De La Salle University

Juno Sauler believes that all teams in the UAAP are strong. Can the Green Archers maintain its firm hold of their contender status?  | Philstar.com/Izzy Toledo

UAAP Season 78 Preview: La Salle Green Archers

Head coach: Juno Sauler, who played for the Green Archers in the mid-90s and is in his third year as head coach.

UAAP Season 77 record: 11-6 including Final Four

Losses: Yutien Andrada, Robert Bolick, Kib Montalbo, Terrence Mustre, Matt Salem, Norbert Torres, Arnold Van Opstal and Almond Vosotros.

Holdovers: Jason Perkins, Prince Rivero, Julian Sargent, Jeron Teng, Thomas Torres and Abu Tratter

Newcomers: Andrei Caracut, Jollo Go, Jon Gob, Leondro Amiel Langston, Larry Muyang, Loreno Fernando Pascual and Joshua Torralba.

This team has talent all over. Like Ateneo, the disparity between the experience of the veterans and newer players is theoretically huge. But if you watched them from the summer, that wasn't the problem. The ball moved around beautifully. They were making big shots. Their rookies shone. The problem was they were getting beat inside.

Without Arnold Van Opstal and Ben Mbala, who DLSU hoped could play, it will be up to Abu Tratter, Larry Muyang, Jon Gob and Jason Perkins to clog that lane. Tratter is finally showing his form from his Team B days. Perkins seems to be not the same effective player he was from two years ago. But he just might round out into form come UAAP. Once he's on, watch out.

Rivero is vastly improved and it won't be long before he straps this team on to his back.

Another player who is even better – if that is humanly possible – is Jeron Teng. He has greatly improved his jump shot and that makes him even deadlier. Still their go-to guy in the crunch.

Andrei Caracut will be Rookie of the Year. La Salle has this penchant or luck of the Irish when it comes to bagging supreme snipers from San Beda. There was Renren Ritualo and Jayvee Casio before and they both won titles. Caracut has the same golden hands. He'll keep defenses honest.

For all their losses in personnel you cannot take this team lightly. They'll be competing for the title for sure.