Outgoing Players
- Paul Lee (14.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 2 steals)
- Ezer Rosopa (3.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.3 blocks)
- James Martinez (12.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.4 steals)
- Raphy Reyes (7.4 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.5 steals)
- Garrick Ayala, dropped from the team (2 points, 3 rebounds, 0.8 steals, 0.6 blocks)
- Sam Razon, possibly out for the season to rehab from his ACL injury though he is back with the team (2.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 0.8 blocks)
Win/Loss Records
- Season 73: 6-8 (6th)
- Season 72: 10-4 (3rd, lost in the Finals to Ateneo De Manila University)
- Season 71: 9-5 (4th, lost in the Final Four to Ateneo De Manila University)
Key Stats
- Last in the league in opponents' total rebounds allowed (44/game), offensive rebounds allowed (15.43/game) and opponents' defensive rebounds allowed (28.57/game)
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Happy News for UST Fans
A belated happy 400th birthday to all of my UST readers out there. I come bearing 4 gifts, in honor of your 400th birthday, which might get you guys excited. Although as always, rumors (as you will undoubtedly see) have a way of changing at bad times so the following are true, right now, but Lord knows might not be by the time the FilOil Preseason tournament kicks off.
1) I'm backing off my previous post that said that Kevin Ferrer was ADMU-bound, for the simple reason that things have changed. As mentioned in my previous post, a UST-insider recently broke the word to people at the Blue Eagles Nest that Ferrer would be staying at home. It's the sort of thing that either inspires or is backed up by forum posts of unknown legitimacy, but let's just say that a betting man would put money on him staying...for now.
2) Robin Tan, a Team B call-up who went to Xavier School (the same school that gave you Jeric Teng), looks to be a more than capable point guard who could shift Jeric Fortuna to his more natural "2" position. "Shoo-in" is how the above UST-insider described him and a recent performance versus Letran got him rave reviews.
3) Karim Abdul. No, really, Karim Abdul. That's the name of UST's African player, and well, he could possibly the best of the lot. The reason? Like his namesake, he's got skills, including a good post repertoire, a jump shot, and hops. Perhaps finally, your Jervy Cruz replacement is here!
4) A new assistant coach for defense!
Based on all of the above, it's conceivable that UST will rise above their 7th place finish from S73, and have an outside shot at making the Final Four...hey, the Tigers can dream right?
1) I'm backing off my previous post that said that Kevin Ferrer was ADMU-bound, for the simple reason that things have changed. As mentioned in my previous post, a UST-insider recently broke the word to people at the Blue Eagles Nest that Ferrer would be staying at home. It's the sort of thing that either inspires or is backed up by forum posts of unknown legitimacy, but let's just say that a betting man would put money on him staying...for now.
2) Robin Tan, a Team B call-up who went to Xavier School (the same school that gave you Jeric Teng), looks to be a more than capable point guard who could shift Jeric Fortuna to his more natural "2" position. "Shoo-in" is how the above UST-insider described him and a recent performance versus Letran got him rave reviews.
3) Karim Abdul. No, really, Karim Abdul. That's the name of UST's African player, and well, he could possibly the best of the lot. The reason? Like his namesake, he's got skills, including a good post repertoire, a jump shot, and hops. Perhaps finally, your Jervy Cruz replacement is here!
4) A new assistant coach for defense!
Based on all of the above, it's conceivable that UST will rise above their 7th place finish from S73, and have an outside shot at making the Final Four...hey, the Tigers can dream right?
Sunday, February 27, 2011
ADMU's Roster Math Equals Subtractions?
ADMU Blue Eagles coach Norman Black has some roster math to figure out.
Each UAAP team is given 16 roster spots. From last season's three-peat squad, two will graduate: Eric Salamat and Jason Escueta. Those two spots automatically (in as much as "automatically" means something) go to Kiefer Ravena and Greg Slaughter.
We've discussed rumors about the eligibility of Chris De Chavez. For me, even if he is eligible, I still think he could do well with a year on Team Glory Be, so for the purpose of this post, I'm ruling him out. His slot goes to the come-backing Oping Sumalinog, who does a lot of what De Chavez does, except with heightened defensive skills.
Another player whom I think could use a stint in Team B is Jeric Estrada. The guy is so raw that he could definitely use the minutes to develop some moves in the paint, and bulk up. If he's out, we can go and put in Gwynne Capacio, who scared some people when he showed up after Christmas Break with a knee brace (it was just a minor tear of the miniscus, the brace is off already).
