Which teams will make the Final Four? And which will come away frustrated again??
ight teams, one championship.

In the next three months, the eight member teams of the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) will duke it out again on the hardcourt with but one thing in mind: a championship.

Another season of rivalries and epic struggles is upon us, with players, old and new, looking to make their mark. Which teams will make it the Final Four, and which will come away frustrated again?

2bu!?s fearless forecast:

#1 The Far Eastern University Tamaraws

Key Loss: Mark Barroca

Key Returns: Aldrech Ramos, Riel Cervantes, JR Cawaling, RR Garcia

Key Recruits: Terrence Romeo, Mark Bringas

The most complete team, on paper, is FEU. It?s easy to see why. After scandal dragged down their point guard Mark Barroca to the point where he left the team in the middle of the season, then-rookie RR Garcia stepped confidently up to the plate, and the team has been better for it.

They?re back, with no other significant subtraction in what is the last year of their coach, Glenn Capacio. They?re motivated.

FEU has a daunting four-man rotation, with last year?s MVP runner-up Aldrech Ramos, Riel Cervantes, Pipo Noundou and Mark Bringas, brother to Arvie. That quartet will pound the boards like crazy, offering up a host of second-chance opportunities while denying their opponents the same. That?s good news for their shooters, particularly Garcia, who has the green light to fire away; JR Cawaling, and FEU-FERN product Terrence Romeo, who owns the juniors record for scoring, with 83 points.

It remains to be seen, however, if they can operate within the newly installed triangle offense and more importantly, avoid another off-court distraction.

#2 The Ateneo De Manila University Blue Eagles

Key Losses: Jai Reyes, Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Nonoy Baclao

Key Returns: Eric Salamat, Nico Salva, Ryan Buenafe, Kirk Long

Key Recruits: JP Erram, Jason Escueta, Art de la Cruz

The champion of the past two seasons, Ateneo could still bag a third consecutive title. But the current Blue Eagles team may be hard-pressed to defend the crown. The absence of big men Al-Hussaini and Baclao leaves a giant hole in the middle, even with talented coach Norman Black. The team will be forced to platoon the center and power forward positions with a host of Team B call-ups, bit players and rookies.

The squad has a lot of growing up to do, as former role players will have to adjust to having to play longer minutes.

Expect the bulk of the team?s scoring to come from Nico Salva, now an entrenched starter, and newly crowned King Eagle Eric Salamat, and the in-shape Ryan Buenafe.

Offensive-wise, the team should be just fine, but the trademark defense will be the big question. Can the team survive without an established shot blocker? Will they be forced to gamble for the steal? Or will they be counting down the days to next season, when star recruit Greg Slaughter and high school phenom Kiefer Ravena suit up?

#3 The Adamson University Soaring Falcons

Key Loss: Leo Canuday

Key Returns: Lester Alvarez, Jerick Canada, Jan Colina, Alex Nuyles

Key Recruits: Austin Manyara, William Stinnett

Last season, the Falcons were perpetually unlucky, losing five games by four or less points, when just two more wins would have gotten them into the Final Four. This year, the team has rolled the dice on a pair of foreign players, big man Austin Manyara and do-it-all forward William Stinette. Both are raw, but give the squad options that weren?t there before, an interior post player they can throw the ball to down low and a point forward, respectively.

However, if the preseason is any indication, it?ll be the ones who are already in the squad who will turn around the Falcons? late-game execution. Expect Alex Nuyles, a shifty scorer, Eric Camson, an interior defender with a mid-range jumper, and deadeye RR Cabrera to play more minutes for coach Leo Austria, and just maybe, bring the Falcons back to postseason action.

#4 The University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons

Key Losses: Arvin Braganza, Migs De Asis, Mike Gamboa

Key Returns: Magi Sison, Woody Co, Martin Reyes, Alvin Padilla, Mikee Reyes

Key Recruits: Joshua Saret, Jett Manuel, Mike Silungan

If not now, when? That?s the question on the minds of the UP faithful, as the core of their team, Woody Co, Magi Sison and Martin Reyes, are all on their last year. Don?t think the team doesn?t know it though. The Maroons added big-time scorer Mike Silungan, a Fil-Am product, to give the squad more offense, and rookie Joshua Saret to get the ball to their scorers.

Neither move, however, addresses the squad?s Achilles heel, interior defense. It has been said of big man Magis Sison, that he has made the leap, thanks to his stint with the Smart Gilas team, but that?s been said before.

More telling is the fact that those behind him, rookies Martin Pascual and Vergel Evangelista, are untested, unproven commodities in that position. If coach Aboy Castro doesn?t get this team to live up to its name, he may find himself leaving along with the above trio of graduates.

