UAAP's Big 4: Ateneo, La Salle, FEU, UE

MANILA, Philippines – The reigning champs still look formidable as they go for a title repeat, their archrivals remain a force to reckon with despite the loss of key personnel while a perennial chief contender tries to relive the glory years under a new mentor.

But looming as prohibitive choice is a team teeming with talent and experience and honed up in various fronts in the run-up to the varsity joust.

It may be too early to tell but the 72nd UAAP season should be an all-out war among Ateneo, Far Eastern, La Salle and University of the East.

Ateneo, being the defending champion, will be there to face the challenge while FEU, with a tall and experienced lineup, is all set to regain the title it won in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

La Salle, last year’s losing finalist, is always a serious threat with or without the superstars. On the other hand, UE is determined to slay the ghost of the 2007 season under a new mentor.

But there are a couple more teams that can pull off a surprise and probably win some games when least expected. They are Adamson, Santo Tomas, National University and UP.

This year should be another exciting year for the UAAP, and Ateneo coach Norman Black believes that there’s no such thing as a sure thing as he’d experienced with the Eagles.

“Last year we were ranked No. 4 or 5. I think the games are won on the basketball court and not with the rankings,” said Black who won the title after a very disappointing season in 2007.

The veteran Ateneo mentor said it’s one thing showing improvement during the pre-season, and another bringing that level of improvement to the actual games, especially when it goes down the stretch.

“The team that can improve over the course of the tournament is the team that probably will win the championship. So, no matter how good we are at this moment we’re looking to get better as the league goes on so we’ll have a better chance to win in October.”

Rabeh Al-Hussaini, the 2008 MVP, and last year’s Finals MVP Noy Baclao plus rookie of the year Ryan Buenafe are back with the team along with a solid rookie class headed by Ateneo High’s Frank Golla Jr. and Juami Tiongson and Benedictine’s Christian de Chavez.

FEU is expected to rely on a mix of eight veterans headed by Smart Gilas Pilipinas standouts Mark Barroca, skipper JR Cawaling and Aldrech Ramos and eight rookies that included Cameroonian Pipo Noundou, American Casey Caluag and Fil-Oil/Flying V MVP RR Garcia.

 La Salle, which lost leader JV Casio and leading rebounder Rico Maeirhofer will lean on a slew of mainstays and a crop of talented rookies.

“They’re pretty young but they’re still very talented. Franz (Pumaren) was able to pick up a lot of players in the youth team when he coached there. But one thing they have going for them, they’re always in great condition and they’re always disciplined in the way they play the game and they have a good coaching staff,” said Black.

“And in addition to that, he still has guys that are stars in high school a couple of years ago so I’m expecting guys like Joshua Webb to step up this year. (Simon) Atkins, (PJ) Barua and (Allan) Mangahas will be a big part of their team this year, “ he said.

The Warriors have fully recovered from that shattering defeat in the 2007 season where they made a stirring run of 14 wins in the elimination only to be swept by the Archers in the best-of-three finals and will be a team worth watching under new coach Lawrence Chongson.

“Management has been telling me to relax. But when I came in there was some noise about the team being a choker,” said Chongson.

During the off-season, the Warriors flew to the United States for team-building.