August 31 ------ JD Cagulangan, Gerry Abadiano, and the University of the Philippines will be the first obstacle standing in Jared Bahay's way as he makes his debut for Ateneo in UAAP Season 87. The Fighting Maroons and Blue Eagles rekindle their rivalry as the first featured matchup of the season, following the grand opening ceremony to be headlined by The Eraserheads on September 7 at the Araneta Coliseum. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Bahay chose to continue wearing blue and white after initially giving his early commitment to State U as its point guard of the future. Once his last season in Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu in the CESAFI Juniors wrapped up, however, he decommitted and decided to head to the Jesuit-run institution in Quezon City. Now, the top prospect coming out of high school according to the National Basketball Training Center will be one of Ateneo's new building blocks alongside Kristian Porter after it lost eight players, foremost of whom are Mason Amos, Kai Ballungay, and Jared Brown.
On the other side, Cagulangan, Abadiano, Harold Alarcon, and Season 86 Rookie of the Year Francis Lopez will continue showing the way for UP, even as they welcome to the fold Filipino-Americans Quentin Millora-Brown, Gani Stevens, and Jacob Bayla, as well as Nigerian foreign student-athlete Dikachi Udodo. The Fighting Maroons are looking to get over the hump following back-to-back runner-up finishes, while the Blue Eagles are hoping to open another new era on the right note. While opening day will only have one game on the dock, the following day will put on display three exciting face-offs bannered by La Salle starting its title defense against always-dogged National U.
The Green Archers eliminated the Bulldogs in the Final Four last season and are still fronted by reigning MVP Kevin Quiambao. Instead of Evan Nelle and Mark Nonoy, however, he will now be flanked by Nigerian Henry Agunanne, CJ Austria, and prized rookie Doy Dungo. National U also saw its lead guard in Kean Baclaan departing, but is confident in the capabilities of second-year playmaker Reinhard Jumamoy who joins Jake Figueroa, Steve Nash Enriquez, and Jolo Manansala in spearheading the attack. Also slated for the Sunday game day are contests between fifth-placer Adamson vs. seventh-placer FEU and as sixth-placer UE vs. eighth-placer University of Santo Tomas.
Source: spin.ph
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