Independent oil players Fil Oil and Flying V are opening their annual summer basketball tournament in their home arena this weekend, and it promises to be a glimpse into the UAAP Season 73 and NCAA Season 86 action.

Far Eastern University is the reigning and defending champion, besting UAAP rival University of the East in an exciting one-game finale last summer. They will no longer have their erstwhile best player in Mark Barroca; Barroca is no longer with FEU and is with the Smart Gilas national team of Rajko Toroman. FEU however remains the prohibitive favorite as defending champions, and they are set to unveil at least four new players who can contribute immediately.

UAAP Season 72 junior division most valuable player Jet Romeo has moved up to the senior division, and is looking to bring his own thrilling brand of ball to the college ranks. Three other players, all of whom are seasoned veterans from the NCAA, are also set to join the Fil Oil Flying V roster for the Tamaraws: 6-foot-4 center-forward Clarence Foronda, 6-foot-3 power forward Mark “Tonton” Bringas, and 6-foot-3 forward Anjoe Latonio. Bringas, older brother of Lasalle’s Arvie, transferred from FEU’s university belt neighbor San Sebastian College. Latonio and Foronda are both former Letran Knights.

Other key holdovers for FEU include two more Smart Gilas teammates in 6-foot-4 swingman JR Cawaling and 6-foot-6 center-forward Aldrech Ramos. Cawaling continues to improve as a high-skill, do-it-all player. Ramos has blossomed into a force on both ends. They will also have 6-foot-5 forward-center Reil Cervantes, 6-foot-4 Cameroonian power forward Pipo Nuondoo, 6-foot-3 swingman Paul “Branch” Sanga, and 5-foot-9 hotshot pointguard Ryan “Rooster” Garcia. FEU may also have 6-foot-7 center Jay Mo Eguilos back on this roster, which only adds more length, more ceiling and more athleticism.

FEU however may not have an easy time of it this summer, with at least three major contenders looking to dispute the Fil Oil Flying V title.

Ateneo De Manila, fresh off their sesquicentennial celebration and a back-to-back title campaign in the UAAP are looking to change their fortunes in the Fil Oil. Ateneo has not had much success in this particular off-season tournament and might be looking to change that. These Blue Eagles however are not as stacked as they had been the last two years. Three starters, all of whom were major players in their back-to-back campaign, are all gone. Season 71 MVP and Season 72 Finals MVP Rabeh Al-Hussaini is the biggest loss without a doubt. At 6-foot-8 and 245 pounds, he provided a wide, thick and strong body underneath that averaged career numbers in his last two years as a Blue Eagle. Those numbers will be impossible to replace.

Also gone are Season 71 Finals MVP and defensive demon Nonoy Baclao, the 6-foot-5 shot blocking and rebounding specialist who made life so easy for the Blue Eagles. Jai Reyes, the man who actually won the second of the back-to-back titles with his clutch shooting and heads-up play-making, is also no longer with the team. The 5-foot-7 Reyes had a so-so PBL stint in the last several weeks with the Cobra Iron Men. Ateneo will try to make a run with 5-foot-10 guard Eric Salamat, 6-foot-2 forward Ryan Buenafe, and 6-foot-3 forward Nico Salva leading the way.

San Sebastian has won three major titles over the last 10 or so months and might have that lucky championship streak extend into the Fil Oil. At least six players who form the core of these multi-titled Golden Stags are seeing action. NCAA Finals MVP and PBL PG Flex Erase Placenta Cup Finals MVP Jimbo Aquino however will be a critical personnel loss for head coach Ato Agustin, as the sweet shooting 6-foot-1 off-guard has already finished his collegiate eligibility.

Agustin however can still count on a bunch of tough and stellar athletes to help him through the Fil Oil. Leading these Stags now is pointguard John Murphy “Pamboy” Raymundo, arguably the best pointguard now in the NCAA. Raymundo may not put up the headline-hogging numbers of say a Garcia or a Reyes, but he knows how to handle a veteran team and can control the game with his overall court awareness and ability to be a last-second option on a diminishing game clock. “I’m pretty lucky to have a lot of good players who work hard, not just one star, we have a real team,” Agustin said in one interview.

