The Varsitarian

EAGER to reclaim the title the Tigers lost last season, coach Pido Jarencio now brings in a pack of raw yet promising greenhorns at the start of Season 71. More than just backstopping their seasoned comrades, rookies Clark Bautista, Emilian Vargas, Jeric Fortuna, Carmelo Afuang, Christopher Camus, Carlos Fenequito, Jackson Wong, and Allein Gail Maliksi are raring to parade their individual arsenals against the fiercest hardcourt batallions assembled for this year’s UAAP cage wars.

Clark Bautista
Jersey No. 5
5’10”
Shooting Guard

The 17-year-old former Benedictine International School stalwart relies not only on his good play anticipation but also on his hefty frame for heavy one-on-one defense. The Bacolod native is part of the previous Nike Asia’s Top Five Elites and has since become a much sought-after outside bomber after snagging the three-point shootout in the same tournament.

Emilian Vargas
Jersey No. 8
5’11”
Shooting Guard

Vargas, a pullout from the Tigers-B, was described by the coaches as a “left-handed streak shooter” known for smoking his defenders during isolation. This 20-year-old former Emilio Aguinaldo College General is also a gem of a back-court stopper.

Jeric Fortuna
Jersey No.10
5’8”
Point Guard

Coming from the stables of Season 70 Juniors Basketball champion De La Salle Zobel, Fortuna is a crafty playmaker with a veteran’s knack for moving the ball well and finding the open man around the perimeter. The 16-year-old Fortuna is also a menace beyond the arc.

Carmelo Afuang
Jersey No.11
6’3”
Power Forward

Despite spending three years in the Tigers-B, the former San Beda Red Cub never lost hope of earning a slot in Jarencio’s line-up. This coming season, the 19-year-old Afuang will be a force to reckon with not just in the paint but also from three-point country.

Christopher Camus
Jersey No. 12
6’4”
Power Forward

Camus, a rare pick from San Beda College, is an offensive work horse. The California-raised former Sunny Hills High School spitfire carried his team to the California League Championships in 2003 before being hailed Most Valuable Player in 2005. The 20-year-old newcomer stands as a forward but runs like a point guard.

Carlos Fenequito
Jersey No.19
6’1”
Small Forward/Guard

Joining the Tigers after a two-year stint with Jose Rizal University, the 22-year-old Fenequito is a bulky perimeter glider blessed with a fastbreaking demeanor and the ability to slash his way to the basket amid tight defense.

Jackson Wong
Jersey No.21
5’10”
Guard

Fresh from Sakya High School in Binondo, the 17-year-old Wong was trained by Jarencio to be an on-ball defender. But the bruiser guard is not just a defensive dynamo. He is also a dependable perimeter shooter and ball-handler.

Allein Gail Maliksi
Jersey No.22
6’3”
Forward/Guard

Maliksi, a former University of Manila ace slinger, is a deadshot from the perimeter and beyond. He can also take the ball strong to the hoop with his quickness and high leaping ability. H. J. D. Brobo