NCAA: Reuniting vs rebuilding — II

Colegio de San Juan de Letran won the NCAA title in 2003, and stumbled to eventual champion Philippine Christian University in last year’s semifinals. However, all the teams pick the Knights as one of the teams to beat this season, simply because the team has remained virtually intact. Their only loss was mercurial shooting guard Ronjay Enrile, who is apparently concentrating on his studies, and will likely enter the PBA draft this year. Enrile, who never met a shot he didn’t like, bailed the Knights out of many a tight fix in the last three seasons, but also had his run-ins with authority, getting suspended for unsportsmanlike infractions on the court, especially a spitting incident against University of Perpetual Help.

Still, if their methodical dismantling of the Altas is any indication, the Knight will hardly feel Enrile’s absence. With experience in the PBL under their belt, and constantly improving chemistry, they will definitely be hard to stop. Towering center Mark Andaya, at 6’8" is a tough match-up, and his passing in the post has often led to key baskets. High school sensation Boyet Bautista is now officially running the team, and will need to generate more offense. Beyond that, Letran is as deep as any team in the league.

After racking up five wins in the first round, Mapua Institute of Technology won only two games the rest of the way, finishing with a 7-7 record and losing the playoff for the Final Four to San Beda.

"It suddenly turned cold," says head coach Horacio Lim. "My assessment is that maybe we peaked too soon. We were not able to maintain our intensity in the second part of the tournament. You could say we lost steam."

The bad news is that the Cardinals have also lost point guard Christian Guevarra and forward Erwin Sta. Maria, who were potent on both ends of the floor.

"They were big losses for us," concurs forward Tristan Veranga. "They were big men who could play down low and shoot from the outside. We’re going to miss their offense this year."

The Cardinals have a lot of material to work with, though, just not the same impact players as the two graduates. Forward/center Andrew Salud has recovered from his ACL surgery, and should be a big help. But, unlike before, the Cardinals do not have a stratospheric frontline, with only Salud and 6’5" sophomore center Jerby del Rosario listed above 6’3".

The College of St. Benilde won its first and only NCAA title with a fellow named Sunday Salvacion back in 2000, and it was downhill since then. Last season, the Blazers lost their first 11 games, literally knocking themselves out of contention with horrible collapses. With new coach Caloy Garcia unable to spend much time with the team while he was coaching Welcoat to the Philippine Basketball League Unity Cup title, it may take some time for this squad to come together.

"Last year, we really played bad," admits forward Carlo Manding. "We were mostly rookies. It was a growing stage. But we have a lot of recruits to fill in for those who left, because the expectations are high this year."

The Blazers have half a dozen rookies, many from their Team B, and a few transferees, like De La Salle’s Christian Cabatu and Martin Urra, who will be adding some experience to the forward spot. Still, the main problem this team will face is shaking off their reputation as the league’s doormat. They also gambled on two Fil-Am players, who unfortunately were deemed ineligible to play just last week, days before the season opened.

What is there to say for Jose Rizal University? Last year was the first time since 1999 that the normally overachieving Heavy Bombers didn’t make the Final Four, winning only four games. Second-year coach Cris Calilan has been scrapping to put together a competitive line-up, since the core of last year’s team is all gone. Terrific shooter Wynsjohn Te has vacated the starting point guard spot. Last year, the unorthodox guard literally saved games with his last-second heroics.

This season, the losses are also heavy in the frontcourt. Accomplished power forward McDonald Santos has also left the team, as has starting center Kenneth Coyiukang, who still had playing years left. This leaves the Bombers with eight rookies and three sophomores. The good news is that this will open things up for super sub Jenciano Domancas, who will definitely be a starter. The explosive 5’11" guard will be licensed to shoot, and has shown a great knack for getting to the basket.

So who will reign in season 81 of the NCAA? Suffice it to say that the teams that are reunited will have the advantage. That means PCU and Letran are shoo-ins for the Final Four, with San Beda, San Sebastian and Perpetual Help probable candidates, as well. Then again, you never know.