Raymundo will have perhaps the best frontline in the NCAA: 6-foot-7 center Ian Sangalang, who was named among the PBL Mythical 5 in the recently concluded conference, bruising 6-foot-3 power forward Gilbert Bulawan, 6-foot-3 jumping jack forward Ronald Pascual, and 6-foot-2 dynamo Calvin Abueva will all be joining Raymundo. All four of them can rebound off both boards, defend multiple positions, and provide valuable interior scoring to keep opposing defenses honest. Sangalang is probably the best shot blocker in the NCAA outside of Daniel. Abueva is a double-double machine who defies being boxed into a position – he is just a superb and relentless athlete who happens to play basketball. Bulawan is not spectacular but he does get the job done as an enforcer-type in the paint. Pascual is a forward by default but can easily swing to the perimeter with his above-average handles and ability to hit the long ball and the middle pull-up jumper.

San Beda College may have been deposed as NCAA champions by the Golden Stags but they are certainly back and are looking even more formidable with added size and talent. Sudan Daniel is looking to bounce back stronger this year, as the 6-foot-8 American bore a lot of the fan and media criticism for his so-so showing in the NCAA Season 85 Finals against the relatively shorter Stags. He came on strong in the recently concluded Fr Martin Cup Open Conference as he led the Red Lions to the championship against NCAA rival Jose Rizal University. Daniel wants to finally prove that he is more than just a hotdog dunker. “Although I love to dunk, there is more to my game than just dunking,” he said in a recent conversation. Daniel will also have old reliable teammates like 6-foot-5 forward Jake Pascual as well as at least three tall newcomers to help him out. “We have a lot of guys we can count on this year,” he added.

There may be one or two surprises out there aside from the four top contenders but it will take a good bit of luck for those teams to challenge these powerhouses. One such team could be the JRU Heavy Bombers, who are now under PBA legend Vergel Meneses, himself a former Heavy Bomber. JRU is another team reeling from major personnel losses – three starters including the Season 85 MVP are no longer with the team. 6-foot-5 center James Sena, 5-foot-8 pointguard Mark Cagoco and 6-foot-2 gunner John Wilson have all moved on. That trio represented at least 70% of the scoring, 60% of the rebounds, and 70% of the assists of the Heavy Bombers. Wilson alone was among the Top 5 of the NCAA last season in all three statistical areas, hence the MVP nod.

Looking for a direct replacement for those numbers might not be realistic and doable. Menses however seems to have implemented a system that now allows a lot of the other players to shine when they used to hug the pines. Jon Lopez may not yet qualify as a star, but he certainly should be the new player to watch for JRU. At 6-foot-3 and able to play up to four positions he presents a match-up problem for any opponent. Lopez can shoot from long range, slash strong to the rack, fill the lanes in transition, pass, handle and rebound. Perhaps his only real weakness is his matador on-ball defense.

Others who have found renewed vigor in their games include 5-foot-10 guard Reycon Kabigting, 6-foot-2 swingman Dante Agas, and 6-foot-3 forward Jecster Apinan. These three used to be in and out of the doghouse and never really got their games going. But over the last few months they’ve gained renewed confidence and have showcased a lot more of their skill. Some questions remain however as to the JRU frontline. Broad-shouldered 6-foot-6 center John Montemayor is one of only two legit big men on this roster. Etame Joe, the 6-foot-9 Cameroonian center who wowed the summer tournament crowds last year may or may not be at 100%. That leaves 5-foot-10 Cameroonian swingman Nchotu Njei as the only other player who can help tend the boards and harass opposing forwards.

University of the East is yet another dark horse for the Fil Oil. Last year’s runners-up have also taken big personnel losses but retained just enough firepower and star power to take it to unsuspecting big time contenders. 5-foot-7 guard James Martinez, who injured his ACL in the Fil Oil Finals versus FEU last year, and who subsequently missed the UAAP 72nd season, is back after a strong showing in the last PBL conference. He will be joined by explosive 6-foot swingman Paul Lee, the next big UAAP superstar who should be the frontrunner for MVP honors in Season 73. 6-foot-5 bruiser Pari Llagas and 6-foot-3 power leaping forward Elmer Espiritu are gone, and have taken some 80% of UE’s rebounding and shot blocks with them.

There should be a surprise or two along the way, as there always is, in this year’s Fil Oil. In the end though, it should be an FEU-San Sebastian Finale, with the Stags taking their fourth straight major title.