"We do admit that La Salle’s suspension left a huge impact on the league. But we have to move on. We’ll just try to overcome it and make the coming UAAP season as competitive as possible," said league president Luz Sta. Ana of host University of the East in yesterday’s weekly session of the SCOOP sa Kamayan in Padre Faura, Manila.
UAAP secretary-treasurer Bren Perez, also athletic director of UE, basketball commissioner Elmer Yanga, deputy commissioner Ato Badolato and coaches Norman Black (Ateneo), Dindo Pumaren (UE), Pido Jarencio (Santo Tomas), Leo Austria (Adamson) and Ramil Cruz (representing coach Joe Lipa of UP) likewise shared the same view that La Salle’s absence left a big void as far as the 2006 season is concerned — both in terms of competition and gate attendance.
But all of them agreed that the non-presence of the Taft-based school could work wonders too, for the UAAP.
"There’s no denying that the La Salle-Ateneo rivalry is the UAAP’s biggest attraction. But without La Salle, I guess it’s time for the league to build a new rivalry," said Black.
"With La Salle not being there, I think we should start looking at the other teams," Pumaren said for his part.
The UAAP Board meted a one-year suspension on La Salle two months ago for using two ineligible players in the past two seasons of the league.
Looming big as season 69’s probable attraction in men’s basketball is Ateneo and UE, both of which have been highly rated by most of the coaches who appeared in the ACCEL sponsored session.
"I like an Ateneo-UE match since both teams are competitive," admitted Black.
Both the Warriors and Eagles reached the Final Four last year, but we’re disposed by the Archers and defending champion Tamaraws, respectively.
Black, in his second year as Ateneo mentor, said most of his concerns this year centers on UE and FEU.
"UE has a good team last year and the scary part of it is that everybody will be back this season," said the Blue Eagles coach, one of the winningest mentors in the history of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
"And while Arwind Santos and Mark Isip will no longer be playing, FEU remains a contender because they always keep a strong team B," he added.