Reversals mark UAAP openers

Two teams that didn’t make it to the Final Four last year got off to rousing starts as the UAAP’s 77th season opened on an unpredictable note at the Smart Araneta Coliseum over the weekend. While Ateneo and host UE were impressive in their debuts, last year’s finalists La Salle and UST bombed out. Also picking up wins were FEU and NU.

The early signs of a power upheaval could be ominous. Nothing is ever certain in the college game where the unexpected is often expected. Last year, La Salle sputtered to a 3-4 record in the first round then won nine in a row before losing to UST in Game 1 of the finals which the Archers eventually clinched. La Salle captured the title by winning 11 of its last 12 assignments. No oddsmaker in his right mind would’ve picked the Archers to go all the way at the end of the first round.

Ateneo has five rookies in coach Bo Perasol’s lineup but each is capable of delivering impact minutes – 6-5 Arvin Tolentino, 6-2 Thirdy Ravena, 6-5 Jay Javelosa, 6-4 John Apacible and 6-1 Clint Doliguez. The Blue Eagles are welcoming back Kiefer Ravena, Chris Newsome, Von Pessumal and Nico Elorde, among others, so they’ve become a lot deeper with the newcomers.

The Blue Eagles missed the Final Four last year after posting a five-peat so there’s no pressure to win it all this season. From the form they flashed in crushing Adamson, 79-57, last Sunday, the Eagles look like serious contenders. It wasn’t just their offense that propelled the win, it was their defense, too. Ateneo alumnus and one of the team’s chief backers Arben Santos said he’s looking forward more to next year’s campaign than this year’s but he could be in for a pleasant surprise earlier than expected. The future is secure with several key players in residence like Jerie Pingoy, Hubert Cani, Fil-Am D. J. Henderson, 6-10 Isaac Allen, 7-1 Karbala Gueye of Senegal and 6-10 Chibueze Ikeh of Cameroon. Ateneo’s Team B has 23 players, including coach Norman Black’s son Aaron so they’ll be ready for call-ups next season.

Ateneo has several second generation players in the roster. Former PBA star Bong Ravena’s sons are Kiefer and Thirdy while another PBA veteran Glenn Capacio’s son Gwyne is also in the cast. GBoy Babilonia is the son of the late PBA cager Gido. Elorde is the son of Southeast Asian Games boxing gold medalist Johnny and grandson of former world junior lightweight champion Gabriel or D’Flash.

UE is now coached by Derick Pumaren who used to call the shots for La Salle and came close to winning a Grand Slam for Sunkist in the PBA in 1995 with two straight titles. Pumaren’s father Pilo is a Warriors legend. UE is bannered by high-scoring guard Roi Sumang and a pair of crack imports 6-8 Charles Mammie of Sierra Leone and 6-6 Moustapha Arafat of Cameroon. There are eight rookies in Pumaren’s squad.

The Warriors’ 87-59 romp over UP last Saturday was an indication that Pumaren’s system is in place. A typical Pumaren tactic is the full-court press and that was in full display against the Maroons who were down by as many as 39 points. UE was unforgiving in blasting UP to submission. Surprisingly, Sumang and Arafat weren’t UE’s top scorers. Pacing the Warriors were Dan Alberto, Ronnie de Leon, Gino Jumao-as and Chris Javier who all finished in twin digits. Pumaren had to be pleased with the distribution of wealth.

NU didn’t seem like the Bulldogs missed Bobby Ray Parks or Emmanuel Mbe at all in trouncing UST, 59-40, last Sunday. Veterans Gelo Alolino and 6-7 Troy Rosario led the way with debuting import Alfred Aroga of Cameroon. Coach Eric Altamirano’s cast includes crack rookies like Rev Diputado, John Caulian, Aroga and another Cameroonian Henri Betayene. Jay-Jay Alejandro, Glenn Khobuntin, Kyle Neypes, Paolo Javelona and Tristan Perez are back to provide continuity. The Growling Tigers managed to score only nine points in the first and fourth periods apiece despite the presence of Karim Abdul, Aljun Mariano and Kevin Ferrer.  

FEU’s 82-77 win over defending champion La Salle was a stunner last Saturday. The Archers blew an early 13-point lead and led through three quarters until folding up down the stretch. FEU’s lead was down to three after Archers guard Thomas Torres hit a triple with less than two minutes left. Then, La Salle regained possession after a Tamaraw turnover only for Torres to lose the ball on a strip and was forced to give up a foul that led to two free throws. That sealed La Salle’s doom.

FEU’s UAAP Board of Trustees representative Anton Montinola said patience, poise, determination and perseverance under fire in the third and fourth periods fuelled the Tams’ win. “We wanted to prove that we can be competitive without Terrence Romeo and R. R. Garcia,” he said. “FEU must play ala the San Antonio Spurs since our LeBron and Wade have moved on. We lost our focus last season after our 7-0 start. Coach Nash (Racela) has had more time with the team so he looks forward to better results this season.”

Racela’s chief assistant Josh Reyes was absent as he’s with the Gilas squad playing at the FIBA Asia Cup in Wuhan. Russell Escoto’s return from injury was good news for FEU and Mac Belo’s maturity after playing for the Philippine team that won the Southeast Asian Games gold medal last year was evident.  Escoto wound up with 13 points, five rebounds and two assists while Belo had 20 points and four boards. Mike Tolomia torched the Archers with 23 points, including 4-of-6 treys, three rebounds and five assists.