The University of the East Red Warriors

Key Losses: Val Acuna, Rudy Lingganay, Pari Llagas, Elmer Espiritu

Key Returns: Paul Lee, Raffy Reyes, Paul Zamar, James Martinez

Key Recruits: Sam Razon, Adi Santos, Kit Rosopa

Anytime a team loses its entire front court, that?s a huge problem. Add the fact that their two key big men, Elmer Espiritu and Pari Llagas, averaged 30+ minutes each and the rookie replacements for them are more raw than sushi, and it becomes clear that last season?s runner-up will live or die by Paul Lee.

All is not lost, however, as the Warriors have James Martinez back from an ACL injury, and Raffy Reyes to provide more artillery.

There?s also the outside chance that someone like Ken Acibar or John Alabanza will thrive under Coach Lawrence Chongson?s freewheeling offense. In the end, however, games will be won or lost based on whether or not Lee goes out of his mind. Hopefully for the Warriors, that?ll be what he does.

#6 The De La Salle University Green Archers

Key Losses: James Mangahas, PJ Barua, Bader Malabes, Kish Co, Arvie Bringas

Key Returns: Simon Atkins, Ferdinand, Sam Marata, Yutien Andrada, Joshua Webb

Key Recruits: Almond Vosotros, Nico Elorde, Jarelan Tampus

When all the teams in the UAAP are zigging and getting taller, the host school DLSU is zagging and loading up on guards (although admittedly, the loss of Arvie Bringas and the one-year delay for Arnold Van Opstal were off-court problems).

Coach Dindo Pumaren takes over his brother?s position, and with him comes a renewed focus on the dreaded press. Part strategy and part necessity, the Archers will often be the smaller team on the court, and so transition baskets will be key.

That said, La Salle will bank on production by two non-guards. The first, Joshua Webb, is expected to be the team?s go-to scorer. He?s worked on adding a three-point shot to his arsenal, which he can switch to when the refs aren?t sending him to the foul line.

The second is Ferdinand, the much-maligned center who?s finally added a post move or two. It goes without saying that Archers will be working to make their Final Four absence last year a fluke, rather than a trend. But whether or not they can do so, with this line-up, is up in the air.

#7 The National University Bulldogs

Key Loss: Michael Luy

Key Returns: Mervin Baloran, Kokoy Hermosisima, Jewel Ponferrada, Ajeet Singh, Joseph Terso

Key Recruits: Jeoffrey Javillonar, Glenn Khobuntin, Emmanuel Mbe, Ivan Ludovice

The Bulldogs are now a force to reckon with, and are aspiring to make it to Final Four, where they haven?t made an appearance since the 2001-2002 season.

In previous seasons, NU had a lone big man who had to slug his way through double-teams. This year, it?s the opposite, with Marion Magat and Jewel Ponferrada being joined by the 6?4? Glenn Khobuntin, and the 6?7? Emmanuel Mbe. They?ll open up the floor for shooters Ajeet Singh and Kokoy Hermosisima, forming a potent inside-out combo.

Where the Bulldogs are still weak is at the point guard position. Now, veteran Michael Luy would never be tagged as an all-star, but Joseph Terso and Jerome Tungcul weren?t any better. This leaves the door wide open for Ivan Ludovice to play the starter?s role, a dark horse really. But if the Bulldogs can?t find anyone to carry the ball around, all that size will be for naught.

#8 The University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers

Key Losses: Dylan Ababou, Khasim Mirza, Allein Maliksi

Key Returns: Jeric Teng, Clark Bautista, Jeric Fortuna, Chris Camus

Key Recruits: Vince Tinte, Paolo Pe, Kim Lo

It was a heck of a story last season, when the Jervy Cruz-less Growling Tigers ran and gunned their way into the Final Four, with a Euroball-influenced style of play.

The odds are against them now, as they try to repeat that feat. Where last year they had length and shooting in Khasim Mirza and Dylan Ababou, all they have now is a troika of guards, including last season?s Rookie of the Year, Jeric Teng.

The Tigers were able to recruit some high school big men though?Ateneo?s Paolo Pe and St. Jude?s Kim Lo?but they?re not so big in the collegiate league. They do have 6?7? Vince Tinte, but he?s nowhere near as polished as Cruz in his first year.

To succeed, coach Jarencio must give his shooters room to operate without a low post threat, or find another innovative offensive scheme. Otherwise, the Tigers will find themselves at the bottom of the heap, just a few seasons removed from being on top of the UAAP world.