FEU ready to defend UAAP title minus Belo, core players

FEU Tamaraws head coach Nash Racela. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Far Eastern University will have to make do and defend its UAAP men’s basketball title without its core players from last season.

Mac Belo, who was the Finals MVP in FEU’s title win over University of Santo Tomas last year, star point guard Mike Tolomia, sharpshooter Roger Pogoy, lanky big Russel Escoto, and guards Achie Iñigo and Alfrancis Tamsi won’t be with the Tamaraws anymore for the 79th Season of the UAAP.

FEU head coach Nash Racela, however, knows the Tamaraws will be prepared when the new season opens Saturday.

“I think we’re ready for the next season,” said Racela in an episode of SportsIQ Thursday.

FEU has joined a number of pocket tournaments in the provinces, and also participated in the Filoil Preseason Cup, where Racela saw the early struggles of his team.

“Having to lose six veterans from our championship team, mahirap talaga mag adjust yung team and we were looking for kumbaga our new identity,” said Racela. “I think a few months playing with each other, mas gumaganda naman takbo namin and we are hoping umabot ito sa opening ng UAAP.”

Left to lead FEU to a potential title repeat is power forward Raymar Jose and center Prince Orizu.

Looking at the numbers, Belo and company accounted for 70% of FEU’s scoring last year.

“We made our own computations, looked at the stats from last year, itong nawalang anim they played 60 percent of the minutes we’ve played last year,” said Racela.

“Sa point production naman they were almost 70 percent of the total points of the team so malaki yung kawalan namin.”/rga