| Rank |
School |
Comments |
| 1 | UE Red Warriors
(UAAP) |
- 2008 Fil-Oil/Flying V Preseason Champs
- Features athletic savvy players who have embraced a simple yet effective system with lightning quick pace
- Platoon of snipers (Martinez, Bandaying, Lee & Acuna) will help team remain potent even without Mark Borboran
- Not as tall as before but plays with more intelligence and discipline
|
| 2 | ADMU Blue Eagles
(UAAP) |
- 2008 Nike Summer League champs
- 2007 Collegiate National Championship champs
- High basketball IQ, not athletic but can execute well; Outside shooting is suspect
- Their dedication to defense should be the key to a championship run and a memorable final year for Chris Tiu
- Rookies will get a chance to shine
|
| 3 | San Beda Red Lions
(NCAA) |
- Defending back-to-back NCAA champs
- Early favorites even without Udoka or Pascual thanks to a seasoned roster that includes Sam Ekwe
- Stellar showing in summer tourneys
|
| 4 | DLSU Green Archers
(UAAP) |
- Defending UAAP Champs
- 2 of the country's best, Rico Maierhofer and JV Casio will return for another run
- Underrated rookies made a lot of noise in the summer and should be more productive
- Still the best defense in the country
|
| 5 | FEU Tamaraws
(UAAP) |
- 3rd place – Nike Summer League
- Team has finally come together led by talented swingman JR Cawaling and forward Mac Baracael
- Excellent provincial recruiting
- Will be tough to stop with their ability to find points from just about every player on the roster
- Tall team that needs to realize that athleticism will only take them so far
|
| 6 | JRU Heavy Bombers
(NCAA) |
- NCAA Season 83 Final 4
- Returns with a veteran core of Sena, Hayes, Pradas, Nocom, Wilson and Cagoco.
- Deep and talented unit but how long can they keep their frenetic and manic pace of basketball?
|
| 7 | Mapua Cardinals
(NCAA) |
- Coach Leo Isaac’s wards made a furious run to the NCAA Final 4 last season fending off the likes of JRU and Adamson
- High expectations for KC De La Pena
|
| 8 | CSJL Knights
(NCAA) |
- NCAA Season 83 Runner-up
- 2008 Fr Martin Runner-up
- Great defensive team
- Will go as far as their PBL veterans will take them and star guard RJ Jazul will carry them on his own if he has to
|
| 9 | UST Growling Tigers
(UAAP) |
- Have gotten better thanks to heavy exposure in the PBL
- Mystery team that was quiet in the offseason
- Still a very potent core of UAAP MVP Jervy Cruz, Dylan Ababou, Japs Cuan, Kashim Mirza, Phil Allera and underrated Mark Canlas
|
| 10 | Adamson Falcons
(UAAP) |
- 2008 summer surprise package beating the likes of DLSU at the Nike Summer League, and FEU and ADMU at the Fil-oil Flying V tourney
- The return of coach Leo Austria along with star forward Mark Agustin’s comeback makes this squad a deadly opponent
- Consistency is in question
|
| 11 | SSC-R Golden Stags
(NCAA) |
- Veteran upset makers
- Solid core of Najorda, Ballesteros, Viray, Aquino and emerging point guard Pamboy Raymundo
- Underrated offensive sets and unassuming defensive intensity
- Coach Jorge Gallent can only tolerate losing for so long
|
| 12 | NU Bulldogs
(UAAP) |
- A very good team in the last few years, the only question that needs to be asked is, how bad do they want it?
- With battle-tested veterans like Edwin Asoro and Jonathan Jahnke, it will be all about bringing it on the court every time out and having the will to finish strong
|
| 13 | Arellano University
(NCRAA) |
- Veteran upset makers
- Back-to-back NCRAA champs and Fr Martin tournament champs
- Core of Orlando Daroya, Dondon Rivera, Noy Del Rosario and Len Anquilo have what it takes to surprise some of the bigger teams who may not take them seriously
|
| 14 | STI Olympians
(NAASCU) |
- Season 7 NAASCU champs
- Surprise 3rd place finish in last year’s Collegiate National Championship
- Veteran tough guys Ramon Mabayo and Mike Cabangon set to return for one more season
- Good recruiting class that will stick together and grow together
|
| 15 | Lyceum of the Philippines Pirates
(NCRAA) |
- Veteran upset makers
- Ransacked two NCAA member-schools in the Nike Summer League and almost upset FEU in the quarters
|
