The Next Chapter of Hoops is About to Unfold
One of the things the Philippines is known for is starting its Christmas celebrations as early as September. Holiday carols fill the airwaves, and yuletide decor takes over public spaces and malls. But for another group of people, there’s an extra reason why Christmas comes early.
College basketball season. There are no three sweeter words to the ears of the local hoop nut. Whether you’re a student or an alumnus of one of the country’s 18 pillars of the UAAP and NCAA, you know that when their basketball season arrives, it’s the most wonderful time of the year.
School spirit and pride are ignited at campus pep rallies, where each proud institution rallies its own. Battle cries—chants carried by heart-thumping drumbeats—are passed from one generation of students to the next, keeping the tradition alive. What a spectacle to behold and to be part of!
And then, there are the select few—the group of individuals who actually wear the colors we raise and hear the cheers we roar. For each campus, a group of 15 or so young gentlemen are called upon to represent the entire school on the hardwood.
Over the last few years, global sports giant ANTA has woven itself into the fabric of Filipino college basketball. They’ve done so quite literally through #TheANTAVarsityProject which was an initiative that started in 2021. Now, that project has not only extended to schools nationwide but also to outstanding cagers across different programs.
READY TO RISE
Nico Mulingtapang
As one of the standout rookies last year, Nico proved he has that patented Red Warrior DNA. His fast-paced style of play, paired with nerves of steel, truly lives up to his last name.
The Pamantasan Ng Silangan has lost key members of its squad during the off-season, and they have also installed a new head coach with a new system. For Nico, all these are just opportunities to rise above.
Amiel Acido
Amiel and his sharp shooting turned a lot of heads and made a lot of headlines last season. The young UST Tiger, who is now coming into his second year, will undoubtedly be given a bigger role.
With Amiel’s breakout performance last year at his “home court,” the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan, we can only imagine there’s plenty more where that came from—especially with many of this year’s games set to be played at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
Bryan Sajonia
Solid and steady. Qualities that every coach wants in a guard. This, plus his trademark energy, has been Bryan Sajonia’s recipe throughout his collegiate career.
While he’s on his way to the pros, we believe it’s crystal clear what Brian and the San Beda Red Lions want this Season 101.
Shawn Umali
Speaking of heading to the pros, Shawn Umali also joins that list. The combination of his sheer size and skill plus just the right amount of finesse to his game make Shawn a matchup problem at any level.
Benilde’s Big Boy is ready for the bright lights. Will this be the year that the Blazers finally bring home the bacon?
Kymani Ladi
Kymani Ladi—or Ky—is perhaps Ateneo Blue Eagles’ worst-kept secret. Standing at a towering 6’8”, it’s hard to keep someone with his physical gifts under wraps.
But Ky is anything but ordinary. The entire UAAP can’t wait to see if he’ll live up to the hype. For those who’ve seen clips of him, you already know: He’s smooth like butter, whether he’s slashing to the basket or pulling up for a jumper.
LOCKED IN
Reyland Torres
I can’t quite remember who said it, but someone once compared Deron Williams to an S-Class Mercedes Benz to illustrate how he’s both big and fast. Reyland Torres fits this description just as well.
Because of this, he’s a matchup nightmare on both ends of the court and a versatile weapon wielded at the disposal of Coach Goldwyn Monteverde. Reyland alongside the rest of the UP Fighting Maroons are set for another run at the ultimate prize.
Raffy Celis
The chill demeanor that originated from back in his days as a high school standout from Cebu has come a long way. Raffy, now a Benilde Blazer is also on a quest for collegiate glory.
Joining a stacked team, to be specific, a championship contender, is not without its pressures. But there’s a quiet confidence about Raffy. The kind that we just see on the court as he lets his game do the talking.
Ian Espinosa
You love him if he’s on your team and you absolutely despise him if he isn’t. That’s the kind of player that Ian Espinosa is—a ball of kinetic energy.
Every single second he’s on the floor, he will make his presence felt. Whether he’s harassing the opposing guards, scrambling for a looseball or hitting that deep three as the shot clock is about to expire, you will feel this young man’s presence one way or another.
Matt Erolon
Best known as a two-way player with a good mind for the game, Matt is a crafty with the ball in his hand and scrapper on the defensive end.
The Adamson Falcons are coming off of a very, very impressive pre-season. Its not at all an exaggeration to say that Matt Erolon is one of the key figures of that success with standout performances here and there. Now the only question that remains is this — can the squad from San Marcelino bring their winning ways to the UAAP?
