BLACKWATER Sports tapped six University of Santo Tomas mainstays even as two other teams also beefed up their lineup with varsity standouts in the PBA D-League that will blast off tomorrow.
Karim Abdul, the Cameroonian center who helped power the Tigers to the UAAP Finals, leads Blackwater’s bid in the Aspirants’ Cup where three-time champion NLEX remains a heavy favorite.
Also suiting up for the Elite are veteran UST point guard Jeric Fortuna and forwards Kevin Ferrer, Kim Lo, Louie Vigil and Paolo Pe.
Big Chill, which bowed to NLEX in last conference’s finals, lost several key cogs to the pros but hopes for another strong run with new recruit Terrence Romeo of Far Eastern University at the helm.
Teaming up with the star guard are fellow FEU cager Arvie Bringas and Adamson’s Alex Nuyles and Rodney Brondial.
Fruitas, one of the three debuting teams this season, hopes to bank on University of the Philippines’ Mike Silungan and St. Benilde’s Carlo Lastimosa.
The league fires off with Informatics battling Cagayan Rising Suns at 2 p.m., followed by the 4 p.m duel between Boracay Rum and Cebuana Lhuillier.
NLEX, the only champion the league has known since its inception in 2010, aims for a fourth straight crown with another star-studded crew led by Greg Slaughter and Nico Salva of five-time UAAP champion Ateneo.
Other collegiate stars bannering the Road Warriors are Letran’s Kevin Alas, FEU’s RR Garcia, Adamson’s Eric Camson and San Sebastian’s Ronald Pascual and Ian Sangalang.
Completing the 11-team field this conference are Café France, Erase Xfoliant and newcomer Jose Rizal University.