WALANG dudang ang defending champion Ateneo de Manila University ang hands-down team to beat sa UAAP Season 82 men’s basketball tournament.
Tulad ng inaasahan, ang Blue Eagles ang unanimous choice ng mga coach sa idinaos na preseason press conference kahapon.
“It’s a given that Ateneo is going to be on top,” wika ni UP coach Bo Perasol.
Sinang-ayunan ito ni Adamson mentor Franz Pumaren. “It’s quite obvious already. It’s Ateneo and they should be rated number one. From player one to sixteen skills-wise, they’re all the same.”
Matapang namang tinanggap ni Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin ang ‘pressure’ mula sa kanyang mga kapwa mentor.
“I know expectations are high for our team and it’s our job to play the best basketball as we can,” wika ng two-time UAAP champion coach.
Nakataya sa Blue Eagles ang three-peat sa final season nina Thirdy Ravena, Isaac Go, at twins Matt at Mike Nieto.
Inaasahang mahigpit na makakatunggali ng Ateneo para sa korona ang UP, Adamson, La Salle, FEU at UST.
“I think that the expectations for our team are in place. Every team is going to be prepared and hopefully, we can live up to the expectations thrown at us,” ani Perasol, na nakatakdang iparada sina Kobe Paras at Ricci Rivero sa Fighting Maroons ngayong taon.
“I’m handling one of the youngest teams I’ve ever handled, but hopefully they adjust to the seniors level right away,” sabi naman ni Pumaren, na sasandal kay Jerrick Ahanmisi sa pagsirit ng Soaring Falcons.
“We’re all excited for what’s in store for this coming season,” pahayag ni Green Archers bench tactician Gian Nazario.
Sa kanyang panig, sinabi ni FEU coach Olsen Racela na,”You’ll be seeing a different FEU team. You’re used to see experienced players, but half of our team are rookies so were investing on our youth and hopefully, matulungan nila kami.”
Samantala, ibinahagi ni UST counterpart Aldin Ayo na, “Nine of the 16 players we have are first-year players. Medyo kulang ang exposure pero sana this season, lumabas ang laro nila.”
Hindi rin padadaig ang NU at UE dahil kapwa competent squads ang kanyang isasabak ngayong taon.
“We’ll be very competitive and we’re excited to compete and show what we can do for this season,” ani Bulldogs mentor Jamike Jarin, na muling aasa kay sophomore Dave Ildefonso.
“We have a rookie-laden team this year, but we’ll always fight. Lalaban pa rin,” sabi naman ni Red Warriors athletic director Rod Roque, na kumatawan kay coach Joe Silva.
Magsisimula ang men’s basketball competitions sa Miyerkoles sa Smart Araneta Coliseum, kung saan maghaharap ang UST at UE sa alas-10:30 ng umaga, na susunduan ng UP-FEU duel sa alas-12:30 ng tanghali, bago ang main game sa pagitan ng Ateneo at ng Adamson sa alas-4 ng hapon.
Comments are closed.