MAYBE this is the year.
The anticipation and excitement brewing from Diliman will come to the fore as a University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons squad with grizzled and hungry veterans aided by blue-chip newcomers look to announce their re-arrival in college basketball.
UP takes on the Mapua Cardinals in the nightcap of the second day of the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup at 5 p.m. at the San Juan Arena, while National University takes on Malayan in the only Juniors match scheduled for the day at 11:45 a.m.
Seniors basketball tips off with Letran facing Cebuano-team University of San Jose Recoletos at 1:30 p.m., while Jose Rizal University tackles NCAA rival College of Saint Benilde at 3:15 p.m.
UP, with Joe Ward now as head coach, are stocked with veterans looking to fulfill a deep push in the upcoming University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 78 in September.
Hot-shooting JR Gallarza returns with Dave Moralde; the comebacking Jet Manuel who skipped a year; Paolo Romero who is finally healthy after battling various leg and knee injuries; Mark Juruena, Henry Asilum, Kyles Lao and Andrew Harris. Youngsters Diego Dario is said to have vastly improved, while undersized center Gelo Vito looks to tag team with Juruena and Romero at the power forward position while foreigners Cheik Kone and Lionel Tekoudjou alternate at center.
Rookies Dominic Longa and Jan Jaboneta brings the Ateneo de Cebu contingent to three along with veteran point guard Henry Asilum.
“The modest goal is to improve from last year’s finish and, if possible, compete for a Final Four slot,” said Ward, who watched the opening of the Filoil tourney on Saturday. “We’ve got the pieces to compete this year.”
Standing in their way is Mapua, which is led by do-it-all forward Josan Nimes, Mark Braña, Tura de la Rosa, Stephen Que and CJ Isit. Nimes returns after sitting out a year because of injury. However, the Cardinals will be missing center Jessie Saitanan, who has used up his playing eligibility. Six-foot-nine Nigerian Allwell Oraeme will be taking over the center position.