UAAP 82 Preview: Is this UP's year?

MANILA, Philippines – Last season, the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons overachieved. This year, they are going for everything. They’ve got their star-studded lineup. They have recruited well. And played well. 

Very well. They recently bagged the Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) Cup with a 97-93 finals squeaker against Chien Hsin University of Science and Technology (CHUST) at the Kaohsiung Arena to finish the tourney 5-0. And if you ask me, they could have won the Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup had they finished the tournament. 

Key Losses: Paul Desiderio, Gelo Vito, Jarrell Lim

Key Additions: Richie Rivero, Kobe Paras, Jaybie Mantilla

The Maroons are just so much better this year not only in talent but also in experience. They have some of the best players in their positions in center Bright Akhuetie, point guard Jun Manzo, swingmen Juan Gomez De Liaño and Ricci Rivero, and forward Kobe Paras. That in itself is one hell of a starting unit. But I am sure they will put someone on the bench as the sixth man, but come winning time, they will all be on the floor.

Paras, Rivero and Juan Gomez De Liaño all have the capability to inspire and fire up a crowd. You can be sure they will turn this season into their own highlight reel. 

Juan’s position will be crucial. He can play the 1-3 spots and I figure at times Perasol will play him at the one because he can really create for his teammates. 

Furthermore, they’ve got superb role players in Javi Gomez De Liaño and the much-improved James Spencer and Noah Webb. 

They know they are good, even better than last year. They are deeper at every position while the holdovers have improved skills-wise. And there is hunger, which makes them even more dangerous.

Everyone has asked how they will handle the enormous expectations this year. Let’s be straight about this. Anything less than a return trip to the finals will be a letdown. In fact, they way some of these guys talk, it is winning it all… NOW.

That is entirely possible.

Some wondered how all that talent will be able to share the ball together. If you ask me, it will not be a problem — unless they start losing. But they will not lose much. 

Having closely watched this team grow since Perasol took over, you can see them ooze with confidence. They know that preseason success does not translate into UAAP gold. They’ve been snakebit far too many times to not realize that but this is different situation.

They have big-time talent, some arguably the best at their position. It helps to not only have winners, but big-time talent.

Yes, talent isn’t everything, so this is where I feel UP has made serious inroads. What I noticed from their play this year is that they are more steady, calm in the way they run their offense. And they play with a passion on defense. You can see that their stops spark their runs.

The barometer for this team is the first round Ateneo game. Beating Ateneo will give them the belief that this year is theirs.

If they do handle Ateneo, then this is theirs to take back to their end of Katipunan Avenue.