IT’S the beginning of a new University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) season. And what a delicious feeling it is.
So delicious in fact that we’re thinking of food. The menu is appetizing. Eight UAAP teams going to give their all during this intense but abbreviated tournament. All for the honor of being hailed as Best Dish at the end of the feeding frenzy.
Different ingredients. Different flavors. Different chefs to put the X’s and O’s together.
Come on a food trip with me as we explore the menu in this 82nd Season of the UAAP. What’s for dinner?
1. Young Shoots Salad (National University Bulldogs)
Let’s start with this appetizer of young sprouts mixed with some steady staples that will give Chef Jamike Jarin enough zest and flavor to make us beg for more. The return of tenacious guard Chino Mosqueda along with Rev Diputado and Tsaddy Rangel gives this generally young team the maturity and steady play that they need to go on to the main course. Of course, Dave Ildefonso will be there to spice things up. It will all come together from there.
2. Chili Con Carne (University of the East Red Warriors)
New coach, new season, new many things. But this time there’s enough chili powder to put some bite into this dish. There’s real beef in the addition of two-time Cesafi MVP and MPBL standout Rey Suerte. Sprinkle in some pepper from Jose Rizal University scorer Jed Mendoza, too. Overall, this is a young team that’s eager to go and show its heart and gumption. Ready to heat and reheat for more servings on demand.
3. Bicol Express (University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers)
UST has lost a lot of ingredients from last year, but always trust Coach Aldin Ayo, a pure Bicolano like this dish, to make sure this Express is always hot and dangerous. Cansino is the dominant flavor here, and there’s a special variety of chili from rookie Rhenz Abando. The pork is young and tender but the cuts are nice to bite and deliver genuine satisfaction. When the going gets tough, this dish gets even more tough. Eat with piping hot rice.
4. Veal Scallopini (Adamson Falcons)
Youth is always an asset, even if experience always provides the edge. Adamson lost lots of good pieces in Sean Manganti, Papi Sarr, Jerie Pingoy, Jonathan Espeleta and CJ Katapusan. But there’s a lot of promise in this reinvented dish with new crops straight out of high schools. Check out Aaron Fermin, Joshua Yerro and Joem Sabandal. The Doria brothers, Congolese Dimercia Douangga and Lorenz Capulong makes this a neo-fusion favorite. Chef Franz Pumaren provides the secret herbs and spices as usual.
5. Baby Back Ribs (Far Eastern University Tamaraws)
Baby Tams galore make this dish sweet and juicy. Smoky barbecue sauce is provided by old stalwarts Wendell Comboy, Kenneth Tuffin and Brandrey Bienes. Soft and tender goodness is the beef—provided by homegrown Xyrus Torres, Daniel Celso, Royce Alforque and JR Dularte. The singular, consistent flavor is derived from the young green-and-gold guys bred in exclusive FEU graze lands. Chef Olsen Racela can sing while he’s cooking.
6. Super Size Me (De La Salle Green Archers)
Fifty-pound burger, 12-inch hotdog, 54-inch pizza. This smorgasbord of big delights could best describe the De La Salle goodies this season. The Green is cooking without Kib Montalbo, Santi Santillan, Mark Dyke and Samuel Taane this year, but its prime finds straight from the “Green Grocer” are 6’7 Jamie Orme, 6’9 James Laput and 6-foot guard Keyshawn Evans. Don’t forget they have Tyrus Hill and Kurt Lolera from Adamson suiting up this year. They’re fast food, too. They run like hell.
7. Fully Loaded Burger Bowl (University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons)
The Fighting Maroons are a complete dish this season. In fact they’re a bowl of a nice, juicy burger complete with toppings and fixings. That’s why people often wonder if this temptation will gel together and all the flavors will blend into one tasty dish that’s going to be a big winner. With Kobe Paras, Ricci Rivero in the mix alongside Juan and Javi Gomez de Liaño, Jun Manzo, Noah Webb, James Spencer and Bright Akhuetie, and more to make 16 Strong, Chef Bo Perasol will have a fine time balancing the main ingredients with the toppings, trimmings and condiments. It’s all in creating one unified goodness.
8. USDA Prime Steak (Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles)
Superior grade, with amazing juiciness, flavor and fine texture, the Ateneo Blue Eagles are expected to laugh all the way to the championship party again this year. He-Man Thirdy Ravena is at his prime and still getting better. Throw in the superb support given by the Nieto brothers, Tyler Tio, Isaac Go and the beefy Ange Kouame, and you have the classic UAAP Season 82 dish. Not to mention that they also have fine sidings in outstanding rookies to enjoy the meal better with.
Let’s feast!