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UAAP 82: Newcomers, fresh faces who left an impact on final-4 squads

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ABS-CBN News

<p>Every year, the UAAP parades a batch of underclassmen who are either ready to make an immediate impact as a first-year player, or ready to break out as a sophomore after one season learning the ropes.</p><p>With the semifinals underway in a few hours, these are the 7 fresh faces who figured in key roles in their teams&#x27; run to the final 4.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/sports/11/06/lj.jpg"/></figure></div><h3>LJ Gonzales<br/>Far Eastern University | Guard | Sophomore<br/>14 games, 14 starts | 10.79 points | 7.43 rebounds | 4 assists</h3><p>Gonzales&#x27; role with the Tamaraws wasn&#x27;t given to him; he earned it.</p><p>He was a Mythical Team member as part of the FEU juniors squad, which he led to a <a href="http://www.manilastandard.net/sports/basketball/230301/feu-s-gonzales-shows-why-he-s-the-finals-mvp.html">UAAP title</a>, and entered the seniors division oozing with promise. </p><p>But the <a href="https://www.spin.ph/basketball/uaap-juniors/lj-gonzales-isabela-seeking-to-become-uaap-champion-with-feu-baby-tamaraws">Isabela province</a> native didn&#x27;t let his accomplishments get in his head. He <a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/news/2018/10/03/uaap-don-t-forget-feu-super-rookie-gonzales-47773">waited for his turn</a>, playing behind veteran teammates in Season 81. This year, FEU head coach Olsen Racela gave him the freedom to lead the Tamaraws, and his trust and Gonzales&#x27; patience are paying off.</p><p>Gonzales and back-court mate Royce Alforque are jelling, and their performance against University of Santo Tomas kickstarted a 4-1 finish that propelled the Tamaraws to the No.3 seed after a subpar 3-4 start.</p><p>Gonzales finished with 17 points, shooting 8 of 15 from the field in the UST game. In the win against University of the East that helped FEU clinch a final 4 berth, Gonzales tallied 12 points and 10 rebounds.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/sports/10/13/20191013-uaap82-feu-ust-md-1md_0801.jpg"/></figure></div><h3>Royce Alforque<br/>FEU | Guard | Rookie<br/>14 games, 0 starts | 4.36 points | 2.71 rebounds | 1.86 assists</h3><p>With the Cebuano guard in the fold, FEU can be assured it has a backcourt that knows how to win.</p><p>Alforque and Gonzales were part of the Baby Tamaraws&#x27; Season 79 title-winning team, and the big brother-little brother relationship between the two at the time is continuing this year with higher stakes.</p><p>Alforque had a forgettable Season 82 first round, but when he got more burn in the second round he promised <a href="https://www.rappler.com/sports/university/uaap/feu/242673-alforque-gonzales-happy-to-see-baby-tamaraws-connection-live-on">not to disappoint</a>. </p><p>His star turn came against the Growling Tigers, whom Alforque torched for 16 points en route to a 72-58 win, a result that breathed life into their push for a semifinals berth.</p><p>The counting stats don&#x27;t do justice to Alfoque&#x27;s impact on the team, but the Tamaraws are plus-16 when he&#x27;s on the floor, notable for a player in his first year on the seniors squad.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/sports/11/06/xyrus.jpg"/></figure></div><h3>Xyrus Torres<br/>FEU | Guard-Forward | Rookie<br/>14 games, 8 starts | 7.43 points | 30 3-pointers | 1.93 rebounds</h3><p>For those watching <a href="http://www.fiba.basketball/asia/u18/2018/player/Xyrus-Dane-Torres">Batang Gilas</a> recently, his inclusion on this list should not come as a surprise.</p><p>His reliable 3-point game is his signature asset, boasting a respectable 34.88% clip from downtown.</p><p>Torres has the license to let it fly, and when his shots find their target the Tamaraws are dangerous.</p><p>His <a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/news/2019/09/28/torres-knows-career-game-set-feu-s-guards-61509">best game</a> in Season 82 thus far was against Adamson, scoring 21 points and making 5 3-pointers in a convincing 83-71 victory.</p><p>Torres once acknowledged there was <a href="https://slamonlineph.com/slamrisingstars-2019-xyrus-torres/">criticism</a> over his propensity to shoot; instead of shying away from it, he said he learned to embrace it.</p><p>&quot;Sinasabi lang naman lagi nina coach, gawin ko lang &#x27;yung role ko kasi and&#x27;yan naman &#x27;yung mga point guard namin at alam nila kung nasaan ako,&quot; he said.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/sports/11/11/20181111-ateneo.jpg"/></figure></div><h3>Will Navarro<br/>Ateneo | Forward | Sophomore<br/>13 games, 13 starts | 7.38 points | 5.77 rebounds</h3><p>Although it&#x27;s hard to stand out in a well-oiled team that includes a frontline of Thirdy Ravena and Angelo Kouame, Will Navarro has made himself a vital cog in the Tab Baldwin system because of his smart play and effort. </p><p>The 6-foot-5 big man had a unique journey before landing in Katipunan — he arrived at Loyola from San Beda (where he won a title as a seldom used Red Lions player) and Greece before that where he <a href="https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/san-beda-red-lions-prospect-william-navarro-transfers-to-ateneo-blue-eagles/74060">was raised</a>.