INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines - Last year's finalists and fierce rivals Ateneo and La Salle see a tough challenger in Far Eastern University this time, making Season 72 of the men’s basketball tournament a three-way fight.

“We’re a balanced team this year,” said FEU coach Glenn Capacio, who has already won two pre-season championships for the Tamaraws after guiding Oracle Residences to victory in the last PBL series.

While the defending champion Blue Eagles boast a solid core, the Green Archers have assembled this year’s strongest rookie class.

“We have pretty much the same lineup coming back from last year, so there hasn’t been much problem as far as continuity is concerned, ” said Ateneo coach Norman Black, who can still count on reigning MVP Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Nonoy Baclao and Ryan Buenafe.

“We’re in the process of rebuilding for this coming season,” said La Salle mentor Franz Pumaren, whose six freshmen include the highly touted Arvie Bringas.

“Hopefully the younger guys will be able to adjust right away to the collegiate brand of basketball.”

But University of the East, Adamson, University of Santo Tomas, National University and University of the Philippines also look primed to challenge the three favorites.

“I think this season is a good opportunity for us to make it to the Final Four simply because many teams lost their marquee players,” said Adamson coach Leo Austria.

“Let’s see where we’ll go—ingat na lang kayo sa amin (just beware),” said UST coach Pido Jarencio.