By Patrick Solomon
BAHRAIN'S Bader Abdulla Malabes is psyched and ready to step onto the hardwood for his second full season in the Philippines' top collegiate basketball competition.
Bader made history last year as the first-ever Bahraini to play in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men's basketball tournament. He added to that feat when his team, the De La Salle Green Archers, stunned the country by winning the title against a heavily favoured rival.
Bader hopes to emulate that success this season, which marks the UAAP's 71st year. The prestigious cagefest gets underway today at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, north of Manila.
"I'm really excited to get back to playing UAAP basketball," Bader told the GDN yesterday by phone. "My team and I are really looking forward to building on last year's success and making basketball history against this season."
Bader will have to wait until tomorrow before he gets to suit up for the defending champion Archers. The Franz Pumaren-coached squad open their first-round schedule against bitter rivals the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles, in a game that is sure to attract close to 30,000 spectators to Araneta, also known as 'The Big Dome'.
"I'm excited for our first game, especially since it is going to be against Ateneo," Bader said. "These games are our biggest of the year and we can't wait to get onto the court."
Prior to tip-off, both teams will get the chance to meet with NBA star guard Gilbert Arenas of the Washington Wizards, who is in Manila promoting his signature products with one of the world's leading manufacturers in sports apparel.
For today's season tip-off, three of the Archers' other top rivals are set to open their respective campaigns. Last year's runners-up, the University of the East Red Warriors, face off with the previous season's champions the Santo Tomas Growling Tigers in opening day's feature contest. Prior to that, the always-dangerous Far Eastern University Tamaraws take on capable underdogs the Adamson Falcons.
These teams, along with the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons and the National University Bulldogs, complete the line-up of teams who will be looking to dethrone the Archers this year and come away with the coveted crown.
"Of course, each team will pose a different challenge for us; we just have to follow what coach says and focus on what we have to do in every game.
"Everyone has been playing hard recently during the pre-season and in practice, and we've built a good chemistry on our team. From the veterans to the rookies, each player is comfortable with each other, and we are hoping we can translate that onto the court and play together as a unit."
In Manila, Bader has become one of the top up-and-coming players in the collegiate scene. After clinching last year's UAAP crown, commercials featuring the 20-year-old Bahraini as a 'UAAP Rising Star' were repeatedly aired.
"Personally, I don't think about that stuff; I just want to continue to improve on both ends of the court," Bader said. "I should never be satisfied. I'm just looking to continue to do well on my studies and in basketball."
When asked if Bader had any message to their title-rivals this year, he replied coolly: "Everything we want to say will be said on the court."
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