UAAP: Ateneo on a drive for five; Adamson, UP, NU out to make their mark

The 75th season of the UAAP begins later this week. Find out which players have moved on, who have been tapped to bolster their teams' ranks, and who the mainstays of your favorite squad are, as well as their chances of lifting the trophy by the tournament's end. Part one features Ateneo, NU, Adamson and UP. Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles (S74: 13-1, champions) Head Coach: Norman Black Additions: Gideon Babilonia, Ryan Buenafe, Nico Elorde, Isaac Lim, Kris Porter Subtractions: Kirk Long, Emman Monfort, Bacon Austria, Jeric Estrada, BJ Cipriano Holdovers: Gwyne Capacio, Justin Chua, JP Erram, Frank Golla, Tonino Gonzaga, Von Pessumal, Kiefer Ravena, Nico Salva, Greg Slaughter, Oping Sumalinog, Juami Tiongson The Ateneo Blue Eagles were a juggernaut last season on both ends of the court, topping the charts on both offense (72.29 points per game on 41.65 percent shooting) and defense (33.16 percent shooting allowed, 40.88 percent shooting on attempts in the paint). They also retain their top three players, Kiefer Ravena, Nico Salva and Greg Slaughter, and bring back Season 73 Finals MVP, Ryan Buenafe. Despite all of that, the Eagles look primed to take a significant step back after losing their two best floor generals, Kirk Long and Emman Monfort, and three of their top four wing defenders, the aforementioned two, plus Bacon Austria. Their replacements, Juami Tiongson and Nico Elorde, will need to grow up fast to fill their predecessors' shoes. And while pre-season performance is hardly an accurate barometer of how a team performs in the UAAP, all of Ateneo's numbers took sharp hits during the off-season, something exemplified by Kiefer Ravena, who struggled to hit anything from the floor (27 percent shooting). Now odds are Ateneo will be in the Finals anew, but the road there won't be as smooth as last year. Player to watch: Ateneo's one bright side during the summer? Greg Slaughter is still just as dominant and unstoppable. With the rest of his team struggling at times to put the ball into the hoop, the 7'0" Slaughter stepped up to the plate, upping his averages to 18.5 points and 10.5 rebounds (13.3 points and 9.1 rebounds during Season 74). If Ateneo's malaise continues into the UAAP tourney, their only cure would be more of the big man down low. Adamson University Soaring Falcons (S74: 10-4, third place) Head Coach: Leo Austria Additions: Gian Abrigo, Eric Cabigas, Jericho Cruz, James Deans, Ar-Raouf Julkipli, Don Trollano Subtractions: Lester Alvarez, Jerick Canada, Jan Colina, Janus Lozada, Austin Manyara, Genesis Manuel Holdovers:  Mike Agustin, Rodney Brondial, Roider Cabrera, Eric Camson, Allen Etrone, Ryan Monteclaro, Alex Nuyles, Jeff Olalia, Harry Petilos, Jansen Rios It looked liked the Adamson Falcons' season last year when they inflicted Ateneo's only loss of the elimination round (and as it turned out, of the entire season), but after their 62-46 rout of the Blue Eagles, Leo Austria's troops seemingly lost their fire, with FEU able to overcome their twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four, denying ADU a trip to the Finals. Things don't figure to get any better for Adamson this season too. They've essentially lost a starting five, leaving them without a veteran point guard, and putting the scoring onus squarely on the shoulders of two guys: Alex Nuyles and Eric Camson. It will likely be difficult though. The Falcons got the majority of their points last season from perimeter jumpers (28.81 of their 66.81 average), and they go from Lester Alvarez and Janus Lozada taking those jumpers to Ryan Monteclaro and Allen Etrone. If they can continue to defend as well as they did last season though (59.5 points allowed on 61.56 field goal attempts), they can still be respectable, perhaps even challenge for a Final Four spot. Player to watch:  With Austin Manyara out of the center picture, the spot is all Rodney Brondial's. He may not have the strength to go directly at some of the league's other big men, but he has a soft touch and will form a great rebounding duo with Eric Camson. The question though is whether or not foul trouble will allow him to