While we're talking about Team B, we might as well talk about Carlo Balmaceda, who was called up from Team B last season. He didn't play a single minute, but he was highly praised by Coach Norman Black for his attention to detail and his almost assistant coach-like demeanor. That said, he's graduating this March and could easily give up his last year of eligibility. Let's presume he does that, paving the way for me to add Cebu hot-shot Mark Tallo to the mix.
So from the list of "bubble" players, I'm presuming Coach Black keeps Bacon Austria, Tonino Gonzaga, Juami Tiongson, and Art Dela Cruz on Team A.
That closes the door on any Team B call-ups, and from the list of recruits that Coach Black has, sits out Ael Banal, Von Pessumal and Kevin Ferrer.
Now, call this burying the headline, but from those three, two are supposedly contemplating a change of scenery.
The first is Kevin Ferrer, the UST Tiger Cub. Eyebrows were raised when Rick Olivares had to edit his Kiefer Ravena interview to delete the part about his supposed recruitment. Now, word has it that he's supposedly staying, perhaps in part because he doesn't want to be Soc Rivera'd.
The other is Ael Banal. The former Blue Eaglet famously decided not to commit to a college after his RP Youth Tam stint and has bounced around since then (practicing at NU's gym, training in the US with Gab Banal and Joshua Webb of the DLSU Green Archers, to participating in scrimmages with ADMU's Team A). New information has since surfaced that has him practicing with UP, although another source told me that he's definitely staying at ADMU.
Such is the balancing act Coach Black has to play. If he really wanted to, he could presumably find slots in Team A for both Ferrer and Banal if he wanted them to stay (dropping Dela Cruz and Gonzaga, for example). However, that would mean subtracting veterans with Final Four and Championship experience from his bench.
With a month to go before the FilOil Preseason Tournament, there's still plenty of time for recruiters to do their work and for potential recruits to play musical chairs.
Each UAAP team is given 16 roster spots. From last season's three-peat squad, two will graduate: Eric Salamat and Jason Escueta. Those two spots automatically (in as much as "automatically" means something) go to Kiefer Ravena and Greg Slaughter.
We've discussed rumors about the eligibility of Chris De Chavez. For me, even if he is eligible, I still think he could do well with a year on Team Glory Be, so for the purpose of this post, I'm ruling him out. His slot goes to the come-backing Oping Sumalinog, who does a lot of what De Chavez does, except with heightened defensive skills.
Another player whom I think could use a stint in Team B is Jeric Estrada. The guy is so raw that he could definitely use the minutes to develop some moves in the paint, and bulk up. If he's out, we can go and put in Gwynne Capacio, who scared some people when he showed up after Christmas Break with a knee brace (it was just a minor tear of the miniscus, the brace is off already).
While we're talking about Team B, we might as well talk about Carlo Balmaceda, who was called up from Team B last season. He didn't play a single minute, but he was highly praised by Coach Norman Black for his attention to detail and his almost assistant coach-like demeanor. That said, he's graduating this March and could easily give up his last year of eligibility. Let's presume he does that, paving the way for me to add Cebu hot-shot Mark Tallo to the mix.
So from the list of "bubble" players, I'm presuming Coach Black keeps Bacon Austria, Tonino Gonzaga, Juami Tiongson, and Art Dela Cruz on Team A.
That closes the door on any Team B call-ups, and from the list of recruits that Coach Black has, sits out Ael Banal, Von Pessumal and Kevin Ferrer.
Now, call this burying the headline, but from those three, two are supposedly contemplating a change of scenery.
The first is Kevin Ferrer, the UST Tiger Cub. Eyebrows were raised when Rick Olivares had to edit his Kiefer Ravena interview to delete the part about his supposed recruitment. Now, word has it that he's supposedly staying, perhaps in part because he doesn't want to be Soc Rivera'd.
The other is Ael Banal. The former Blue Eaglet famously decided not to commit to a college after his RP Youth Tam stint and has bounced around since then (practicing at NU's gym, training in the US with Gab Banal and Joshua Webb of the DLSU Green Archers, to participating in scrimmages with ADMU's Team A). New information has since surfaced that has him practicing with UP, although another source told me that he's definitely staying at ADMU.
Such is the balancing act Coach Black has to play. If he really wanted to, he could presumably find slots in Team A for both Ferrer and Banal if he wanted them to stay (dropping Dela Cruz and Gonzaga, for example). However, that would mean subtracting veterans with Final Four and Championship experience from his bench.
