SEVERAL coaches believe that the La Salle Green Archers will have a great season in the 79th University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament, which will use an old format when it opens this Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.
Not much is expected of his Far Eastern University Tamaraws, according to coach Nash Racela after six key players graduated and three veterans stayed following their title conquest at the expense of the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers last year.
The Green Archers, now coached by Aldin Ayo, who steered the Letran Knights to a National Collegiate Athletic Association crown last year, are the odds-on favorites this season due to their balanced roster.
Mythical Five member Jeron Teng will lead the Green Archers, along with Cameroonian Ben Mbala and Rookie of the Year Andrei Caracut, plus talented rookies like big man Justine Baltazar of junior champion National University and high school MVP Aljun Melecio.
“Kahit na ano pa ang sabihin nila, nasa kanila (La Salle) ang pressure,” said Racela, who talked about his team’s chances during Tuesday’s press conference at the Novotel Hotel in Cubao Quezon City.
Racela feels that this year, it will be back to square one for the Tams.
“We can’t start the tourney thinking that we are the champions. Kailangan naming alalahanin na galing kami sa ibaba,” added Racela.
Ayo said the Green Archers are coming into the season prepared as a fighting team, familiar with the system he introduced to the Knights when he coached them last year.
“Palaban ang mga ito. We are prepared. We’re just excited,” added Ayo, as La Salle prepares to face FEU in their first game on Wednesday.
Also in agreement that La Salle will be the team to watch out for this season are new University of Santo Tomas coach Rodil Sablan, National University’s Eric Altamirano, Ateneo de Manila University’s assistant coach Sandy Arrespacochaga, University of the Philippines’ mentor Bo Perasol and University of the East skipper Paul Varilla.
Games on Sunday will have UP taking on Adamson at 2 p.m., and UST clashing with Ateneo at 4 p.m, in matches to be covered live by ABS-CBN’s S+A sports channel.
Season 79 president Fr. Ermito de Sagon of host UST said the thrice-to-beat championship format will no longer be implemented this season.
The old format has been in use for 22 years and was implemented in Season 57 (1994–95) and was followed in Season 70 (2007–08) when University of the East swept the elimination rounds, but lost to La Salle in the finals.
“We thought that this is too much (thrice-to-beat format). It ends up like being a best-of-four. Hindi na maganda,” said De Sagon.
Traditions will be broken when competitions in ballroom dancing kick off the start of the 79th season.
The event will be introduced this year as a demonstration sport by league officials, to be held right before the opening ceremonies at the Plaza Mayor, in front of the main building of the University Santo Tomas campus along Espana Ave., Manila.
“There to Dream” is Season 79’s theme.