stay on the floor, because once he sits, the Falcons become a very tiny team. National University Bulldogs (S74: 6-8, fifth place) Head Coach: Eric Altamirano Additions: Henri Betayene, Mark De Guzman, Tristan Perez, Troy Rosario Subtractions:  Joseph Terso, Robby Celiz, Marion Magat, Spencer Eman Holdovers:  Gelo Alolino, Reden Celda, Jul-Ashri Ignacio, Jeoffrey Javillonar, Glenn Khobuntin, Cedrick Labing-isa, Emmanuel Mbe, Kyle Neypes, Bobby Ray Parks Jr., Robin Rono, Ajeet Singh, Lee Villamor The Bulldogs were sexy pre-season picks to make it to the Final Four last season, but it looks like that prediction may have been a year too early. Over the summer, NU underwent a massive shift in playing style that paid dividends. In Season 74, they normed only 11.79 assists and turned the ball over 19.14 times a game, but when they went undefeated in the FilOil tourney, their extra passes jumped up to 18.1, and their miscues fell to 16.7. They also cranked up the pace of their game, jumping from 8.43 fast break points a game to 12.3, and led all teams in points off turnovers (18.2). The big question is, of course, can they replicate that feat come the actual dance. They still have the reigning MVP Bobby Ray Parks, who put the team on his back last season, as well as center Emmanuel Mbe, who is arguably the second best big in the league. Furthermore, the biggest upgrade they made was up-front, adding another foreign center in Henri Betayene (6'8"), and locals Troy Rosario (6'7") and Tristan Perez (6'4"). That means the Bulldogs will still be nasty in the half court. Factor in their "home court advantage" when playing on weekends at the MOA Arena, where they have their own locker room separate from the other teams, and a  trip to the Final Four, seems very accomplishable. Now, can they make the Finals? Player to watch: NU's wing players last season were largely unremarkable, which is why the addition of transferee Mark De Guzman is such a big deal. The former CSB Blazer was a blistering 46 percent from downtown and averaged 2.1 triples per game. While he's on the floor, it'll be pick your poison time, as opponents won't be able to guard him and double Parks and Mbe at the same time. University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons (S74: 2-12, last place) Head Coach: Ricky Dandan Additions: Henry Asilum, JR Gallarza, Diony Hipolito, Mark Lopez, Alvin Padilla, Raul Soyud, Chris Ball Subtractions:  Miggy Maniego, Carlo Gomez, Mark Juruena, Moriah Gingerich, Don Fortu, Martin Pascual, Vergel Evangelista Holdovers:  Mike Gamboa, Jett Manuel, Alinko Mbah, Jelo Montecastro, Paolo Romero, Mike Silungan, Robby Wierzba, Julius Wong The UP Fighting Maroons were an offense-challenged squad last year, being the only team unable to crack more than 60 points per game, while shooting a league-worst 34.06 percent from the field, thanks to an over-reliance on three-point shots (20.5 attempts on 19.86 percent three-point shooting). They also couldn't get to the line (13.71 free throw attempts) or corral a rebound (40.57), though they did do enough to snap an epic losing streak following a winless season. On paper, the Maroons seem to have addressed their issues. Back are two scoring wingmen in Mark Lopez and Alvin Padilla, both of whom had to sit out Season 74. They also add a pair of big men in Raul Soyud and Chris Ball, who will, at the very least, add height to a line-up that featured Alinko Mbah and not a lot else up front. There are reasons to be optimistic for the Maroons, athough their track record says otherwise. That said, they have a whopping eight graduating players on their line-up, more than half of their 15 players. If this group doesn't get it done, it'll be another long rebuilding process for State U. Player to watch:  UP lives or dies on the three-point shot, led by their marquee player, Mike Silungan. In the 2011 incarnation of the FilOil tournament, the Maroons posted a 5-3 record, earning themselves a quarterfinals spot, thanks to the Fil-Am draining 41 percent of his long-range makes. That number became a putrid 16.35 percent in the UAAP, before improving slightly to 30 percent in this FilOil tournament. Now, if only he could hit 40 percent again... - GMA News