2007 was not that long ago. Yet for millions of De La Salle basketball fans it seems like an eternity has passed. 2007 was an emotional year for the Green Archers basketball program. Coming off a full UAAP suspension in 2006, the green and white came back strong to find redemption, defeating the University of the East Red Warriors for the Season 70 crown. UE had swept through that season at 14-0, but Lasalle proved the heart of a champion is truly something else.

Since then, the mighty program has taken quite a tumble. Their archrival Ateneo dethroned them in 2008, as the Blue Eagles won the first of what would be back-to-back titles. Last season they did not even make the Final 4, settling into 6th place, their lowest finish ever in the championship-laden Franz Pumaren era. That would be quite a shock considering what this program has accomplished over the last 10 years: three UAAP championships and seven appearances in the UAAP Finals. No other UAAP team even comes close to that level of success over the same period.

This year the Green Archers are trying to return to glory, even though it will take some doing considering the very young roster they will have. Only two veterans of note are returning: 6-foot-2 swingman Joshua Webb and 5-foot-7 pointguard Simon Atkins. Both players are homegrown Lasalle stars having come from the Santiago Zobel high school. “We’re looking to them for leadership now because we have a very young team, and it should help I think that they are homegrown talents who both come from Zobel,” said one long-time team supporter. Webb is a talented and athletic player who can play up to three positions but needs to rein in his tendency to force the action. Atkins is a heady guard but needs to become more active on the offense and stop thinking exclusively about setting the table. These two need to start acting like superstars to lead this very young team.

A bunch of second year, legit freshman and rookie players make up the rest of the team: 6-foot-6 Papot Paredes will alternate with 6-foot-6 Yutien Andrada at the 5 spot and each might see some action at the 4 as well, 6-foot-4 Ferdinand, 6-foot-4 forward-center Maui Villanueva and 6-foot-4 Jovet Mendoza make up the rest of the frontline. 6-foot-2 forward Gab Banal and 6-foot-2 swingman Joseph Marata were teammates on the RP Youth Team handled by Pumaren and will alternate at the 3/2 spots. 5-foot-9 freshman Jarelan Tampus, 5-foot-8 rookie Almond Vosotros, and 5-foot-9 freshman Luigi De La Paz make up the newcomers of note and will bolster the perimeter along with second-year pointguard Joel Tolentino.

Those who are not on this roster are conspicuous by their absence. Perhaps the biggest absence is the biggest recruit from last year, 6-foot-4 forward-center Arvie Bringas, who has been dropped supposedly due to academic problems. A couple of other high-profile freshman recruits were supposed to be on this UAAP roster and were in fact on the summer roster but did not suit up.

Women’s basketball should still be competitive for the Lady Archers with the likes of Chelisa Calaquian and Cassandra Santos still around. They’re a year older now and should be a year wiser and tougher. High school basketball might not be as competitive though, since all the starters have graduated.