The 24 UAAP Hotties of 2010

All eyes are on the hardcourt now that the 73rd Season of the UAAP is in full swing, hosted by De La Salle University (DLSU). Back in 2007, Funfare “beauty experts” Felix Manuel, Joey Cezeare, Gery Yumping and Francis Calubaquib made a list of the UAAP hotties.

Said Felix, “It’s interesting to note that four of our choices back then are already team captains this year and most, if not all of our picks are in the major league.”

The “beauty experts” have updated their list of The 24 Hotties in the UAAP 2010. Among those on the list are players who are already models and/or product endorsers. Is showbiz far behind?

Who would follow in the footsteps of former cagers who became actors (among them Robert Jaworski, Francis Arnaiz, Freddie Webb, Jimmy Santos, Joey Marquez, Atoy Co, Jojo Lastimosa, Jerry Codiñera, Alvin Patrimonio, Bong Alvarez, JV Gayoso, Benjie Paras, Jonas Mariano, Jason Webb, James Yap, BJ Manalo, Zanjoe Marudo, Vince Hizon, Bruce Quebral, Iago Raterta, Xian Lim and, most recently, Chris Tiu)?

The Honor Roll:

•UST (University of Sto. Tomas), 18 men’s seniors titles and 37 general championships

# 7 Jeric Marco Fortuna (Point Guard), 5’7”

#12 Christopher Camus (Power Forward), 6’4”

# 16 Jeric Allen Teng (Shooting Guard), 6’2”, 2009 Rookie of the Year

* * *

• FEU (Far Eastern University), 19 men’s seniors titles and 16 general championships

#14 Jens Dieter Knuttel (Point Guard), 5’11”, team captain

#15 Ricardo “JR” Cawaling Jr. (Small Forward), 6’4”, 2007 Rookie of the Year

#9 Patrick Jolas Guerrero (Power Forward), 6’3”

* * *

•UP (University of the Philippines), Two men’s seniors titles, five general championships

#16 Woody Co (Forward), 6’3”, 2006 Rookie of the Year, team captain

#12 Alvin Padilla (Small Forward), 6’2”

#13 Moriah Joel Gingerich (Small Forward), 6’2"

* * *

• NU (National University), One men’s seniors title, three general championships

#4 Yvan Ludovice (Point Guard), 5’9”

#17 Larry John Malanday (Small Forward), 6’2”

#15 Jewel Ponferrada (Power Forward), 6’4”

* * *

• UE (University of the East), 18 men’s seniors titles, three general championships

#7 Lucas Tagarda (Point Guard), 5’11"

#5 Paul Christian Zamar (Shooting Guard), 5’11"

#6 James Martinez (Point Guard), 5’10”, team captain

* * *

• AdU (Adamson University), One men’s seniors title

#5 Lester Alvarez (Point Guard), 5’8”

#18 Jeffrey Olalia (Guard), 5’11”

#7 Ryan Monteclaro (Guard), 5’7"

* * *

• DLSU — Seven men’s seniors titles

#7 Simon David Atkins (Shooting Guard), 5’11”, team captain

#10 Joshua David Webb (Small Forward), 6’2”

#15 Ferdinand (Center), 6’5”

* * *

ADMU (Ateneo de Manila University) — Five men’s seniors titles

# 6 Nicolas Raymond “Nico” Salva — (Power Forward), 6’4”

#13 Ryan Clarence Buenafe— (Small Forward), 6’2”, 2008 Rookie of the Year

#12 Kirk Jeffrey Long — (Shooting Guard), 6’1"

(DLSU’s Ferdinand has no surname, he simply wants to be known as Ferdinand: he is from Indonesia)

(The UAAP hunks who made the list again are Long, Atkins, Olalia, Alvarez, Martinez, Co and Knuttel).

(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph or at entphilstar@yahoo.com) - FUNFARE By Ricardo F. Lo (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)