Tamaraws see tough UAAP title defense

FEU Tamaraws celebrate the UAAP championship. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Far Eastern University will build its UAAP title retention campaign around new players next season following the departure of several standouts from this year’s championship run.

FEU athletic director Mark Molina admitted that the Tamaraws face tough odds in their bid for back-to-back titles with half of their team,  including Finals Most Valuable Player Mac Belo, Mike Tolomia and Roger Pogoy, using up all their playing years.

Achie Iñigo, Alfrancis Tamsi and Russel Escoto have also finished their stints with the Tamaraws, forcing the Morayta-based school to find fresh talent for the squad.

“The entire first five wont be around next year,” Molina said at the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at Shakey’s Malate yesterday.

Raymar Jose, Monbert Arong and Richard Escoto are among the holdovers from the team that bested University of Santo Tomas  in the finals.

Molina expressed confidence that some players in Team B can slot in and fill the void of the departing players.

Among those expected to make the first team next season are Axel Iñigo, who played for Adamson under former coach Kenneth Duremdes, as well as a couple of Filipino players raised in New Zealand.

“We have a talented group of players in our Team B,” said Molina.