DEFENDING champion University of the Philippines handed La Salle its most painful heartache last season. But Green Archers coach Derrick Pumaren is convinced they now have what it takes.
“I think we are more prepared this time, unlike during the bubble tournament, we only had less than a month to get ready,” Pumaren said.
“We were busy joining preseason leagues and we wrapped up our season with a trip to Japan so hopefully that we’ll be a better team when we show up on Saturday,” he added.
Ditto with Fighting Maroons counterpart Goldwin Monteverde, who is hoping his charges’ preparations will be enough to reach the Promised Land anew.
“Naging okay naman iyong naging preparations namin although we started like in August, we made a trip to Korea just to get the team together and to prepare,” Monteverde said.
“So far, okay naman iyong itinakbo ng preparations,” he added.
UP battles La Salle tomorrow in the match kicking off the 85th UAAP basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The match pitting the last cage wars’ Final Four combatants where the No. 2 Maroons hurdled the third-ranked Archers in sudden death is set at 4 p.m.
Host Adamson University takes on University of Santo Tomas in the other game at 2 o’clock after the league shows a pre-recorded opening ceremony.
Prized big man Carl Tamayo, finals MVP Malick Diouf, Zavier Lucero, and JD Cagulangan will be counted upon by UP.
La Salle will rely on Michael Phillips, Schonny Winston, Mark Nonoy, Evan Nelle, and CJ Austria.
Soaring Falcons tactician Nash Racela is keen on leading Adamson back to the Final Four after finishing with a 6-8 mark for fifth last season.
“No international exposure for us unlike the other schools, more of provincial trips for us,” Racela said. “We went to Surigao and Davao. We were able to play a number of tune-up games, actually some pocket tournaments but (it’s) really helpful for our preparation.”
Jerom Lastimosa, Joem Sabandal, and Lenda Douanga will carry the fight for the Falcons.
Growling Tigers assistant coach Rodney Santos, who spoke in lieu of new strategist Bal David, is tempering expectations for a UST crew that lost veterans Sherwin Concepcion and Bryan Santos last week after they were proven overage.
