UAAP 81 off launching pad with NBA champ Steph Curry as guest
Games today (MOA Arena) 12 noon – Opening Ceremonies 2 p.m. – UP vs UE 4 p.m. – NU vs UST Games tomorrow (MOA Arena) 12 noon – FEU vs DLSU 4 p.m. – Ateneo vs AdU
From favorite to underdog, former La Salle coach Aldin Ayo embraces the status of his new team, University of Santo Tomas, as the cellar-dwelling Tigers begin their journey back to relevance in UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball tournament with a tough test against fancied host National U in today’s opening salvo at the MOA Arena.
“Our mantra is not ‘mayhem’. Coach Aldin has changed it to “Hail Mary’ – that’s all our chance will be with nine rookies in the team,” said Ayo’s assistant coach Nap Garcia.
The Tigers wound up dead last in Season 80 with just a single win and they tapped Ayo, who led DLSU to a championship and a runner-up finish the past years, to bring his magic touch to the España camp. But Ayo isn’t promising instant results.
“We just want to compete, stay competitive. We’re starting from scratch, ang crucial dito we have nine rookies and six lang ang natira (holdovers), Nagprepare naman kami sa abot nang makakaya namin and we’re going to do our best,” Ayo said. “Hopefully, maging maganda resulta.”
Balik-UST Renzo Subido and holdovers led by Marvin Lee are up against a Bulldogs pack tipped to contend for a semis spot with blue chip recruit Troy Rike from the Gilas cadets and Dave Ildefonso from Ateneo high joining forces with veterans Issa Gaye, Matt Aquino and Jess Diputado in the 4 p.m. main game of a doubleheader also featuring souped up University of the Philippines against rebuilding University of the East under debuting mentor Joe Silva at 2 p.m.
The season officially unwraps with the noontime opening ceremonies to be graced by NBA superstar Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors, who drops by to inspire UAAP athletes and sports fans.
“Right away, malakas ang kalaban, NU, they’re the host and sa MOA pa. We’re just going to do our best and hopefully everything we did (preparations), lumabas sa Saturday,” said Ayo of their Day One rival.
“We have a very young team,” said NU coach Jamike Jarin, who has eight rookies and sophomores in his team. “We have to mature as the season progresses.”
Opening day jitters present a concern for Jarin. “It’s always hard to play on opening day. Whoever settles down first and makes the right decisions at the start of the game, will have a good chance of winning.”
Looking forward to better days ahead, the vastly improving Maroons unleash prized recruit Bright Akhueti, who hooks up with seasoned Paul Desiderio, Diego Dario, Jarell Lim, and Jun Manzo and young stars Juan and Javi Gomez de Liano.
“With Bright’s addition, nagkaroon kami ng post presence,” said UP skipper Gelo Vito. “We’re pretty confident with our chances this season. We know that we really prepared hard since January, going to training camps abroad and playing pocket tournaments outside Manila really helped us boost our confidence coming to the season.”
Silva, two-time winner with the Ateneo juniors, aims to tranform top guns Alvin Pasaol and Philip Manalang and his rookie-laden squad into a fighting unit first before thinking about greater things.
“We’re on rebuilding mode but expect us to really compete and give it 100 percent every game; take it one game at a time. Hopefully, we do the right things and results will follow,” said Silva.
Meanwhile, the top four squads from last season plunge into action tomorrow, also at the MOA Arena with holder Ateneo launching its defense against dangerous Adamson at 4 p.m. and new-look La Salle, now under Louie Gonzalez, battling Far Eastern at 12 noon.