Tamaraws. After seeing the line-up, I think UST and FEU have bigger chances in snaring the 3rd and 4th spot.
3. Why UST? – I expect them to pull an upset against Ateneo. Aside from NU and La Salle, UST could also overthrow the Eagles because of their cohesive line-up, with the return of shooters Eduardo Daquioag, Clark Bautista and swingman Aljon Mariano. I think this will be Mariano’s year. He led the scoring for UST in 7 of its nine outings in the Filoil Cup plus veterans Fortuna, Teng, Afuang and sophomore Ferrer will also fortify UST’s lineup.
Strength: Rebounding, Mariano, outside shooting
4. I give the fourth spot to FEU. They still have Terence Romeo, RR Garcia, Tolomia and Escoto plus the “expected to dominate” Anthony Hargrove. The younger Bringas will also for FEU. But despite of their good recruitment, they lost big man Aldrech Ramos which I really a dynamic element in their 2nd place finish last year. I expect them to land either third or fourth this season.
Strength: Outside shooting, experience

5. La Salle – they recruited two outstanding rookies Jeron Teng and Marc Tallo. But I’m not really expecting La Salle to dominate this season because they are still in rebuilding process.

And the last two spots, <- medyo kakulay nya

[binomial24]

double post

[tonichi9]

My Fearless Forecast:

I cannot really see a team who can sweep the elimination round this season. Every team is dangerous; unpredictable (refers also to UE and UP, by the way hehe). My prediction is that the top seed team will end with either 12-2 or 11-3. I expect upsets this season  And defending champions Ateneo should be careful with it (for at least five teams can beat them this season).

About the rankings, here is mine:
1. National University – they already have the momentum after sweeping and winning the Filoil Cup. The duo of Bobby Parks and Emmanuel Mbe will play big for NU’s “hopefully” sweet victory this season. But everything is unpredictable. Although many sports analysts expect them to show their fangs 
Strength: Mbe and Parks, % FG
2. Ateneo de Manila University – experience will be their main factor. With coach Norman Black coaching for his last year, of course he wants to end his UAAP career with a championship, a rare five-peat championship. But the departure of experienced players Emman Monfort and Kirk Long will definitely affect their roster.
Strength: Big man Greg Slaughter, fastbreaks, experience
Three teams are expected to battle with the last two spots in the Final Four. The retaliating De La Salle Green Archers under a new tactician, the more intact UST Growing Tigers, and last year’s first runner up FEU Tamaraws. After seeing the line-up, I think UST and FEU have bigger chances in snaring the 3rd and 4th spot.
3. Why UST? – I expect them to pull an upset against Ateneo. Aside from NU and La Salle, UST could also overthrow the Eagles because of their cohesive line-up, with the return of shooters Eduardo Daquioag, Clark Bautista and swingman Aljon Mariano. I think this will be Mariano’s year. He led the scoring for UST in 7 of its nine outings in the Filoil Cup plus veterans Fortuna, Teng, Afuang and sophomore Ferrer will also fortify UST’s lineup.
Strength: Rebounding, Mariano, outside shooting
4. I give the fourth spot to FEU. They still have Terence Romeo, RR Garcia, Tolomia and Escoto plus the “expected to dominate” Anthony Hargrove. The younger Bringas will also for FEU. But despite of their good recruitment, they lost big man Aldrech Ramos which I really a dynamic element in their 2nd place finish last year. I expect them to land either third or fourth this season.
Strength: Outside shooting, experience

5. La Salle – they recruited two outstanding rookies Jeron Teng and Marc Tallo. But I’m not really expecting La Salle to dominate this season because they are still in rebuilding process.

And the last two spots, <- medyo kakulay nya

You forgot adamson. Alex Nuyles had not shown his best during the pre-season, but he could have just been instructed to do so (iwas injuries, experimenting on several plays). brondial could be a revelation. the falcons also have a decent big man in camson.

UE and UP? UE could pull off upsets, let's see who'd fill the place of noble. sumang has also improved a lot. UP need not rely on mike silungan and his volume outside shooting (volume misses too). Silungan should penetrate some more. the maroons also have a potent roster with padilla, manuel and montecastro. Soyud should impose his presence as a PF. Mbah should play heads up basketball. And their fil-am rookie Ball could shift into PF/SF/C position. The problem area I see is their decision-making. Lopez and Asilum should focus and not be affected by the pressure. The other guys on the floor should also move nifty on the floor since most teams would now apply pressure defense early on the game (esp NU, ADMU and DLSU). But they're still a long shot for the final 4

6 teams would compete for the final four!