Ateneo, NU favored in 75th season of UAAP

IT CAME AS no surprise that the reigning four-time champions Ateneo Blue Eagles and the up-and-coming National University  Bulldogs are being favored to go all the way in the 75th season of the UAAP, which unwraps this Saturday at the brand-new Mall of Asia Arena.

The two squads were picked by the different coaches of the participating teams during a press conference that was held on Monday at the MOA Arena.

According to a report that was posted on Inquirer.net, Ateneo head coach Norman Black pegged the Bulldogs to be a formidable foe in their “drive for five” this season.

“NU is going to be a force to reckon with,” Black said in what will be his final season at the helm of the Blue Eagles before moving on to take on the coaching cudgels of the PBA’s Talk ’N Text Tropang Texters. The former PBA import also cited La Salle and the University of Sto. Tomas as teams to watch out for this season.

NU earned the respect of the Ateneo as well as every other collegiate team in the nation after they swept the FilOil preseason tournament, a run that was capped off by a dominant win over the La Salle Green Archers in the finals. Leading their charge was last year’s UAAP MVP Bobby Ray Parks.

Ateneo remains at the top of the food chain, with a roster that boasts of former University of the Visayas hotshot 7-footer Greg Slaughter and last year’s Rookie of the Year, Kiefer “The Phenom” Ravena.  They also return several key players including Nico Salva and Ryan Buenafe.

The UAAP Season 75 is dubbed “Unbreakable.” NU will open the hostilities with a match against University of the East in the first game set at 2 p.m. followed by the game between UST and the Far Eastern University at 4 p.m. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio