By RICKIE SANTOS
IT was not too long ago when college basketball aficionados were predicting that the next UAAP Finals will be a repeat of last season where La Salle and the University of the Philippines played against each other for title for the second consecutive year.
But the prediction of a possible three-peat seems to no longer hold water. This is because of recent developments at the Playtime Cares 18th FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup,
READ UST sends UP to second straight loss in Filoil Preseason
On May 31, the Green Archers drubbed the Fighting Maroons 106-99. Nine days later, University of Santo Tomas vanquished the reigning UAAP champions, 90-81, where UST led from start to finish.
These two successive losses do not bode well for the Fighting Maroons under coach Goldwin Monteverde who came into the pre-UAAP event with an aura of invincibility.
This has prompted observers to believe that UP may no longer be La Salle's dancing partner in the Season 88 finals.
Looming to take UP's place is UST which boasts of a lineup that may be good enough for a twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinals and if the stars align, may just battle La Salle for the title, the team nearly every rival feels is a almost a cinch to return to the Finals.
Last season, the Growling Tigers were humbled by UP. But now, they know that they can beat the Maroons and the boys in black and gold know that they have the materials to bring glory back to España.
These days, the Growling Tigers have been mum on their preparations and how much UAAP-ready they are when the tournament begins in less than three months.
The reason there is silence in España is that the school does not want to create any buzz as it is deeply involved in the sweepstakes for the services of new National University—Nazareth School graduate Collins Akowe. Also vying for Akowe is L:a Salle.
If the Tigers get Akowe, UST coaches believe he could fill the missing piece in the Growling Tigers' championship ambitions. The stats for the young foreign-student athlete are mouth-watering: 20.94 points and 19.28 rebounds in his senior high school year.
The coaches think he will be the perfect anchor for a team made up of starters Nic Cabañero, Gelo Crisostomo, Amiel Acido and Forthsky Padrigao.
On the other hand, if Akowe goes to another team head coach Pido Jarencio said, their recent win over UP will be a reminder they are strong and will be a serious contender for the title.
The win, Jarencio said was “a big deal for us.” In his estimation, it was not just a morale-booster, it also established that UST's current foreign student athlete, Peter Osang, will be a major contibutor in the title campaign.
While UST is salivating at the prospect of a possible Finals appearance, Ateneo, almost the forgotten team in the coming season, is slowly building its own plans for redemption.
Ateneo eyes redemption
Ateneo brought up the rear in Season 87 with a dismal 4-10 record. But this year may be different. Coach Tab Baldwin and his staff now have one and done 6-7 Fil-Am Kymani Ladi and new FSA 6-10 Divine Adili. Observers say the new frontline duo will be enough to turn the Blue Eagles’ fortunes back.
Ateneo’s artillery will be led by much-improved veteran crew headed by Jared Bahay, Ian Espinosa, Andrew Bongo, Shawn Tuano and Kyle Gamber.
Part of Ateneo's buildup included a training camp in Spain and later, another camp in Taiwan. Those two training sessions abroad hopefully will turn the trick for the Blue Eagles whose tenure under coach Baldwin is probably in its last stages.
“Our training camp is enriching and we learned a lot in the last two weeks,” said ADMU assistant coach Louie Alas. But he is also the first to admit that the Ateneo program has been left behind.
“As of now, we’re not yet ready for the UAAP. We need more tuneup games,” Alas said, whose team it seems does not hold any aces.
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