Yellow fever: Can political color reign in UAAP?

Yellow trumped the other contending colors in the country’s political landscape. Will it spill over in the nation’s premier collegiate league – the Universities Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP)?

That’s what Far Eastern University, National U and Santo Tomas U – three teams with shades of yellow on their jerseys – will try to bank on. Realistically, it looks like the Tamaraws have the capacity to lord it over the field and keep their yellow and green colors flying by October.

But the UAAP is more than just a game of colors, and Ateneo’s blue and white remain as the dominant force to beat. The grandslam-seeking Eagles will have a tougher task this season than in any other time in the past, but it has remained formidable with a mixture of veterans and rookies.

The Final Four field will become wide open for the other two remaining berths among the six other combatants, making this season as exciting as ever.

Expect intense action starting Saturday when hostilities in the UAAP begin.

GMANews.TV made its own ranking and came up with its expectations on the eight competing teams this season.


1. Far Eastern University – Depth, experience and hunger for the title motivate this team from Morayta. While Ateneo is pumped up to win its third straight title, FEU is poised to make it all the way to the top and keep the high-flying Eagles grounded. Tamaraws mentor Glen Capacio, a member of FEU’s three-time champion squad, is leaving no stonen unturned this season and lead his team’s rampaging assault. And the rest of the Tamaraws backstopped by JR Cawaling, Aldrech Ramos, Reil Cervantes and promising sophomore RR Herrera are ready to play their roles. Will yellow continue to become a lucky color this season?


2. Ateneo – The departure of three key players – former MVP Rabeh Al-Husseini, defensive demon Nonoy Baclao and crafty playmaker Jai Reyes – left a big vacuum to the team’s frontline and guard rotation. But Ateneo has remained unruffled and continued its pre-season buildup. They added slotman JP Erram and Art Dela Cruz Jr., son of former PBA star Art dela Cruz. The Eagles still have Eric Salamat and Ronjay Buenafe, the team’s go-to-guys and will bank on Nico Salva up front. The Eagles were busy in the off season, preparing for their ambitious grandslam bid. They went to the Abunssar Institute of Basketball and played competitively in the pre-season tournaments. But can they go all the way and complete a rare three-peat? Only a herd of Tamaraws are blocking their path.


3. University of the Philippines – Coach Aboy Castro has done a masterful job turning the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons from being just a spoiler to a real contender. The team’s Philippine Basketball League (PBL) stint was a proof of how far the Fighting Maroons can contend. The core of the squad played under Pharex and was able to make it all the way to the finals, but lost to the San Sebastian-led Excelroof team. But the pre-season tournaments can also be a gauge how things can turn positive for the Diliman-based dribblers. Don’t be surprised to see them sneak their way back to the Final Four.


4. Adamson University – Now or never. The phrase best describes Leo Austria’s enthusiastic Falcons this season. The inclusion of Kenyan Austin Manyara and Will Stinnett from Guam certainly made the Falcons formidable on all fronts. They have arguably the best backcourt combo in Jeric Canada and Lester Alvarez and the addition of the foreign players give the Falcons tremendous amount of confidence. Will the Falcons soar as high as the Eagles? This may be the moment they’re waiting for.


5. National University – A strong program, management’s full support and a new outlook to bury the years of forgettable campaign is what National University is looking forward to in Season 73. For the Bulldogs, 2010 is a fresh start. Finally, the Bulldogs will have something to be called as a “team." Never did the Bulldogs receive such tremendous support than the one they’re getting from business tycoon Henry Sy, who decided to bankroll the team and improve the school’s basketball program. Nobody is as patient to receive such assistance than the team which has a 56-year title drought.


6. La Salle – While fierce rival Ateneo is on top, La Salle will most likely find itself at the lower half of the standings. The team is on a rebuilding stage while several squads have beefed up their respective rosters. But coach Dindo Pumaren, who played for the Green Archers team that battled the Blue Eagles in the 1988 finals, is taking his time and waiting for the right opportunity to sneak its way to the Final Four. The team has an abundance of perimeter players, but doesn’t have the depth upfront to match up against the big boys in the league. Joshua Webb, a third-generation player from a family of well-known sportsman, and Gab Banal, a second-generation player, are expected to lead the team’s charge.


7. University of the East – From last season’s runner-up, University of the East could find its way in the lower half of the standings. It may battle National University and La Salle for a spot from fifth to seventh places, but because the team is guard-heavy, the Warriors will definitely have a hard time matching up once the game goes inside the paint. The loss of Pari Llagas and Elmer Espiritu left a big hole inside for the Recto-based dribblers, but they still have Paul Lee, Paul Zamar and a returning James Martinez, who’s expected to be a step slower after suffering an ACL injury.


8. University of Santo Tomas – Pido Jarencio was in playful mood as ever. That’s one thing he can do now just to lighten things up for a University of Santo Tomas squad that carries a heavy burden this season. Talent wise, the Tigers fell behind and failed to keep on par with the rest of the combatants. They lost big-time players, including last season’s MVP Dylan Ababou and the sweet-shooting Kazim Mirza. Now, the Tigers will have no other choice than to ride on the young shoulders of Jeric Teng.

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