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UAAP 82 coaches answer: Who is the team to beat this season?

By JUSTIN KENNETH CARANDANG, GMA News

The Ateneo Blue Eagles are coming in as the defending champions of UAAP Season 82 and as expected, they are the team to beat — at least according to four of the UAAP men's basketball coaches.

Adamson Falcons coach Franz Pumaren, FEU Tamaraws coach Olsen Racela, NU Bulldogs coach Jamike Jarin, and UP coach Bo Perasol all agree Ateneo will be the toughest team to match.

But they all also agree: everyone else have bluked up with veteran recruits. 

 

Courtesy of UAAP
Courtesy of UAAP

"All the other teams improved, so it's gonna be an interesting season," Racela said.

For Ateneo Blue Eagles coach Tab Baldwin, Adamson is on top of mind.

The three other coaches, DLSU Green Archers coach Gian Nazario, UST coach Aldin Ayo and UE athletic director Rod Roque, did not name a team to beat but instead, banked on the unpredictability of this season's lineups.

"It's difficult to say kung sino 'yung team to beat kasi all teams have improved. I think it will be an unpredictable season," Ayo said.

Below, coaches share their thoughts on their teams:

For the Adamson Falcons, Pumaren hopes his rookie-laden team will easily adapt in the seniors' league. "I'm handling one of the youngest teams. Hopefully this young guys can adapt very quickly to the senior level," he said.

 

 


Ateneo's Baldwin meanwhile said while expectations are high for the defending champs, they will still try to "play the best basketball that we can."

 

 

After missing the Final Four bus last season, DLSU's Nazario said the aim for the team is get better after each game, and hopefully, making it again to the Final Four.

 

 

Just like Adamson, FEU will have a young team. "You'll see a very different FEU team, but this year, just like Adamson, half of our team are rookies so we're investing on the youth and hopefully matulungan nila kami sa aming programa this season," Racela added.

 

 

NU's Jarin and UE's Roque said they will still fight despite the tight competition. "We are excited to compete and show what we can do in the coming season," Jarin said.

 

 

 

 

Coming from a runner-up finish last season, UP's Perasol said the high expectations are part of what they will manage for the team. "Every team's going to be prepared. We're hoping that we could live up to any expectations that are going to be thrown at us," he said.

 

 

For UST's Ayo, he is hoping that their newcomers will show their game as the season progresses.

 

 

The basketball season will start on Wednesday, September. See the schedule below for men's basketball:

 


— LA, GMA News

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