ATENEO, LA SALLE, & the rest of the UAAP complete their PBA Invasion!!!

Ironically,
Blue Eagle Lover Manny V. Pangilinan
ended up with an all-star La Salle line-up for TNT:
Macmac Cardona, Don Allado, and Renren Ritualo.
Willy Wilson remains with Magnolia (SMB);
Carlo Sharma stays with Red Bull,
Mark Telan is now with Coca-Cola,
Joseph Yeo joins Manny Ramos at Sta. Lucia,
and JunJun Cabatu moved to Alaska, joining Mike Cortez.
Adonis Sta. Maria is with Welcoat,
now joined by rookie Ryan Arana.



Meanwhile,
the Ateneans are divided mainly into three teams:
Red Bull with Paolo Bugia, Magnum Membrere, and Rich Alvarez;
San Miguel now known as Magnolia has:
Larry Fonacier, Enrico Villanueva, LA Tenorio,
Wesley Gonzales, & Olsen Racela;
Air 21 has JC Intal, Doug Kramer, and Gec Chia.
Macky Escalona is by his lonesome over at Barangay Ginebra.


UP:
Paolo Mendoza is in the PBA,
a shooter for Sta. Lucia,
and Marvin Cruz, a rookie point for Air 21.


NU:
One representative,
former MVP Danny Ildefonso of SMB/Magnolia.


Adamson:
2006 UAAP MVP Ken Bono joins Alaska,
former UAAP & PBA MVP Kenneth Duremdes is now with Coke,
Sta. Lucia still has Marlou Aquino.


UE:
Batch 2003-04: James Yap with Purefoods,
Ronald Tubid & Paul Artadi are reunited at Barangay Ginebra;
KG Canaleta is slamdunking with Air 21.

FEU's Vic Pablo finally retired,
but batchmate Johnny Abarrientos is still over at Ginebra.
Arwind Santos is flying high at Air 21,
but has the heavy baggage of a bigamy case.
Mark Isip and Cesar Catli are now with the Coca-Cola Tigers.
Jonas Villanueva is with Magnolia;
Denok Miranda remains with Sta. Lucia.


UST's Gerald Francisco of the 1990s 3-peat team retired.
But Estong Ballesteros is still playing with Welcoat, and
Rey Evangelista and Richard Yee are the Purefoods veteran leaders,
Dennis Espino is still one of the twin towers of Sta. Lucia,
Dale Singson is still with Alaska,
and Patrick Fran is still in TNT's backcourt.
Nino Gelig is with Welcoat;
2006 UAAP Finals MVP Jojo Duncil is a rookie with Red Bull,
joining Cyrus Baguio.


NCAA MVP Yousif Aljamal of the San Beda Red Lions
is with Talk 'N Text.



The 33-year old league
ought to be more exciting in 2007-2008:

the PBA 3-point line has been shortened to FIBA's 20 feet,
all the better for Ritualo, Yap, and Fonacier,

the "controlled handcheck" will be allowed to speed up the game,

but the biggest question remains,
will THE BIG J return to the PBA
as the (playing?) coach of Air 21?!??!?!?