ATENEO BLUE EAGLES (6-1):
Projected Starting Lineup:
G - Juami Tiongson
G - Kiefer Ravena
C - Poy Erram
F - Ryan Buenafe
F - Chris Newsome
X - Factor Off the Bench :
G Nico Elorde and F Von Pessumal
The Ateneo Blue Eagles are 6-1 and playing great basketball considering they are really short-handed especially in the front-court position. Poy Erram has only played one game; Giboy Babilonia missed their last game due to a dislocated shoulder; Von Pessumal suffered a dislocated finger due to a freak accident and Jerie Pingoy still not cleared to play by his HS mother school FEU. Also, Ryan Buenafe is in the lineup but haven't suited up yet because of his academic duties.
Nonetheless, they have just lost once considering they have played small-ball. Sometimes, Kiefer Ravena is forced to play the SF position, Chris Newsome at PF and undersized Vince Tolentino at C. Nico Elorde has been a revelation off the bench and has been averaging double figures in points. Von "Steph Curry" Pessumal has also been shooting the lights out and in a way, compromising with what they don't have which is inside presence. At one instance, Von shot 4 out of 4 three-pointer in one quarter against UE.
If Ateneo wants to get their unprecedented 6-peat in the UAAP, they need to stay healthy. They need Ryan Buenafe and Poy Erram to be in shape come UAAP season. Coach Bo Perasol has been excellent so far on his gameplans. If not for the UST game, they could have been unblemished. But a 6-1 record is still worthy of the number 1 spot in Group B standings.
SAN BEDA RED LIONS (3-1):
Projected Starting Lineup:
G - Baser Amer
G - Ryusei Koga
C - Kyle Pascual
F - Rome dela Rosa
F - Arthur dela Cruz
X - Factor Off the Bench :
G Utoy Abarcar
After their training in the US, the Red Lions only played 4 games. After their OT loss to National University, they have chalked up 3 straight wins against JRU, UP and FEU. The JRU game is an ugly win as Coach Boyet Fernandez have said in a statement. They have been outrebounded and out-hustled by the Heavy Bombers.
The biggest revelation for me is the play of former Red Cub Utoy Abarcar. This guy is plain gutsy. He is not afraid to go up against much-heralded opponents and most of the time, he can stand on his own against them. The only problem is that he is too errone-prone and seems to be out-of-control type of a player. But still I would prefer him as the 2nd string PG in the Red Lions rotation.
As I have noticed, the Red Lions are still playing Ronnie Magsanoc plays from last year. That's not surprising since Magsanoc and Fernandez have worked before in Meralco in the PBA. But for me, they will be better and lethal to opponents if they play what used to be Frankie Lim's playbook which is run and gun type of plays. They can be the fastest starting five in college basketball today.
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS (8-0):
Protected Starting Five:
G - Gelo Alolino
G - Bobby Ray Parks
C - Alfred Aroga
F - Dennis Villamor
F - Mark Javillonar
X Factor Off the Bench:
F/C Troy Rosario
The NU Bulldogs have been perfect since last year. They are 19-0 and currently 8-0 this summer. They may have won their first 3 games via last-second heroics, but still I think that they are ready for the big dance in the UAAP. Eventhough Jean Mbe is still uncertain to play due to eligibility issues, for me they are already a marked team as early as now.
Their X - factor off the bench will be F/C Troy Rosario. This guy is a beast inside the paint once he forced to be. I think if he can be consistent all year, NU can go places.
If NU wants to duplicate last year's success or even surpass it, they should play steady basketball. They should execute crucial plays into perfection. Somebody should also take charge besides Bobby Ray Parks. He is already a marked man so they should find a next gunner after him.
DE LASALLE GREEN ARCHERS (5-0):
Projected Starting Five:
G - Almond Vosotros
G - Jarelan Tampus
C - Norbert Torres
F - Jeron Teng
F - Jason Perkins
X - Factor Off the Bench:
G - Gabby Reyes
Still one of the only two unbeaten teams this summer, the DLSU Green Archers seems they are back like its the 90's. They have won convincingly against all opponents and they looked tougher and bigger compared to last year's.
This is because of the resurgence of sophomore Gabby Reyes. A seldom-used guard from their HS squad at Zobel, Gabby suddenly shows that he belongs to the big league. He can shoot the 3, he can defend, he can dribble drive, he can play. He has been the constant reliever of Jeron Teng and have been providing great minutes for Coach Gee Abanilla.
The ACL injury to Yutien Andrada is a big loss to the campaign of the Green Archers but I think they have enough materials to replace him. A little bit under 10 points and 5 rebounds a game can easily be filled by rookies Jason Perkins, Kib Montalbo and Gabby Reyes. I know Jeron Teng will be steady all year but these 3 guys will be the x - factor for their squad. Give those three enough playing time and the DLSU Green Archers can bid goodbye to their dark years.
