NAASCU Preview by Mhel Garrido

Mhel Garrido, a very good friend of mine, provided this preview for NAASCU. Hope you all like this new feature on different leagues and teams.

As the NAASCU prepares for its 8^th season a new rivalry is in the works. In five out of the seven seasons of the NAASCU the University of Manila Hawks came out as the league champion. This year they are again slightly favored to get back to the top. If we were to gauge their performance last season, then this year’s team would be the team to beat. Gone from last year’s team was team leader Frank Bonus who single handedly brought the fire to the Hawks when they beat last year’s defending champion AMACU Titans in the final four. Add to that the retirement of long time UM Coach Loreto “Ato” Tolentino who brought pride and honor to this squad. The holdovers will include last year’s assist champion Russen Asuncion at the point and the high leaping rebound king Reggie Malinao who plays a lot like former Hawk Kelvin Gregorio. The team will now be coached by multi -titled veteran coach, Francis Rodriguez. Other key players in the Hawks line up is former Rookie of the Year Onofre Napiza, Lawrence Paguio and Jason Mulawin. Last school year the Hawks were a young team but still made it to the finals which means this year, they are definitely the team to beat.

On the other hand, the team they beat for their fifth title in 2005 got back at them last year to win their first NAASCU Title. It is the first time the Hawks lost in the NAASCU finals. They are now 1-1 in the finals and both teams are ready to break the tie. Unfortunately, because of the new age ruling for all NAASCU members, defending champion STI College Olympians lost 12 players. If not for the ruling then the Olympians would still have the services of tournament MVP Dexter Micutuan and six others. Returning for their last year is Mythical Team member Ramon Mabayo and center Darryl Mendoza. The awesome twosome will be supported by bullstrong forward Michael Cabangon and from last year’s bench comes the 2005 Inter STI MVP, forward William Vasallo and point guard Alvin Macabasco. During the off season the Olympians started their recruitment by going to young unknowns and recruiting by as far as Cagayan de Oro city to land the players that they need. Although they believe they will be the starters for next year, the Olympians hope that forwards Maclean Sabellina, Raffy Waminal, Mike Daanoy and Bryan Daguplo together with guard Norman Ihalas and Paul Sabacahan will develop fast to be able to contribute for this year’s squad. The Olympian’s strength lie on their pressure defense which they translate into easy baskets.

The season is a month away and anything can still happen, the other teams are slowly catching up as former Champion AMACU Titans are revamping this year following the resignation of Head Coach Boni Garcia. The San Sebastian Cavite Baycats on the other hand lost top scorers Jerome Cenita and Glen Bolocon but are still intact and raring to improve on their fourth place finish. The New Era Hunters and CEU Scorpions are back with a vengeance and are regrouping to be able to get back to the final four which they missed last year. Newcomer Informatics is ready to show their wares together with the other NAASCU members which include University of Makati, Pamantasang Lungsod ng Pasay, Holy Angel University and St. Clare College. August 8, 2008 , STI vs UM, the newest NAASCU rivalry is now in tow.

Take your pick.