UAAP S81 Men’s Basketball Preview: University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons

UAAP S81 Men’s Basketball Preview: University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons

by rick olivares

UAAP S80 record: 6-8

Key losses: Paolo Romero, Ibrahim Ouattara, Kyles Lao, Rob Ricafort, Andrew Harris, Enzo Battad

Additions: Bright Akhuetie, JJ Espanola, Will Gozum, David Murrell, James Spencer, JD Tungcab

Returning player: Pio Longa

In this third year of Bo Perasol over at UP, he’s put together arguably the best team (on paper) on the floor in over a decade. Sure, we have heard that before, but let me assure you… it’s true. It’s true. Now why do I sound like Kurt Angle when I say that?

They’ve recruited well – David Murrell, the Gomez De Liaño brothers (from Ateneo Grade School), and Paul Desiderio to name a few.

They have also brought in transferees who have had seasoning elsewhere. Bright Akhuetie was a super player over at the NCAA with Perpetual Help. JD Tungcab was a star with Adamson before moving. And there is Jun Manzo who played in the Visayas before coming over. And next season, they will have Ricci Rivero and Kobe Paras who are recruiting coups for Perasol.

But that is for next year. This year… the Fighting Maroons are expected to crash the Final Four party and maybe even win it all.

And just how are they going to do that?

That Man in the Middle

Akhuetie himself makes this team much better. He plugs their gaping hole at center scoring and defense-wise. He will attract double teams and the scary thing is, he can pass that ball. Aside from Desiderio, he can be a go-to player. One who can get a bucket come crunch time.

I haven’t seen the Big Fella this motivated in a long time. You bet he is hungry.

More weapons

Talk about an arms race in the UAAP. Bo Perasol has assembled quite a squad.

They have done a good job of getting players who were stars with their high school or college teams. The trick is to get them to play sweet music together. Having said that, it helps that you know you have players who can play big time hoops.

How many players do they have in the Gilas Cadets program – Desiderio, Juan Gomez De Liaño, and Will Gozum. That’s plenty good because you know they are some of the best in the country today.

I like the addition of Gozum who will get better in the years to come. While with UPIS and then Mapua, he played the center slot, but he’s more a stretch four. A Ranidel De Ocampo in the making?

During the summer, JD Tungcab struggled to get minutes but as the months wore on, he started to get more minutes. Unlike in Adamson where he had the ball a lot, here, he has to share that ball. At this point, it is all about minutes and confidence. Imagine when he gets going.

A kid named Juan

Juan Gomez De Liaño is going to get so much better. I figure he will have a breakout year. If he can consistently provide and stay on the floor, he will allow UP to flourish even if Desiderio is on the bench. This kid isn’t lacking in confidence. In fact, in my conversations with Perasol, he feels that it is overconfidence that he sometimes expresses himself too much. A definite opposite to the quiet Desiderio.

At least, he isn’t wanting in confidence. Look for him to have a breakout year.

And we’d like to mention his brother, Javi who really came into his own last season and has gotten better. He was grabbing huge rebounds and hitting threes. If he can continue to play big minutes, he will help whether playing the three or four-spot.

How far they go depends on the performance of their stars. That has always been the knock on this team. Too many scorers and only one basketball. Let’s see if they have taken that to heart.

Anything less than a Final Four finish is a disappointment. But even if they don’t make it, UP fans are still salivating because they have Ricci Rivero and Kobe Paras on deck.