UST GROWLING TIGERS (3-3)
Projected Starting Five:
G - Robin Tan
G - Jeric Teng
C - Karim Abdul
F - Kevin Ferrer
F - Kim Lo
X - Factor Off the Bench:
G Tata Bautista
The UST Growling Tigers are one of the favorites not only in this Filoil Premier Cup but to the coming UAAP season. Eventhough losing to Ateneo the UAAP championship, they have been the consistent favorites of the press, journalists and UAAP coaches due to the eventual loss of personnels of the Blue Eagles. They have proven this by beating Ateneo as early in the PCCL and here in Filoil summer tourney. The Tigers may have lost chief playmaker Jeric Fortuna, but some of the bench players from last year seems to have the initiative to took over the position vacated by the latter.
The key off the bench will be Tata Bautista. Robin Tan seems to be Coach Pido Jarencio's choice for the starting point guard but I like Tata during the crucial stretches of the game. This is evident during their game against CSJL where Tata scored the winning basket.
Even with the upset loss against SWU, I still believe that the UST Growling Tigers can still go deep into the playoffs of the summer tourney and also and most importantly in the coming UAAP season.
FEU TAMARAWS (3-3):
Projected Starting Five:
G - RR Garcia
G - Roger Pogoy
C - Christian Snetchu
F - Russel Escoto
F - Chris Tolomia
X - Factor Off the Bench:
F Mac Belo
The FEU Tamaraws will be the most controversial team coming this season. A new head coach, implementing a 2 - year residency rule on their HS star who wants to play for Ateneo, two superstars who have not still gelled together eversince, a drug scandal for their foreign recruit and a lot more. Losses to AdU, NU and SBC may have knock-outed the Tams' confidence but still they have showed signs of brillance and signs that they can be a cohesive unit inside and outside the hardcourt.
For me, their key player coming from the bench will be forward Mac Belo. He may have been undersized at the 4-spot but he can play and does have a big heart. He can even outrebound guys bigger than him. During the game against San Beda, he showed that he can play big and thus he even outplayed Ola Adeogun for some plays. Regardless on whether Arvie Bringas will come back and play, I think Mac Belo deserves a little more playing time than he used to have.
A UAAP Final Four slot is up for grabs for the Tams. They should just keep the distractions away and as the popular quote says "Eyes on the prize".
ARELLANO UNIVERSITY CHIEFS (4-2):
Projected Starting Five:
G - John Pinto
G - James Forrester
C - Prince Caperal
F - John Rey Cadavis
F - Levi Hernandez
X - Factor Off the Bench:
G/F Keith Jasper Agovida
The Arellano University Chiefs could break into the Final Four for the first time this coming season. After a month of summer league action, writers and basketball analysts dubbed the Chiefs as the main contender for San Beda's championship reign. With a 4-2 record, they have already beaten some of the UAAP and NCAA elites like the UPSHD Altas, one of the Final Four members last year.
The Chiefs' main men will be John Pinto and James Forrester but they will be well-scouted by opponents coming into the season. If they want to achieve something thia year, they must find time in honing rookie Keith Jasper Agovida. This lanky-versatile forward can man the frontcourt for them even he is a little undersized and underweighed. He showed this during their game against FEU where he outrebounded much bigger Tamaraws by using his speed and basketball IQ. He could be the Chiefs' main man off the bench all throughout the year.
Its a gutsy statement if I will say that they are a lock with the NCAA's Final Four. But its true. They are a legitimate contender for the NCAA Championship.
UE RED WARRIORS (4-2):
Projected Starting Five:
G - Roi Sumang
G - Lord Casajeros
C - Chris Javier
F - JM Noble
F - Adrian Santos
X - Factor Off the Bench:
C Charles Mammie
UE's dream of a Final Four seems to be a doable task especially with their showing in the Filoil Premier Cup. They have beaten the UAAP first runner-ups last year, UST by a big margin. If not for their last-minute collapse against SSC-R, they could have been 5-1 and that sole loss is from the UAAP 5-peat champions Ateneo. As early as now, I tagged them as the darkhorse in the coming UAAP season. Materials-wise, they have everything to contend with the championship.
The biggest reason for UE's resurgence is their recruit Charles Mammie. This hulking center is averaging in double figures in points and rebounds. Mammie's presence inside the paint could be like of Greg Slaughter during his playing years with Ateneo.
They may have the strongest lineup on paper, second to DLSU and NU. And with that, I think they can pull off some surprises in the Filoil Premier Cup and in the UAAP. JMP
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