Training under a bubble has brought many players of participating teams together and got them closer for a short period of time. But this may not necessarily bring the best out of each team.
Coach Tab Baldwin said this as the defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles get ready for action when Season 84 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines 84 Men’s Basketball Tournament fires off this Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“We have a lot of time together off-court. This is good for the mental side of the players. But even though we’re in a bubble, it has been a brief, short period of time for us to get ready and it will reflect on the performances of the teams,” said Baldwin following Wednesday’s press conference at the TV5 Studios in Mandaluyong.
The Blue Eagles, who are seeking a four-peat, are among the favorites this season, next to the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, which will have multi-titled junior coach Goldwin Monteverde calling the shots.
And the Blue Eagles will be a different team when they go up against the Fighting Maroons at 4 p.m.
Veterans like Thirdy Ravena, Isaac Go, William Navarro, Adrian Wong and Nieto twins Mike and Matt are gone.
This time, five younger players form the core of the team, namely Gian Mamuyac, Tyler Tio, Angelo Kouame, SJ Belangel and Sean Dave Ildefonso will be picking up on the squad’s leadership roles.
The Fighting Maroons will now have Noah Webb as their skipper. Another vet, Ricci Rivero, will be backed up high school stars Carl Tamayo and Terrence Fortea.
They will also have Zav Lucero, veteran guard CJ Cansino and Senegalese tower Malick Diouf as among the players to watch.
This will make up for the absence of stars like Kobe Paras, Bright Akhuetie, Jun Manzo and Gomez de Liaño brothers Javi and Juan, who have all graduated. Former coach Bo Perasol is now program director.
Far Eastern University meets UST in the 10 a.m. opener of a four-game bill, to be held under a bubble, with no audience allowed in the venue.
The Adamson Falcons will clash with the National University Bulldogs at 1 p.m., while the La Salle Green Archers take on the University of the East Warriors at 7 p.m.
The games will have a live coverage via One Sports (free-to-air), in high definition on the UAAP Varsity Channel (pay TV) and Cignal Play (OTT streaming).
Smart will also be digitally streaming the UAAP events on its Smart GigaPlay app.