UST lost their leader Jeric Teng, who morphed from a stopper to a scorer in his five years. However, they are bringing back a core of Karim Abdul, Kevin Ferrer, Aljon Mariano, Ed Daquioag and Sheak Sheriff. Return to the Finals sounding? Very. Add to that one of the hottest young point guards in the metro agreed to be a Tiger in Renzo Subido. Paolo Pe returns to give Abdul his ablest backup while providing sharp elbows here and there. We’ll miss the Frank Golla versus Paolo Pe battles while we’re at it. Kim Lo, along with Subido, should provide the fireworks off the bench. However, the X-Factor here is Mariano. Will he be able to recover from his Finals boo boo and tow this team to the promised land now that he is hale and healthy? – Pio Garcia
Predicted record: 11-3
Roster
ABDUL, Karim
BASIBAS, Regie Boy
DAQUIOAG, Eduardo Jr.
DELA CRUZ, Levi II
FAUNDO, Jeepy
FERRER, Kevin
GARRIDO, Janrey
GAYOSA, Alfren
LAO, Kent Jefferson
LO, Kim
MACASAET, Jan Cornelius
MARIANO, Aljon
PE, Paulo
SABLAN, Raymart Angelo
SHERIFF, Sheak
SUBIDO, Henri Lorenzo
VIGIL, Louie Philippe