In its 72nd season, the Universities Athletic Association of the Philippines or UAAP is looking a lot like a very complicated telenovela, straight out of the prime time dream factories of the local television giants. Given how much the Pinoy loves his telenovelas, this should make the most popular basketball tournament in the country an even greater spectacle than it already is.

Ateneo De Manila is celebrating 150 years as a premiere educational institution. Gunning for the general championship across all events would make their sesquicentennial celebrations truly spectacular. But all this would be for naught if the crown jewel of the UAAP – the men’s senior division basketball championship – would be lost in the process. Unlike other institutions like Santo Tomas and Far Eastern, Ateneo is basketball-centric and basketball-mad. Ateneo sports officials will of course never admit it, but the bulk of attention and resources are poured into the men’s senior division team and to maintaining its lofty status as a UAAP powerhouse.

Look at how they celebrate winning the Season 71 championship: with a bonfire party that was undampened even by the ocean of mud that would’ve put Woodstock to shame. Ateneo never celebrated like that even when their women’s team, more successful than the men over the last half-decade, won their second championship in three years back in 2007. Heck, they didn’t celebrate like that even when the Lady Eagles won their first ever UAAP championship in 2005.

But in 2002 and 2008, all roads undoubtedly led to Loyola Heights. Nothing would warm the cockles of the Ateneo universe more than winning back-to-back basketball championships in their sesquicentennial year. That of course will not be easy to do. A lot of heroes emerged for the Blue and White last year, most notably 6-foot-8 center Rabeh Al-Hussaini. Al-Hussaini’s previous three years as a Blue Eagle were met with much derision and frustration. He was pegged to be the career backup of the wondrously gifted Japeth Aguilar. When Aguilar left the country to play Division I ball in the US NCAA, a lot of Ateneo fans consigned Al-Hussaini to the “he’s all we’ve got” bin. It didn’t help that he was often seen as a player who always let his temper and his ego get the better of him. You can imagine everyone’s surprise when he played like a true superstar last year, putting together 30-point games, double-doubles against even the toughest teams, and eventually winning the MVP trophy.

Whatever else anybody may say or think though, the real hero for Ateneo last year was multi-media darling Chris Tiu. Tiu, the 5-foot-11 guard with the deadly outside touch and sharp elbows, was the undisputed heart and soul of the Blue and White in his last two years with the team. Tiu commanded a respect no one else on this team could match: he had the matinee idol good looks, the killer game, the academic credentials of being an honor student in a premium course, and of course the tax returns of the upper crust. His ability to hold his team together and keep even the petulant likes of Al-Hussaini in check through his sheer force of will was the real reason Ateneo lofted that championship trophy. Tiu is no longer around, and gone with him are the natural leadership abilities so critical to keeping a championship team focused and sharp.

This is something all the other contenders will surely look to exploit. Ateneo is still formidable and talented, and will easily make the Final 4. But they will be vulnerable to mental and psychological stresses without a clear leader. Far Eastern University, the team every one is looking at as the prohibitive favorite to win this year’s title, has talent, size, skill and leadership. They lost two key players in Benedict Fernandez and Mac Baracael, but they also saw the rise of new leaders in Mark “Babyface” Barroca and JR Cawaling. Barroca looks ready to assume the new role of team superstar, having honed his skills further on the Smart Gilas national team. He will have a star-studded lineup that can easily go at least two players deep at every position without skipping much production. Certainly the bench players of FEU would be more than a handful even for some UAAP starters.

Also still around are the De La Salle Green Archers. Lasalle has at least half its lineup this year made up of rookies, but what a rookie class they are. Arvie Bringas, subject of much off-season controversy much of it to do with the student part of being a student-athlete, leads the vaunted rookie class for Lasalle. At a well-built 6-foot-4 and an attack mentality, he is just what the doctor ordered for a thin frontline. Bringas will have 6-foot-6 beanpole Yutien Andrada keeping him company up front. Andrada and Bringas were teammates in high school over at San Sebastian, and both were instrumental in building a San Sebastian high school dynasty in the NCAA. The rest of the rookies are former RP Youth Team players under Lasalle head coach Franz Pumaren led by the two Josephs, Tolentino and Marata.

The fourth spot in the top four will be a good toss-up between Adamson and University of the East. Adamson has size and skill but might not have the intelligence and patience to stay the course. Certainly these Falcons will test the blood pressure and vocal range of head coach Leo Austria. UE has a new head coach, and some of the wise guys out there are saying they might make the Final 4 in spite of their new coach. Lawrence Chongson will be sorely tested as well, since this is his first ever stint in the UAAP. A good enough win streak and a few lucky breaks here and there and UE might even make the Finals, God only knows how they broke into the Fil Oil Finals, so why not the UAAP.

Will Ateneo find a new leader? Will FEU make this a 2003 reprise? Will UE ambush enough teams to make the Finals? Will Lasalle make this 2003 for them as well excpet with a different ending? Will Adamson return to the Final 4?

In the junior division it looks pretty much like Ateneo will repeat even with the departure of four starters from last season. This is not the NCAA, and as talented as the junior division of the UAAP might be, it is not going to be harder than usual for Ateneo to repeat as champions. Any one doubting that should go to the trophy case over at Loyola Heights. Height and athleticism do not mean as much in the UAAP junior wars as they would at any other higher level of competition, and head coach Jamike Jarin still has plenty of guys he can work with such as 6-foot gunner Israel Banal, 5-foot-7 newcomer Louie Singco, 6-foot-2 center Al Bugarin and 5-foot-9 guard Keifer Ravena.

Lasalle Zobel should prove to be the top challenger this year for the Blue Eaglets, and they have gotten some significant size thanks to the addition of mobile 6-foot-7 NBTC product Arnold Van Opstal. They are however a little short in terms of overall team depth and that could be a problem as the season wears on when a deep bench will allow teams to keep their stars fresher throughout the season. Santo Tomas does not have that weakness now and might pull the surprise of the season, as the Tiger Cubs of head coach Allan Ascue have gotten a year older, wiser and stronger. These Tiger Cubs are going to turn a whole lot of heads in Season 72.

Will Ateneo repeat in spite of itself? Will Zobel return to the championship throne? Will UST get a new junior championship crown?

Women’s division action might actually turn out to be more interesting and harder fought than the men and boys divisions. FEU has a taller and physically stronger team with a more diversified offense as Raiza Palmera takes on the superstar role and Soc Borja and Josie Positos inherit starter positions in the backcourt. They will however have to deal with a Lasalle squad that has a newfound confidence after winning two major off-season titles. 6-foot-5 Fritz Oyao from Cagayan De Oro is also the biggest recruit, quit literally, in the women’s game, and will have the likes of Mae Urieta and Jan Laureola around. Lasalle beat FEU in a tightly-fought Fr Martin Cup championship and have emerged as the slight favorites going into Season 72.

Will Lasalle return to glory in women's basketball? Or will FEU celebrate a back-to-back women's championship?

Across all three divisions in the basketball tournament there will be plenty of surprises, and plenty of stories that promise to make Season 72 a truly special show. There are expected endings and they do not seem forthcoming in Season 72, and to that all we can say is tune in next time.