UAAP coaches agree: La Salle is team to beat

MANILA, Philippines – As the De La Salle Green Archers point arrows at their opponents, they, too, will find they have a huge target on their backs as all 7 other teams agree the defending champions are the team to beat for UAAP Season 77.

“La Salle is gonna be the barometer for this season,” Ateneo Blue Eagles assistant coach Yuri Escueta said during the Season 77 press conference on Monday, July 7 at Gloria Maris in Cubao.

The Archers won last season’s crown after besting the UST Growling Tigers in a highly competitive best-of-3 Finals series that went the distance. The lineup that won last year’s championship is very much intact with only guard LA Revilla leaving the fold due to graduation.

“La Salle is still the favorites, I think they have a better lineup this year,” FEU Tamaraws head coach Nash Racela agreed.

NU Bulldogs head coach Eric Altamirano also chimed in, “I agree with everybody. I think it’s obvious that La Salle is the team to beat. They have the experience, they have the players who know how to win.”

Juno Sauler, the quiet and reserved coach who unexpectedly took La Salle to the promised land last year after taking on the head coaching job less than a month before Season 76 began, simply brushed off the attention.

“In my humble opinion, I don’t focus too much on expectations and what the future is according to the opinions of others,” he said smiling.

“It’s day by day, we’re getting better every practice and performing every game, that’s what’s most important, more than the expectation.”

La Salle will have its hands full against 7 other schools vying to take their throne.

Last year’s bridesmaides University of Santo Tomas are looking to avenge their heartbreaking loss as they move on from the Pido Jarencio era and adjust to playing without Jeric Teng and Clark Bautista.

Far Eastern University will also be adjusting to life without main gunners Terrence Romeo and RR Garcia, relying instead on veterans Mike Tolomia and Gryann Mendoza. 

The Ateneo de Manila University, on the other hand, hopes to put to the test the rebuilding process they’ve begun since the 76th season following their 5-peat feat in 2012. The team has traveled extensively throughout the summer, going to Las Vegas in the US and Japan. They are currently wrapping up training in South Korea. The Eagles have been under the radar so far, which, according to Escueta, is due to the team acclimating its rookies to the system. 

READ: Newsome: Ateneo will be ‘Unpredictable

“All throughout the summer we focused on jelling with the rookies and veterans, building up chemistry,” he said.

National University will also be adjusting greatly as Ray Parks opted to pursue his NBA dream in the US. The Bulldogs, according to Altamirano, don’t plan on having a go-to guy anymore. Instead, they want to give the ball to everybody. 

Meanwhile, University of the East is also bannering a new coach in Derrick Pumaren, who says discipline is the main value he wants to instill in his players. With guard Roi Sumang piloting the Warriors, Pumaren wants his team to play smart basketball.

“You can make sure that we will play hard every game and we will try to make it to the next round,” he said.

Adamson University, according to head coach Kenneth Duremdes, isn’t expecting a Final Four appearance. Though they do plan for Season 77 to be a stepping stone to greater things in the future as part of their rebuilding process. They are sporting 11 rookies for the season. 

Lastly, the University of the Philippines, who wasn’t at the press conference as they are presently still in Taiwan for training, will work to break free from the cellar. 

University of the East will be taking on hosting duties for Season 77, which is aptly themed “Unity In Excellence.” 

The theme, according to UAAP Season 77 President Carmelita Mateo, refers to the single goal of excellence that all 8 schools strive for no matter the differences.

Season 77 will tip off on Saturday, July 12 with the opening ceremonies set to start at 12 noon. – Rappler.com