The UAAP wasted no time tugging at the heartstrings of its fans.
Just two weeks into Season 87, the Philippines’ premier collegiate league has already delivered a thrilling array of upsets, fourth-quarter nail-biters, and unexpected losing streaks, with the season showing no signs of slowing down.
While it’s premature to draw sweeping conclusions about any team based on just the first two weeks, each of the eight schools has offered glimpses of their highs and lows in their initial games. Coaches are already fine-tuning their game plans as they delve deeper into the season.
This week, we’ll focus on the age-old importance of point guards in the UAAP, examining the performances of the lead guards for Ateneo, UP, and UE.
No Need to Panic for Ateneo, but There Are Causes for Concern
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
No team has had a worse start to the new UAAP season than the Ateneo Blue Eagles.
For the first time in his UAAP coaching tenure, head coach Tab Baldwin faced a daunting 0-3 start, as the Blue and White found themselves at the bottom of the standings after three consecutive losses.
While Ateneo fans might have been ready to sound the alarm over the team’s three-game losing streak—something the school hasn’t experienced in a decade—their recent victory over a feisty Adamson team proves that patience is crucial for this year’s Band of Brothers.
Ateneo’s opening slate featured three of the most talented teams in the UAAP: UP, UST, and DLSU, all boasting Mythical Five-level stars. In each game, Ateneo showcased flashes of competence against these powerhouses but ultimately fell short.
Although the difficulty of their schedule cannot excuse their inability to execute effectively over the full 40 minutes, this young Ateneo squad has the potential to improve as the season progresses. The panic button does not need to be pushed yet, but concerns remain.
Under Baldwin’s guidance, Ateneo teams are often characterized by a modern style of basketball that emphasizes floor spacing and ball movement, aiming for open shots as the shot clock winds down. While they have managed to create decent looks, the Blue Eagles have struggled to convert.
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As a team, they have shot just 16.67% from beyond the arc. Key players like Jared Bahay (5/28 from three), Wacky Espina (3/11), and Andrew Bongo (2/14) are likely to regress to their means; they are better shooters than their current statistics suggest.
In particular, Bahay’s progress beyond his current slump is something the Katipunan crowd can look forward to. Despite facing every possible pick-and-roll defensive coverage thrown at him in his first four UAAP games, the 5’9 Gilas Youth standout has been generating good looks for himself and his teammates; they simply need to convert those opportunities.
Even amidst his shooting struggles, Bahay has remained productive for Baldwin, averaging 7.25 points, 4.00 rebounds, and 4.25 assists in just 23 minutes per game.
One criticism of Bahay’s current performance is his unusually high three-point attempt rate, with about 68% of his shot attempts coming from beyond the arc, as noted by Ryan Alba. Once he regains his rhythm, driving lanes will open up as teams begin to defend him more closely, revealing why opposing coaches craft schemes to counter his screen actions.
Ateneo’s lack of size continues to be an issue, and without a high-level rim protector, the Blue Eagles won’t approach the defensive heights they achieved in previous years. However, once their youth find their groove, they should possess enough offensive firepower to remain competitive.
JD Cagulangan: A Man Among Boys
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Over the offseason, countless jokes circulated on social media about JD Cagulangan’s age and seniority after it was revealed he had another year of eligibility left, when many fans believed he would leave UP after last season.
However, as he begins his Season 87 campaign, Cagulangan has demonstrated that he is not here to play around; he truly looks like a man among boys.
After averaging 6.00 points, 3.17 rebounds, and 4.75 assists in Season 86, the 5’9 floor general has improved his production across the board. In UP’s first four games, Cagulangan averaged 14.00 points, 5.00 rebounds, and 5.75 assists, leading the Fighting Maroons to a perfect 4-0 record. The former LSGH standout is also shooting a career-best 47% from the outside on nearly four attempts per game, a significant improvement from last year’s 19% on 4.56 attempts.
It’s somewhat poetic that on a team like UP, which entered the season showcasing an army of skilled big men and lengthy wings, the smallest player on the court has often been their most impactful.