</p><p>Baldwin has repeatedly praised Navarro&#x27;s efficiency, making a note of this in Ateneo&#x27;s <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/09/30/19/uaap-praised-for-efficiency-ateneos-navarro-puts-up-the-numbers-against-up">first-round win</a> over FEU and the Blue Eagles&#x27; second-round victory over UP where Navarro was perfect from the field on 6 shots for 13 points.</p><p>&quot;Look at that stat sheet and go to the efficiency and Will&#x27;s plus-30 in this game. And the reason he&#x27;s plus-30 and the reason that I asked him to be here today is that he understands the little things that have to be done,&quot; Baldwin said after the FEU win.</p><p>&quot;They&#x27;re the things that make the team play better,&quot; the coach added. &quot;It&#x27;s about efficiency and Will was the poster boy for efficiency today.&quot;</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/sports/11/06/sj.jpg"/></figure></div><h3>SJ Belangel<br/>Ateneo | Guard | Sophomore<br/>14 games, 0 starts | 6.4 points | 40.48% 3-point shooting | 2.07 assists</h3><p>With the Blue Eagles&#x27; 2-time championship core graduating at season&#x27;s end, the question is who will take over from the veterans.</p><p>At the point-guard spot, Belangel is a prime candidate to become the primary man.</p><p>The second-year guard from Bacolod doesn&#x27;t have the most eye-popping stats, but he gets the job done when Baldwin <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/10/30/19/uaap-82-inspired-by-seniors-ateneos-sj-belangel-grabs-his-chance-to-shine">calls his number</a> — like everyone else on the Blue Eagles.</p><p>A few things Belangel does that pops out for a second-year player — he can hit the three and make the right plays under duress.</p><p>That was evident in his 14-point output in Ateneo&#x27;s 86-64 <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/10/30/19/uaap-82-inspired-by-seniors-ateneos-sj-belangel-grabs-his-chance-to-shine">blowout win</a> over UP to finish the elimination round undefeated.</p><p>Belangel is no stranger to winning or perfect seasons, having won the <a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/news/2018/12/21/uaap-who-2-championships-1-year-ateneo-s-belangel-51340">juniors title</a> via sweep in Season 80.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/news/10/14/abando.jpg"/></figure></div><h3>Rhenz Abando<br/>University of Santo Tomas | Forward | Rookie<br/>13 games, 4 starts | 12.23 points | 32 3-pointers | 5 rebounds | 1.15 blocks</h3><p>The idea that some teams were bold enough to try and snatch this dude mid-season is an indication of how good this transferee from Pangasinan is.</p><p>His scoring, rebounding, and minutes averages are first among UST&#x27;s local players, and he is the Growling Tigers&#x27; top shot-blocker.</p><p>He had everybody on notice in his first game for España, scoring 22 points and knocking down 5 triples en route to a UST win over UE. He was in <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/10/23/19/uaap-usts-abando-keeps-mum-after-late-scoring-flurry-falls-just-short">heat-check</a> against La Salle in the second round, stringing together 3 consecutive 3-pointers, a barrage that was wasted when his last long bomb was ruled a 2-pointer.</p><p>By all measures, he is still raw, but in the hands of 2-league champion Ayo, he&#x27;s a program cornerstone in the making.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/sports/11/06/nonoy.jpg"/></figure></div><h3>Mark Nonoy<br/>University of Santo Tomas | Guard | Rookie<br/>14 games, 6 starts | 10 points | 26 3-pointers | 2.29 assists</h3><p>With the amount of trust Ayo is putting on his rookies, one would think UST is focused on developing its younger players, punting this season and preparing for the future.</p><p>But because the young guns are responding, the Growling Tigers are in the final 4 and have a chance to make a deeper run.</p><p>Nonoy, a UST high-school alum, embodies that win-now attitude.</p><p>The 5-foot-8 guard was a stat-stuffer with the Tiger Cubs, averaging nearly 22 points and 9 rebounds, to go with 6 assists on his last year on the juniors level. He obviously had to dial back his game on the seniors team, but his tirelessness and heady play remained a constant.</p><p>Ayo <a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/news/2019/10/05/ust-needs-nonoy-point-guard-shooting-guard-61774">has said</a> he wants Nonoy to set his teammates up more than to look for his shot. While that&#x27;s being worked on, however, the head coach can find consolation in a young group that&#x27;s confident in its ability to play on even terms against the league&#x27;s <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/09/11/19/uaap-poor-decision-making-doomed-ust-against-ateneo-says-coach-ayo">more experienced</a> teams.</p><div><em>For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.</em></div>

<p>With the semifinals underway in a few hours, these are the 7 fresh faces who figured in key roles in their teams' run to the final 4.</p>

With the semifinals underway in a few hours, these are the 7 fresh faces who figured in key roles in their teams' run to the final 4.