With a month to go before the FilOil Preseason Tournament, there's still plenty of time for recruiters to do their work and for potential recruits to play musical chairs.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Now We Know Where UE's Getting Reinforcements
With the exit of Paul Lee, and no direct confirmation as to the success of their attempts at recruiting a blue chip 2/3, it seems that the University of the East Red Warriors will be turning their attention southward to Cebu.
According to an article in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, UE is set to tap four incoming college freshmen from Cebu Eastern College's high school ranks. Quoth:
The move will make the ADMU-UE matches a bit more interesting, what with former Cebu standout and CESAFI Juniors MVP Mark Tallo Jr. on the Ateneo squad. It also represents a major recruiting coup and the creation of a potential pipeline of talent, should these players' games transition well in the UAAP.
According to an article in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, UE is set to tap four incoming college freshmen from Cebu Eastern College's high school ranks. Quoth:
Reigning juniors MVP, Nike Montalvo, heads a formidable recruitment class that seeks to rebuild the once-proud UE dynasty that has won 18 championships in the UAAP.
Montalvo will be joined by Roy Villarias, Mark Olayon and BJ Zosa. All four were vital cogs in turning the Dragons around from a miserable bunch in 2009 to a fearsome and title-winning one last year.
They performed well enough during the drills and scrimmages highlighted by them beating the regulars of the Red Warriors. This impressed UE head coach Jerry Codinera and team manager, Jesus Tanchanco Sr., enough to offer them slots on the regular squad.
The move will make the ADMU-UE matches a bit more interesting, what with former Cebu standout and CESAFI Juniors MVP Mark Tallo Jr. on the Ateneo squad. It also represents a major recruiting coup and the creation of a potential pipeline of talent, should these players' games transition well in the UAAP.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
UAAP Teams in the PBA-DL
Though there's still a lot about the PBA-DL that we don't know, especially with regards to UAAP eligibility (Can you play in the PBA-DL before you play for a UAAP team? Is there a minimum number of years you need in the UAAP before you play in your school's PBA-DL team? Will there be schedule conflicts with the PBA-DL?), we at least now know which teams will be getting direct PBA-DL affiliate teams, thanks to this article from the Philippine Star.
So according to the information from the paper, the Freego team will be comprised of Adamson Falcons players, Max Bond will be reinforced with UST Growling Tigers, and the one we all knew about from before, Powerade with guys from the UP Fighting Maroons.
A few other schools have gotten tie-ups, such as San Beda and Maynilad Water, CEU and Cafe France, Arellano University and Black Water, and San Sebastian and Metro Pacific Toll Corp.
Line-ups will be due on March 4, so we'll have a clearer picture of how things will work by then.
So according to the information from the paper, the Freego team will be comprised of Adamson Falcons players, Max Bond will be reinforced with UST Growling Tigers, and the one we all knew about from before, Powerade with guys from the UP Fighting Maroons.
A few other schools have gotten tie-ups, such as San Beda and Maynilad Water, CEU and Cafe France, Arellano University and Black Water, and San Sebastian and Metro Pacific Toll Corp.
Line-ups will be due on March 4, so we'll have a clearer picture of how things will work by then.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
No Ravena or Amer in Smart Gilas
Straight from Coach Toroman's mouth, via a GMA News report:
Toss in the fact that the chance of either making it to the final, PBA-reinforced roster that we're sending to the FIBA qualifying tournament is extremely tiny and the whole idea of Kiefer Ravena and Baser Amer being on the squad seems more ridiculous.
Remember, it was not Toroman who said that they ought to be on the PBA roster. That was SBP vice-chairman Ricky Vargas. We never really got the sense that Toroman wanted either of them, so it's good that he comes out now and quashes this line of thinking before the summer collegiate preseason tournaments get underway, so that both Ravena and Amer can concentrate on practicing with their respective teams.
“We may not have problems from their respective schools once we make the request, but we will definitely encounter problems from the collegiate leagues, which they will play for this year," said Toroman in a telephone interview.
“It’s a short tournament, and we need to win as many games as possible. Our campaign in the PBA will be tough, so I don’t want to take a gamble," added Toroman
Toss in the fact that the chance of either making it to the final, PBA-reinforced roster that we're sending to the FIBA qualifying tournament is extremely tiny and the whole idea of Kiefer Ravena and Baser Amer being on the squad seems more ridiculous.
Remember, it was not Toroman who said that they ought to be on the PBA roster. That was SBP vice-chairman Ricky Vargas. We never really got the sense that Toroman wanted either of them, so it's good that he comes out now and quashes this line of thinking before the summer collegiate preseason tournaments get underway, so that both Ravena and Amer can concentrate on practicing with their respective teams.
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