Black: No confirmation yet on Semerads' transfer to Ateneo

Ateneo coach Norman Black neither confirmed nor denied the reported transfer of Filipino-Australian twins Anthony and David Semerad from the San Beda Red Lions to the Blue Eagle camp. Reports said the Semerads are unhappy with their development with the Red Lions, the reigning NCAA seniors' basketball champions. "I still don't have any confirmation about them joining the team. Though they expressed their desire to play with Ateneo, but things are not working out yet at this time," Black said. The Semerads joining Ateneo will further bolster the Blue Eagles' roster in time for the 2013 UAAP basketball tournament. The Semerad twins, who helped San Beda collect its second straight NCAA men's basketball crown this year, already played for two years with the Red Lions. They have to undergo one-year residency if they move from the NCAA to the UAAP. If the 6-foot-4 twin towers get the chance to play in 2013, they will provide additional muscle inside for the Blue Eagles, especially with Greg Slaughter already using up his playing years in the league. Slaughter, who decided to play his final year with Ateneo, is still eligible to play for the Blue and White in the UAAP in 2012 making them the favorite to win a fifth straight men's basketball crown. The 7-foot big man played for two years with University of the Visayas where he helped the Green Lancers win back-to-back titles in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI). Black will parade an almost intact line-up next year with Slaughter, reigning Rookie of the Year Kiefer Ravena, and 74th UAAP Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) Nico Salva trying to fill the void left by Bacon Austria, Kirk Long and Emman Monfort, who already consumed their playing years in the league. "Greg is Greg. And with him coming back and helping our cause boost our chances. His presence inside makes us stronger for next year and I am happy that he will be playing for one more year," said Black. Black said Ateneo's chances to win the UAAP men's basketball title again next season will be known starting July. "Ateneo is one of the seeded teams and we will still be seeded even without Greg in the line up since I still have a good team. Greg's presence only makes us stronger, especially inside the paint." Slaughter is fresh from helping the Sinag Pilipinas men's basketball team win the gold in the 26th Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia. He was joined by fellow Blue Eagles Monfort, Ravena, Salva, Justin Chua, Frank Golla and former Ateneo alum Chris Tiu in the team coached by Black. Asked whether Ateneo's current roster and recruitment program is aimed to either equal or beat the seven straight titles won by University of the East, Black said his Eagles first need to rule Season 75. "We still have a long way to go. UE's record is impossible to break, we've only won four and we need three more to equal it,” said Black, who added they are not yet thinking of the Red Warriors' UAAP record. As of the moment, the Blue Eagles are busy playing in preseason tournaments. They will face San Beda in the Final Four round of the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL). — Jon Perez/KBK, GMA News