FEU tagged as top contender in UAAP Season 78
DLSU ‘s Paolo Rivero and FEU’s Mark Belo race for the loose ball during their game in the UAAP Season 77 at the Mall of Asia Arena. MARIANNE BERMUDEZ/INQUIRER
The Far Eastern University Tamaraws, whose core from last year’s UAAP Finals run remains intact, are tagged as this season’s top contender.
FEU came just a win short of winning it all in Season 77, which was conquered by title-hungry National University. Bulldogs head coach Eric Altamirano said the Tamaraws, who will be anchored by versatile forward Mac Belo and explosive guard Mike Tolomia, will be the biggest threat to their bid to repeat. Though, Altamirano mentioned that other schools like University of Santo Tomas, Ateneo and La Salle are also teams that the rest of the league can’t overlook. “University of Santo Tomas may pull off surprises, University of the Philippines has strengthened, Ateneo may be rookie-laden but its rookies are blue-chippers,” the soft-spoken Altamirano said Tuesday during the UAAP press conference at Gloria Maris Gateway. “La Salle always has that deep bench.” Blue Eagles head coach Bo Perasol is wary of the Tamaraws’ chemistry and experience of their core players. “By the virtue of its experience and lineup, I’ll have to say FEU,” Perasol said. “The Tamaraws’ core is intact and it’s very important that they have the chemistry.” “Plus, NU is still in the conversation. But overall, the team with the strongest lineup, personnel-wise is FEU.” Red Warriors head coach Derrick Pumaren named four teams which he thinks are a cut above the rest but he couldn’t help but single out FEU. “It will still be the Final Four teams (NU, FEU, Ateneo and De La Salle) because of its experience and lineup, especially FEU,” Pumaren said. “It’s still FEU.”
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