Wide open UAAP season opens at Big Dome Saturday
By Jasmine W. Payo, Cedelf P. Tupas
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:31:00 07/04/2008
GAMES SATURDAY (Araneta Coliseum)
1 p.m.--Opening ceremony
2 p.m.--FEU vs Adamson
4 p.m.--UE vs UST
MANILA, Philippines--If there's one thing that makes the 71st UAAP season doubly exciting, it is the fact that the title chase in the men's basketball competition is wide open this time.
Making for a tough prediction is the emergence of several darkhorse teams expected to put up a tough challenge against the perennial favorites.
"The beauty of collegiate basketball is that anything can happen," said De La Salle coach Franz Pumaren before his Green Archers roll off their title defense against fierce rival Ateneo Blue Eagles Sunday.
But for Saturday, the focus will be on powerhouse University of the East as last year's runner-up opens its bid for redemption against an intact University of Santo Tomas squad at 4 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum.
Far Eastern University, also tipped among the top contenders, kicks off the action earlier against revitalized Adamson in the 2 p.m. opener.
University of the Philippines, its hosting duties coinciding with the state university's centennial celebration, will officially unveil the league with a festive opening ceremony at 1 p.m.
"UST is still a solid team; our problem is we didn't really see UST play during the pre-season, so we just prepared well," said coach Dindo Pumaren, whose Warriors pulled off a 14-game sweep in the eliminations last year before crumbling in the title series against the Archers.
Skipping most of the summer games, the Tigers will still be bannered by reigning Most Valuable Player Jervy Cruz.
"We just want to keep up with UE, huwag lang kaming tambakan (we don't want to get routed)," said coach Pido Jarencio. "Through the years, UE is always a contender. We'll just be ready."
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