University of the Philippines

The Maroons hope the recruitment of the one-time national youth standout will bring wonders for the team. The five-foot-six rookie from Sacred Heart Cebu is coming in with impressive credentials as one of the vital cogs for Team Pilipinas-Energen that finished fourth in the 2011 FIBA Asia Under-18 championship.

Whether Chris can play ball remains to be seen. A product of Lambrick Park Secondary School in British Columbia, Canada, Ball is an incoming power forward rookie for the Maroons who sat out the last two years to complete his residency. The 6-foot-4 freshman is a nephew of former Alaska great Bong Hawkins.

The former Ateneo Eaglets standout remains as one of the team’s reliable playmakers, averaging 7.3 ppg. and a team-best 18 3-pointers last season. The 5-foot-6 point guard is seeing action in his final year with the Maroons, almost five years removed since steering the Eaglets to the UAAP juniors championship, and ending up as the Finals MVP.

The season will be Hipolito’s swan song for the Maroons following a mediocre stint in his first four years. The six-foot-three small forward from Claret last played for the team in 2010, but saw action for Junior Powerade in the PBA D-League. 

Lopez is poise to return for his final year with the Maroons as injury kept him out of the lineup last season. But prior to going down, the 6-foot-1 guard was part of the team’s starting unit in 2010, and produced respectable numbers of 5.4 ppg., and 4.9 rpg. in eight outings. In high school, Lopez steered the FEU-FERN Baby Tamaraws to a couple of Finals appearances in the UAAP.  

The former Xavier stalwart proved he’s more effective coming off the bench as reflected in his scoring average of 8.1 ppg. last season - including a team-high 21 points – while providing the needed firepower from the Maroons’ second unit. The effort rewarded Manuel big-time, as he copped last year’s Most Improved Player award.

A lean, 6-foot-9 Nigerian, Mbah was a vital defensive presence at the post for the Maroons. He finished last season third in the league in block shots (1.6 bpg) with a total of 23 out of 14 games. Although still raw on offense, the young center makes up for it behind his bundle of energy and daunting defense.     

Montecastro’s decision to transfer from College of St. Benilde in the NCAA to UP served him in good stead. His addition readily gave the Maroons another decent scoring option off the bench as the 6-foot-1 shooting guard averaged 6.9 ppg., 4.3 rpg., and 1.9 apg. during Season 74.

The 6-foot-2 wingman is expected to make up for lost time after missing all of last season. Prior to going down with a third degree sprain, Padilla was the Maroons’ third leading scorer with a 9.6 average in 12 games the previous campaign. Aside from his scoring savvy, the former San Beda Red Cub is also the team’s top defensive stopper behind an average of 1.6 spg. Warming up for his return, he played in the PBA D-League for the Junior Powerade team, whose core is beefed up by the Fighting Maroons.