If not for Kiefer Ravena’s outstanding season, Ferrer should have been a strong contender for the 2011 Rookie of the Year honor. The six-foot-four forward played solid as a freshman with averages of 7.6 ppg., 5.4 rpg., and 1.3 apg., while hitting a total of 10 3-pointers. A ‘homegrown’ UST player, Ferrer is proud of his roots, having won the MVP award as part of the Tiger Cubs two years ago.
Foronda played nine games in 2011 for FEU and had nine points and 10 rebounds. Although not as big as his rivals, the former Knights slotman has added depth to the Tamaraws’ frontline.
James Forrester takes starting small forward duties right in his first year as a Chief. A Filipino-Canadian whose mom, Leticia, is from Pangasinan, the 6-foot-2 swingman describes himself as a “scoring forward who plays both ends of the court.”
At 5-foot-7, he is one of the smallest players in the UAAP today, but certainly plays big for the Growling Tigers. The fifth-year guard had his best year for the team in 2010, when he emerged as the second-leading scorer with a 13.6 per game average, and was top in field goal percentage with an 82.6 norm. He was also the second-best for the Tigers in assists (3.2) and steals (1.3). Fortuna has proven himself a winner after helping the De La Salle-Zobel Junior Archers to the 2007 UAAP title prior to his transfer to España.
Francisco provides the Pirates with energy off the bench. A native of Pangasinan, the 6-foot-1 small forward is a great rebounder for his size, averaging 6.2 a game last season. He also does his work on the offensive end with an average of 7.7 ppg. on 53 percent shooting, while playing for 19.4 minutes.