Jomel Puno
He put everyone on notice with his crazy highlight slam last season, and now everyone on this side of the basketball globe knows who Jomel Puno is. But he’s more than just a highlight. Melo gets it done on both ends of the floor with relative ease.
Opposing teams best not be caught napping as Puno and the Red Lions are ready to pounce. As proud as this franchise is, we all know that they approach every season with a championship-or-bust mentality, and we don’t see why this year would be any different.
LIGHTS OUT
AJ Fransman
There’s not much that AJ Fransman can’t do on a basketball court. He’s a guy that can give you good work from the inside with his length and athleticism, or outside with his skills and shooting. He’s also capable of locking down the best opposing player on the other end of the floor.
Having an AJ Fransman for a player or a teammate is an answered prayer for coaches and players alike. It just makes the games more fun. Now the challenge is to turn that fun into Ws.
Yuki Andrada
Size, check. Smooth game, check. Cool name, check. Pro career, also a recently checked. But like his fellow Bedan teammates, they know that the job is not yet done as far as their collegiate career goes.
Yukien is back for one final campaign to shoot the lights out once more as they will try to hang one more banner for the winningest college program in all the land.
Gab Cometa
Don’t blink. Gab has embodied his very name as he’s known for his astronomically quick moves as well as his out-of-this-world confidence when he has the ball in his hands.
Gab might be quick to crack a joke and super mild-mannered when he’s off the court, yet he’s anything but once the whistle blows. He’ll definitely be looking to win it all this NCAA season 101 so watch out for Gab and the Blazers.
Wello Lingolingo
The Red Warriors had perhaps the most interesting season in college basketball last year. Equally intriguing was Wello Lingolingo and how his performances seemed to be the barometer of the team’s success or shortcomings.
While stats are just stats, what cannot be denied is the fact that he possesses what the basketball and the sporting community call the “clutch gene”. On more than one occasion, Wello’s last-second heroics have led the team to victory. Bomba UE personified.
Rhey Remogat
Entering his first season as a UP Maroon, the swagger-filled shooting guard from Barangay Tatalon, Quezon City has already made his mark as early as the pre-season. ICYMI, Remogat hit not one but two deep threes to help his new school secure the W and their 2nd straight pre-season championship against their recent rivals from Taft.
Remogat is no stranger to the big stage as he also already brought honor to flag and country while competing on 3×3. I’m definitely looking forward to this fun fireball making his mark in the collegiate stage.
FULLY UNLEASHED
Third Ebdane
The best way we can describe him is as a quiet storm — never loud, but lethal. You may not have heard a lot about him yet, but if you’ve followed his development as a player, then you know what we’re talking about.
Now, the Ateneo Blue Eagles have been touted as the dark horses of this coming UAAP season. If Third is given the opportunity, just that small opening he needs to showcase what he brings to the table, then he, too, can be dubbed as a dark horse within the team.
Nygel Gonzales
If offense, like coffee, can be packed into a container in the form of granulated coffee beans, sugar, and cream, then an instant offense packet will contain granules of Nygel Gonzales. Just add water.
Nygel is a nightmare for opposing teams as he has the ability to rack up points off the bench. Imagine what happens if he’s fully unleashed. It just might be what the Red Lions need to get over the hump.
Gelo Crisostomo
No player impressed me more last season than Gelo Crisostomo. If he makes as big a leap this year as he did last, the UST Growling Tigers may have found themselves a bona fide superstar—a diamond unearthed from the rough.
Gelo has all the tools he needs to build a long, exciting, and most importantly, a successful basketball career. He is a player to watch out for. Don’t sleep on this guy.
Mark Gojo Cruz
Gojo Cruz has the gift of vision and intelligence—he’s mastered the art of reading defenses, and that sets him apart on the court.
Once just a walk-in tryout, he has since become one of the steadiest guards on the UPHSD Altas roster. With his playmaking expected to take on an even bigger role this year, we might just see the next level of his game.
Steve Nash Enriquez
The name says legend, the game says future. The hair—like his game—is unflappable. Steve Nash Enriquez plays with pure joy, an out-of-body experience that sparks electric energy—felt by fans in the arena and even by those watching from home.
The NU Bulldogs have pretty much kept their core intact and that tells me they’ll be contending for a final 4 slot at the very least. And if Steve Nash Enriquez finally has his breakout year, the NU Bulldogs could be bound for something far bigger than just the Final Four.
