UAAP Season 86: Wild rumble among all teams

MANILA, Philippines — Hunt or be hunted.

That will be the mantra for all the teams in an anticipated wide-open race to the throne as the hunting season – UAAP Season 86 – begins this weekend at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Atop the food chain sit reigning champion Ateneo and the University of the Philippines – the finalists in the last two seasons – but the six other squads vow to give them a run for their own money in what appears to be a balanced battlefield.

“It’s either you’re the hunter or the hunted. You’ll never know who’s the hunter and hunted here,” said new La Salle coach Topex Robinson during yesterday’s pre-season presser.

Robinson will be joined by Denok Miranda of Far Eastern U and the returning Pido Jarencio of Santo Tomas as the new members of the stacked collegiate coaching fraternity, led by champion mentors Tab Baldwin of Ateneo and UP’s Goldwin Monteverde.

The women’s team mentors, Aries Dimaunahan of seven-peat champion National U, La Salle’s Cholo Villanueva, UE’s Darren Torre, Ateneo’s LA Mumar, UP’s Paul Ramos, UST’s Haydee Ong, FEU’s Bert Flores and Adamson’s Ryan Monteclaro, were present in the presser as well.

“Lahat, malakas. Balanced ‘yung liga. Para sa akin basta kami laro lang. Basta pagpapawisan sila sa amin for sure,” said Jarencio, who’s back in Santo Tomas after 17 years since winning the school’s last UAAP title.

Nonetheless, the odds are still on the Blue Eagles and the Fighting Maroons for a potential trilogy after splitting the crowns in the past two seasons. Both squads are parading young units with the departure of their core players.

UP won Season 84 to snap a 36-year title drought, denying Ateneo a four-peat before the latter completed redemption in Season 85, with both series going the distance.

“We have a lot of young players. This is a team that will be characterized more by growth and experience. We’ll get there but there’s a lot of hard work to do,” said Baldwin, whose wards will be in a new territory without its champion core led by Ange Kouame, the Season 84 MVP and Season 85 Finals MVP.

“Lahat ng teams, competitive. Lahat contenders. On our part, we’re just doing our best to prepare. We’re ready,” vowed Monteverde.