UAAP Season 87 is just a little over a week away, and as of right now, each and every team believes they are championship contenders.
While there are several factors - including talent, coaching, and chemistry, just to name a few - that could determine whether or not a team is, indeed, a championship contender, one of the ticks that has to be checked first and foremost has to be leadership.
READ: With a smile, Eraserheads reunites for UAAP Season 87 opening
And so, with season tip-off on September 7 at the Araneta Coliseum not that far away, how confident are you about your chances with these names showing the way?
Jorick Bautista - FEU Tamaraws
Now L-Jay Gonzales has used up his five years of eligibility for FEU, Jorick Bautista is up next in the Tamaraws' long line of great guards littered with the likes of Johnny Abarrientos, Denok Miranda, RR Garcia, Terrence Romeo, and RJ Abarrientos. And not only will the 5-foot-11 Bautista have to step into the shoes of a Season 86 Mythical Team member, he'll also have to take on prized rookie Janrey Pasaol under his wing while at it.
READ: Anonuevo takes pride in FEU developing its own varsity stars
Bautista has already proven he can do damage on offense, as he averaged 12.2 points, including 43 percent from deep, 3.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.2 steals last year, and was already a scoring force back from his days as a Baby Tamaraw. For FEU to make the most of his abilities, however, he has to make sure of his availability, avoiding the injury bug that has slowed him down in his first two go-rounds.
Nic Cabañero - UST Growling Tigers
You didn't expect any changes here, did you? From Season 85, Nic Cabañero has been the lone bright spot while UST trudged through its dark days. He'll, most definitely, keep shining bright in the oncoming tournament, as he now couples his scoring prowess with a self-proclaimed mission to make his presence felt as well at the other end.
READ: No need for a Nic fix in UST with many more weapons in Tigers' arsenal
Still, he'll have to continue taking charge, albeit no longer in terms of scoring, because he'll no longer be the lone bright spot with stars such as onetime MVP runner-up Forthsky Padrigao, NCAA Juniors MVP Amiel Acido, and one-and-done sensation Chase Lane now alongside him. His averages of 16.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.1 steals may go up or down, but what matters most for the 6-2 swingman now is to improve on the Growling Tigers' two-win total from a season ago.
JD Cagulangan - UP Fighting Maroons
Whatever happens in his last year in UP, JD Cagulangan's legacy is secure in maroon-and-green. After all, 'The Shot' was his. After all, he was the championship-bringer. After all, he's the prince that wasn't promised, but came along and came through nonetheless. Make no mistake, however, the 5-foot-9 playmaker wants nothing more than to exit Diliman with another championship.
READ: UP plays in Chinese Taipei tourney two weeks before UAAP Season 87
Without a doubt, the Fighting Maroons' roster is championship-caliber. It's young as they come, however, with Cagulangan, Gerry Abadiano, Harold Alarcon, Janjan Felicilda, and Reyland Torres the only players in their fourth season or more. That means it's up to the pride of Butuan fondly known as 'Maimai,' alongside skipper Abadiano of course, to make sure the UP Fight will finally break through after a second straight silver medal.
Steve Nash Enriquez - NATIONAL U Bulldogs
All of a sudden, Steve Nash Enriquez is National U's undisputed lead guard. When in his first years, there were Felicilda and then Kean Baclaan primarily running the show for the Bulldogs, now, the 5-foot-8 energizer and his undeniable clump of hair stand at the forefront of the Bulldogs' bid to get over the hump following back-to-back Final Four exits.
READ: Jake Figueroa's guarantee to NU in UAAP Season 87: 'Aabot tayo sa Finals'
Coach Jeff Napa has already instilled his tough and dogged identity into his team, and that's exactly what Enriquez has to be now he carries his heaviest burden yet. An improvement from his per game counts of 6.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists will be a must - as well as stronger showings from Jake Figueroa, Jolo Manansala, and Reinhard Jumamoy, of course - if NU will, indeed, spoil an expected-to-be Finals rematch between La Salle and UP.
Cedrick Manzano - ADAMSON Soaring Falcons
Cedrick Manzano will never wow anybody with the entirety of his game. All he does is work - and keep working - to the tune of norms of 8.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists. With Jerom Lastimosa sidelined for the most part last season, he already proved he can handle a lot more responsibility, and he has to keep that up now the Soaring Falcons undertake a rebuild sans their longtime cornerstone AND Joem Sabandal.
READ: Mathew Montebon out to break preseason projections for Adamson
In Manzano, coach Nash Racela has a dependable paint presence who can do the heavy lifting up close. The hope, however, in San Marcelino is for the 6-5 big's body to hold up, and for his conditioning to be at its best. If those come true, Adamson will be a tough out, despite having an admittedly weaker arsenal of weapons up against any other team.
Precious Momowei - UE Red Warriors
Precious Momowei is, bar none, the best foreign student-athlete now that Malick Diouf has hung up the maroon and green. If it wasn't for his one-game suspension, he would've been runaway Rookie of the Year, boasting of averages of 12.7 points, 13.9 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, 1.2 steals, and 1.2 assists. Together with Rey Remogat, they let the Red Warriors be as competitive as they've been as of late, even pushing UP and National U to the limit.
READ: Who replaces Rey Remogat in UE? Gjerard Wilson has something to say about that
Remogat is no longer in Recto, however, and it falls on Momowei to see to it that UE only builds on its 4-12 record from last year. He'll have help in the likes of Jack Cruz-Dumont and Ethan Galang, as well as rookie Nico Mulingtapang, but among all UAAP teams, it's the Red Warriors who'll go only as far as their main man takes them.
Kevin Quiambao - LA SALLE Green Archers
For the first time in his young career, Kevin Quiambao will have to take charge as a leader. In NU-Nazareth School, he had Abadiano and Carl Tamayo, then in his first seasons in La Salle, there were Evan Nelle and Ben Phillips. Fast forward to today, and the 6-foot-7 do-it-all forward is the guy in all aspects for the Green Archers.
READ: La Salle has questions at point. Kevin Quiambao may have the answers again
And as they defend their title, the Taft-based team is betting the house that their reigning MVP can do it all, for real - including stepping up as a leader to a younger side that will also have to depend on a rookie lead guard in Doy Dungo and a first-year foreign student-athlete in Henry Agunnane. The good news is that Quiambao has been hard at work all preseason long - from La Salle commitments to Gilas Pilipinas duty and even barangay games - to make sure he's good to go.
Sean Quitevis - ATENEO Blue Eagles
Nobody will blame you if you'd think that this is the weakest Ateneo lineup in the Tab Baldwin era. The Blue Eagles went winless in the Filoil Preseason, after all - and they still had Mason Amos back then. Don't make the mistake, however, of thinking that the proud program in Katipunan is just going to roll over.
READ: Battle of Katipunan between UP, Ateneo opens UAAP Season 87
Instead, expect Ateneo to follow the lead of Sean Quitevis - the Cebuano dreamer-turned-walk-on-turned-reject-turned-gym mainstay-turned-Team B player-turned-COVID reserve-turned-go-getter-turned-champion-turned-team captain. The 6-foot guard is proof that something can come from nothing, and the Blue Eagles are out to disappoint all those who are prematurely calling their demise.
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