UAAP preview: Archers aim arrows for Final 4 return

De La Salle University found itself in unfamiliar territory last season missing the Final Four for the first time since the format was instituted in 1993. Now the seven-time UAAP men’s basketball champions Green Archers eye a return trip to the semifinals under a “new" but familiar coach leading a young team. The name and face may be different but Dindo Pumaren’s system is the same with his older brother Franz, who guided the Green Archers to four straight UAAP crowns from 1998 to 2001. Franz decided to give La Salle’s coaching reigns to Dindo after the former decided to run as congressman in Quezon City’s third district in the last elections. Pumaren lost in his congressional bid. “There’s not much of an adjustment since the system is practically the same," said the younger Pumaren, who was the team’s assistant coach last year. “We still employ the press and our offensive patterns are the same." The Green Archers’ last won the crown during the 2007 season where Franz and his La Salle crew defeated the University of the East Red Warriors being handled then by Dindo. “We have a promising team," said Pumaren, who has seven rookies shoring up the Green Archers’ Season 73 campaign. He is hoping La Salle’s new recruits would quickly make an impact with the team. Guards Luigi Dela Paz and Nico Elorde along with big man Aiki Herrera are from the De La Salle-Zobel junior squad that reached the UAAP finals last season while Martin John Reyes is a big man from La Salle Greenhills. The other rookies are lanky Philip Paredes, San Sebastian Staglets ace guard Almond Vosotros and former Letran Squire Jarelan Tampus. Top scorers James Mangahas, Peejay Barua and Bader Malabes have already used up their playing years so it will be up to point guard Simon Atkins, big man Ferdinand, Joshua Webb, Maui Villanueva, and sophomores Joseph Tolentino and Sam Marata to lead the Archers’ attack. Atkins has now taken the team captain role as he is expected to share the backcourt duties with Tolentino. Observers noted the improvement of Ferdinand, Marata and Villanueva while Webb, who surprisingly was the team’s leading scorer at only 9.4 points a game, will be the team’s resident energizer. Also returning are 6-foot-4 big men Yutien Andrada and Mark Mendoza, and 6-foot-3 Gab Banal. With the young squad, Pumaren said the team is taking it one step at a time as they are aim for the Final Four this season. – JVP, GMANews.TV