De La Salle University

He’s definitely aiming for a big comeback this season after suffering an injury in the homestretch of the Archers’ campaign last year. The 6-foot-6 power forward averaged 4.4 rebounds in eight games with the team before going down with an injury. Never one to back down despite his thin frame, Andrada was the team’s second-best rebounder in 2010 with a 5.6 average per game.

Dela Paz was one of the most consistent three-point shooters of the Archers last season, hitting 10 of his 25 shots from beyond the arc for a 6.2 ppg average in his sophomore year. He came aboard in 2010 as a highly-recruited high schooler from De La Salle Zobel, having been named Rookie of the Year (2008) and once a member of the Mythical selection.

Gotladera showed potential as a third-string center in his rookie season, contributing 1.3 rpg in eight games for the Archers. The 6-foot-5 big man won a championship with the San Beda Red Cubs in his high school years in the NCAA.

Manguera returns to the Archers after a two-year absence, looking to make an immediate impact after a rather forgettable rookie season. The 6-foot small forward was part of the De La Salle Zobel team that won the UAAP juniors title in 2007, along with Joshua Webb.

Lack of playing time hampered the confidence of this once promising, 6-foot-4 big man. Although he saw action in all 14 games of the Archers last season, his numbers were obviously down from the previous year, averaging just 1.9 (ppg) and 1.6 (rpg) in 6.5 minutes of play. The former National University standout from Urdaneta, Pangasinan, remains a reliable threat inside though, and is looking to finish his collegiate career with a flourish.

A prized find from Reedley International School, the 6-foot-5 center made solid contributions on the defensive end, submitting 2.2 rpg, and 1.2 bpg in 11 outings with the Archers last season. For a young big man, the native of Cagayan de Oro also displayed superb footwork at the post. No wonder he was once recruited to be a member of the Philippine Youth team, and saw action for the national squad in the inaugural staging of the Asian Beach Games in 2009. 

He was a better and more complete player upon his return to the team last year after skipping the entire 2010 season due to diabetes and hyperthyroidism. The 5-foot-7 point guard more popularly known for his nickname L.A., averaged 8.7 ppg in carrying the offensive load for a team lacking in offensive sock. The 21-year-old former San Beda high school star also showed his all-around brilliance by norming 4.5 rpg, 3.6 apg, and 1.6 spg.

Tallo is being groomed to be the next big thing to come out of basketball-crazy Cebu. And there are a lot of good reasons for it. The 5-foot-10 point guard was the Most Valuable Player of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation (CESAFI) juniors division in 2009 as the main man of Cebu Eastern College. He was also adjudged MVP of Jr. NBA, and won several other individual cage honors in the country. Initially, he agreed to play for Ateneo, but shocked everybody when he decided to bolt for rival school De La Salle, citing the lack of playing exposure from Blue Eagles coach Norman Black. He’s the son of ex-Cebuano hotshot and former PBA player Mark Anthony Tallo

At 5-foot-10, he has the mentality of a shooting guard who never hesitates to take a jumper or drive straight to the basket. Tampus was the Archers’ third-leading scorer in 2011 behind a 7.3 ppg average, and the player with the most number of attempts with 107. Before joining the team, the Cebu native played for the Letran Squires in the NCAA, with whom he won the Rookie of the Year award in 2008. 

He hasn’t played in a single game in college, and yet, many are already anticipating big things for this high-scoring son of former PBA defensive player Alvin Teng. The 6-foot-2 standout from Xavier school poured in a record-shattering 104 points in a memorable 164-74 romp of the Golden Stallions over Grace Christian College in the Metro Manila Tiong Lian Basketball Association tournament. The rookie sensation is a three-time MVP of the same tournament and likewise, a veteran of the inaugural World Youth Games. His entry to La Salle gives the school’s basketball program its first topnotch recruit in a long while.

This former member of the Nokia-RP Youth team had to serve three years of residency before joining the Archers in 2010. A product of Toronto/Mother Teresa Secondary School, the Toronto-native is the team’s main presence down low. Last season, he was the school’s best rebounder (5.8rpg) and shot blocker (1.8bpg), while providing a steady offense inside the paint (7.9 ppg). As a promising teener, he was once cited by the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) with the Tony Siddayao Award, given to athlete 18-years-old and below with great potential.

Torres is fresh from a solid stint with the La Salle Greenhills Junior Blazers in the NCAA. The 5-foot-8 point guard averaged a team-high 16.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 2.2 steals last year in guiding the Blazers to the NCAA juniors Finals. Unfortunately, the Junior Blazers lost to the San Beda Red Cubs in their winner-take-all match.