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DE LA SALLE University opens its title campaign against University
of the East (UE) when the 72nd season of the University Athletics
Association of the Philippines (UAAP) kicks off Saturday at the
Araneta Coliseum.
The Green Archers, losing finalists to the
Ateneo Blue Eagles last year, meet the Red Warriors at 4 p.m.
With the exit of the sweet shooting JV Casio and
main man Rico Maierhofer, the Green Archers will have to lean on a
formidable class of rookies led by the highly touted Arvie Bringas.
The 19-year-old Bringas, the 6’5" who
powered San Sebastian to a rare “four-peat” in the NCAA juniors,
is poised to fill in the void left by Maierhofer in the paint.
“He will give us size,” said La Salle Coach
Franz Pumaren. “He’s a physical player and he can definitely
help us.”
Pumaren also has the luxury of having his former
players in the RP Youth team with former UAAP juniors Most Valuable
Player Joseph Marata, playmaker Joel Tolentino, Gabriel Banal and
Jed Manguera along with Yutien Andrada now in the La Salle roster.
James Mangahas will banner the Taft-based cagers
with support coming from Peejay Barua and Simon Atkins.
The Red Warriors, who will parade a new coach in
Lawrence Chongson, are eager to get back at the Green Archers, who
swept them in the Season 70 finals after scoring a flawless 14-0
elimination round record.
With Marcy Arellano and workhorse Hans Thiele no
longer seeing action for UE, the Red Warriors will rely on the
consistent play of Paul Lee, Rudy Lingganay and Paul Zamar.
Meanwhile, University of Santo Tomas and Adamson
University square off at 2 p.m.
The 6’3” rookie Darrel Green, a
multi-awarded junior player, will join veterans Dylan Ababou, Khasim
Mirza, Allen Maliksi and playmaker Jeric Fortuna for the Growling
Tigers, who are all set to make a comeback in the Final Four after
missing it last season.
With a solid core and Leo Canuday set for a
return after missing the entire Season 71 because of an injury,
Adamson coach Leo Austria believes that this is the year for the
Falcons to soar.
Host Far Eastern University has prepared a
festive opening ceremony carrying this year’s theme “One Color,
One Goal” at 1 p.m.
-- Krista Angela M. Montealegre
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