Cagulangan isn’t alone in his hot streak; the entire team has been steadily knocking down shots from beyond the arc. Under head coach Goldwin Montverde, UP leads the league with a 36% three-point shooting percentage, albeit on the lowest attempts per game at just 18.75.
With such a dominant front line, UP can afford to maintain their three-point volume without increasing it significantly. Quentin Millora-Brown has been quietly dominant inside, backing down the best frontline defenders in the UAAP and securing rebounds as if he possesses telekinetic powers like Millie Bobby Brown.
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The 6’10 Filipino-American is averaging 7.75 points and 9.25 rebounds in just 18 minutes per game, taking only five shots each game. Cagulangan and the Fighting Maroons could likely get him more touches, but with Cagulangan shooting so well from outside and the team winning by an average margin of 16 points, there’s no rush to change their approach.
UE’s Shooters and the Crucial Role of John Abate
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
The UE Red Warriors have embarked on quite the emotional journey to begin Season 87.
The Mendiola-based squad appeared completely outmatched in their first two matches against UP and UST, struggling to create open looks for their shooters. After leading the league in three-point percentage last year at around 32%, UE managed just 3/17 (18%) from beyond the arc against the revamped Growling Tigers and 5/23 (21%) against the Fighting Maroons.
It seemed that the loss of Noy Remogat over the offseason would haunt them throughout the year. Not only was Remogat their most dangerous pull-up threat by a wide margin, but the Mythical Five finalist was also their best playmaker, setting the table for UE’s other shooters.
However, since their loss to the Fighting Maroons, UE’s shooters have found their rhythm, outclassing a youthful FEU team before raining down threes in an upset victory over La Salle. Head coach Jack Santiago rode a Wello Lingolingo explosion to steer his squad to a surprising win, and suddenly the Red Warriors look like serious Final Four contenders.
While some of their recent success can be attributed to a regression to the mean in their shooting, a more significant factor is the increased presence of John Abate. The reigning CPC Player of the Week has admirably stepped in as UE’s new lead guard, highlighted by a 20-point outburst against La Salle.
Abate is a perfect fit for UE’s offense; he’s a capable pick-and-roll ball handler who can pull up when given space and is eager to attack the paint off the dribble. The 6’1 Filipino-American excels in pick-and-roll actions that get him moving to his right before exploding down the left side, where he can finish with either hand.
Off the ball, Abate is also a strong catch-and-shoot option from the corners and a smart cutter. Watch as he catches Leland Estacio sleeping with a well-timed 45-degree cut into an impressive dime for Precious Momowei.
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As a team, UE is at its best when it creates defensive chaos, moving the ball on the perimeter to set up their extensive list of shooters. This is often achieved by positioning Precious Momowei in the low post, where he can attract double teams before kicking out to an open man. With Abate on the floor, the Abate-Momowei pick-and-roll adds another effective offensive option.
Watch these two strategies unfold in a recent clip against La Salle. Abate calls for a spread pick-and-roll (where the other three players stretch beyond the arc) with Momowei, while Lingolingo, Ethan Galang, and Gjerard Wilson space the floor. Raven Gonzales soft hedges (staying parallel to the screen to prevent dribble penetration), but he’s late to recover back to Momowei, creating a brief window for a 3-on-2 on the weak side.
The ball swings to Galang and Wilson as JC Macalalag and Kevin Quiambao both drop down to cover Momowei. However, the two La Salle defenders close out well, halting the action. The ball ends up in Momowei’s hands on the low post, where he draws a double team from Quiambao before kicking it out to Galang for an open look.
(C) Cignal TV
While the action eventually yields an open shot, it also highlights some limitations in Abate’s current game. He picks up his dribble too early against Gonzales’s soft hedge and is half a second slow in swinging the ball to Galang. Throughout much of his Season 87 play, Abate has struggled against significant ball pressure, evidenced by his 1:6 assist-to-turnover ratio against DLSU.
Still, there is much to be optimistic about regarding UE’s quest to end its Final Four drought. If their offense continues to flow as smoothly as it did against La Salle, this season could be their best chance yet to return to the top of the league.
