Ateneo remains dangerous next UAAP season

MANILA, Philippines – This early, Ateneo is a heavy favorite in next year’s University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament. The starting unit of coach Norman Black remains intact and ready for season 72 since Rabeh al-Hussaini and Nonoy Baclao, the main pillars of Ateneo’s defense, will return to finish their UAAP playing years. “Everybody else is coming back next year. It’s a good feeling that we have almost everybody coming back next year. Hopefully we could continue playing well," said Black, who won his first title as Ateneo coach after six years of coming out short. Another thing that makes Ateneo dangerous next season is they have a lot of role players after managing to limit La Salle in the first half of Game 2 with al-Hussaini sitting on the bench due to quick two fouls with barely three minutes gone in the first quarter. Al-Hussaini, who bagged three awards this season including the coveted league most valuable player (MVP) trophy, and finals MVP Baclao will join hands with Jai Reyes and rookie of the year winner Ryan Buenafe for Ateneo as the Blue Eagles try to repeat as the UAAP champions, which will be Ateneo’s first since winning the crowns in 1987 and 1988. Eric Salamat is expected to be elevated as a starter and will have bigger shoes to fill with the exit of Ateneo’s heart-and-soul Chris Tiu, who ended his UAAP college basketball career with a championship ring. Aside from Tiu, former Blue Eaglet and off-the-bench player Yuri Escueta also used up his UAAP playing years. But Black still has a lot of role players behind him starting with Jobe Nkemakolam, who scored eight points in the first half to help Ateneo enjoy a 41-26 halftime spread in Game 2. Nkemakolam scored the points when the Blue Eagles broke away from a tight 16-10 first quarter. There is also Mike Baldos, Nico Salva and Kirk Long who are not known scorers but contributes heavily in defense and hustle plays. Other returning Eagles are Raymond Austria, Vince Burke, Justin Chua, Luis Lorenzo Gonzaga, and Chris Sumalinog. – GMANews.TV