Rookie point guard Dexter Rosales issued a baseball pass to another neophyte teammate. But it went over the intended recipient’s head and straight into University of the Philippines coach Joe Lipa, who was sitting at the back end of the court.
“Pongalangala ka Rosales”, yelled Lipa.
The familiar scream could only come from the very familiar face, the coach who steered the Diliman-based school to it’s only UAAP championship way back in 1986.
For those who know the man, the Tagalog statement meant: “Kid, don’t do that again.”
Yes, kids. The UP roster for this year’s UAAP season is filled with the likes. And with seven rookies and six sophomores, the Fighting Maroons will need a lot of fighting spirit, perhaps, more yell from Lipa, if they are to make a run at least for a Final Four spot.
But don’t underestimate UP, for it’d new players are no ordinary rookies. Soc Rivera, for one, has been billed as the most exciting recruit to come out pf high school in years. He is quick for his 6-fot-3 frame, athletic, and more importantly can shoot from the outside.
But what impresses many is that Rivera can slash his way to the basket and can play both wing and post defense. He should his minutes from Lipa. “He’s very talented, we’re excited to see him play in the UAAP.”. said UP team manager Bombit Silva.
Rivera is actually one of the high-profile rookies debuting in the UAAP, including Serbian Marko Batricevic, Indonesian Ferdinand and Fil-Bahranian Bader Malabes of La Salle, Rumperry Scott of depending champion University of Sto. Tomas, Nonoy Baclao of Ateneo and JR Cawaling of FEU.
There are also Mark Lopez and Dexter Rosales, Rivera’s teammates in FEU, along with Julius Wong Letran, Dioboy Hipolito, Andrew Marfori and Mike Gamboa, a vital cog in Ateneo High’s title romp over the Rivera-led FEU Ferns.
Wong, a former Letran Squire, is the other tall, agile swingman UP id parading this yeat although the maroons will still rely on a pair of sophomore shooters in Martin Reyes and Miguel De Asis and 2006 Rookie of The Year, Woody Co.
Indeed, UP has ceiling but Lipa admits his big men are soft and untested. That gives the brunt of anchoring a rookie laden squad to Co, Virgilio Serios, who is too small at 6-foot-3 but could compensate with his knack for good positioning and leaping ability.
It would have been better if Marvin Cruz has stayed put instead of opting to pass out his last year with UP in favor of fulfilling a PBA dream.
But knowing Lipa , the man loves to take – and drive – on challenges. “We expect to form a fighting team and do our best in all the games we’re going to play,” said Lipa.
Unlike the other coaches, Lipa has refused to make any pre-season forecast, saying all teams are capable of winning. But like Bogs Adornado of Adamson, he would rank No. 8 in field of eight.
Still, observers note that UP looks better on paper this year than the last time, although Lipa’s immediate concern would be the team’s cohesiveness, consistency, defense and perhaps, mental toughness.
In a couple of tune-up games with Jose Rizal University, UP won the first in impressive fashion but blew away what had appeared to be a won game in the second.
In those games, Rivera had been impressive. And so did Reyes, Serios and 6-foot-9 sophomore Maggy Sison. He’s no Benjie Paras but Lipa can bring out the best in the man on both ends of the floor.
There will be plenty of rookie mistakes, so to speak, for the greenhorn-backed Maroons, But which team will not?
From the looks of things and gauging from the other teams’ strengths, the Maroons might have to wait for another year or two to make a run for a second crown after the Miracle of ’86.
But for sure, the maroons will always be out there – fighting.
“Pongalangala ka Rosales”, yelled Lipa.
The familiar scream could only come from the very familiar face, the coach who steered the Diliman-based school to it’s only UAAP championship way back in 1986.
For those who know the man, the Tagalog statement meant: “Kid, don’t do that again.”
Yes, kids. The UP roster for this year’s UAAP season is filled with the likes. And with seven rookies and six sophomores, the Fighting Maroons will need a lot of fighting spirit, perhaps, more yell from Lipa, if they are to make a run at least for a Final Four spot.
But don’t underestimate UP, for it’d new players are no ordinary rookies. Soc Rivera, for one, has been billed as the most exciting recruit to come out pf high school in years. He is quick for his 6-fot-3 frame, athletic, and more importantly can shoot from the outside.
But what impresses many is that Rivera can slash his way to the basket and can play both wing and post defense. He should his minutes from Lipa. “He’s very talented, we’re excited to see him play in the UAAP.”. said UP team manager Bombit Silva.
Rivera is actually one of the high-profile rookies debuting in the UAAP, including Serbian Marko Batricevic, Indonesian Ferdinand and Fil-Bahranian Bader Malabes of La Salle, Rumperry Scott of depending champion University of Sto. Tomas, Nonoy Baclao of Ateneo and JR Cawaling of FEU.
There are also Mark Lopez and Dexter Rosales, Rivera’s teammates in FEU, along with Julius Wong Letran, Dioboy Hipolito, Andrew Marfori and Mike Gamboa, a vital cog in Ateneo High’s title romp over the Rivera-led FEU Ferns.
Wong, a former Letran Squire, is the other tall, agile swingman UP id parading this yeat although the maroons will still rely on a pair of sophomore shooters in Martin Reyes and Miguel De Asis and 2006 Rookie of The Year, Woody Co.
Indeed, UP has ceiling but Lipa admits his big men are soft and untested. That gives the brunt of anchoring a rookie laden squad to Co, Virgilio Serios, who is too small at 6-foot-3 but could compensate with his knack for good positioning and leaping ability.
It would have been better if Marvin Cruz has stayed put instead of opting to pass out his last year with UP in favor of fulfilling a PBA dream.
But knowing Lipa , the man loves to take – and drive – on challenges. “We expect to form a fighting team and do our best in all the games we’re going to play,” said Lipa.
Unlike the other coaches, Lipa has refused to make any pre-season forecast, saying all teams are capable of winning. But like Bogs Adornado of Adamson, he would rank No. 8 in field of eight.
Still, observers note that UP looks better on paper this year than the last time, although Lipa’s immediate concern would be the team’s cohesiveness, consistency, defense and perhaps, mental toughness.
In a couple of tune-up games with Jose Rizal University, UP won the first in impressive fashion but blew away what had appeared to be a won game in the second.
In those games, Rivera had been impressive. And so did Reyes, Serios and 6-foot-9 sophomore Maggy Sison. He’s no Benjie Paras but Lipa can bring out the best in the man on both ends of the floor.
There will be plenty of rookie mistakes, so to speak, for the greenhorn-backed Maroons, But which team will not?
From the looks of things and gauging from the other teams’ strengths, the Maroons might have to wait for another year or two to make a run for a second crown after the Miracle of ’86.
But for sure, the maroons will always be out there – fighting.
Taken from the UAAP Season’s preview souvenir magazine published by University of Santo Tomas as the Host school.
