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UNDER normal circumstances, the champions at the college level would have already been decided.
The teams that reached the Final Four last year had the upper hand to make return trips, with Ateneo as the favorite to win the UAAP crown.
However, these are not normal times and no games were played, which meant that the battles turned to the recruiting field this extended offseason.
A lot has really changed in the Final Four last season.
With the first part dedicated to those who failed the cut, this second part is for those who made it to the semi-finals of the ladder last year.
Continue reading below ↓
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Blue Eagles of the Athenaeum
Additions: Gab Gomez, Dave Ildefonso, Chris Koon, Josh Lazaro, Forthsky Padrigao, Dwight Ramos, Eli Ramos.
Losing five key players would have been death for any team, but even with the departure of Thirdy Ravena, Isaac Go, twins Matt and Mike Nieto and Adrian Wong, Ateneo remains the title favorite.
The three-time champions did well to maintain their position as the Blue Eagles maximized the offseason shakeup.
The key guys from the three-mob team are gone, but the Blue Eagles now parade for Gilas Pilipinas’ shooting star, Dwight Ramos.
Add to that the continuous improvement of guys like Ange Kouame and SJ Belangel, and the imminent arrivals of Dave Ildefonso and incoming rookies Forthsky Padrigao and Josh Lazaro for UAAP season 84 and what you have is an Ateneo team that’s still around. a force to be reckoned with. with.
It’s safe to say that Coach Tab Baldwin’s guys will be more than fine.
UST snarling tigers
Additions: Coach Jinino Manansala, Adam Caniones, Aldave Canoy, Johnvic Casingcasing, Daniel Coo, Jethro Escoto, Thirdy Esmena, Johnsherick Estrada, Joshua Fontanilla, JC Garing, Jonathan Gesalem, Ian Herrera, Rom Junsay, Paul Manalang, Christian Manaytay, Nikko Panganiban, Rafael Pangilinan, Brian Samudio, Bryan Santos, Renzel Yongco.
Catastrophic was the downward spiral that the University of Santo Tomás had last year.
All the gains from last year’s inspiring race to the championship were apparently lost after a controversial stint at Sorsogon, as the key cogs of the Growling Tigers team have gone elsewhere.
However, there is no time to cry, and new coach Jinino Manansala has redesigned a team with role players to back last year’s MVP Soulemane Chabi Yo and Sherwin Concepción.
Joshua Fontanilla and Bryan Santos, star players from their former teams, will become main roles this season as the Growling Tigers seek direction in what is shaping up to be another difficult year in Spain.
It’s hard to imagine UST running the same race towards the finals when competitions resume, but if there’s one thing that works for the boys in black and gold, it’s that there’s nothing wrong with trying teams like them, who are constantly underrated.
UP Fighting Maroons
Additions: Gerry Abadiano, Jancork Cabahug, Joel Cagulangan, RC Calimag, CJ Cansino, Maodo Malick Diouf, Sam Dowd, Anton Eusebio, Cyril Gonzales, Ethan Kirkness, Bismarck Lina, Carl Tamayo, Alonso Tan, Miguel Tan.
The University of the Philippines, no longer the league’s scapegoat, had an optimistic offseason that has been the envy of many.
Questions remain as to who can return and who will return from last season’s Fighting Maroons team, but look at the amount of talent Coach Bo Perasol scored on his recruiting trips.
He is a who’s who of top prospects led by fans of Gilas Pilipinas Youth, NU’s Carl Tamayo and Gerry Abadiano, LSGH’s RC Calimag and UST’s Bismarck Lina, all set to be a big part of UP’s future, along with the players who came to Diliman. last year on Joel Cagulangan de La Salle and Maodo Malick Diouf from CEU.
As if the competition for spots on the list wasn’t tough enough, UST’s CJ Cansino, Mapua’s Cyril Gonzales, and UV’s Jancork Cabahug have also jumped on the bandwagon, making shortlisting even more difficult for the coaches.
However, despite how strong the Fighting Maroons roster and the additions on paper are, their teamwork remains suspect, and it’s the biggest question mark Perasol and the rest of UP will have to deal with. next year – not just winning games, but really trying to win it all.
FEU Tamaraws
Additions: RJ Abarrientos, Kevin Guibao, Jason Li, Emman Ojuola, Joshua Ramirez, Ximone Sandagon.
Finally, the long awaited tandem of Far Eastern University escorts is ready for their snapshot when RJ Abarrientos joins L-Jay Gonzales on the green and gold backcourt.
The thrilling 1-2 punch is expected to be the focal point of the Tamaraws’ attack as coach Olsen Racela builds on learnings from last season.
The entry of Emman Ojuola will certainly help, but now it’s the wings that FEU will fill after Ken Tuffin’s decision to give up his final year of playing and remain in the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL).
The onus falls on Branrey Bienes and new recruits Joshua Ramirez, Kevin Guibao and Ximone Sandagon to make up for that loss and help the Tamaraws keep fighting.
FEU has always been used to being in the mix, but in an offseason where the opposition made significant reinforcements, the Morayta boys will really be tested in games.
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