INQUIRER Sports

MORE THAN just capturing this season's crown, the Ateneo Blue Eagles aim to match a feat accomplished just once in the school?s UAAP basketball history.

?We?re trying to become the second Ateneo team to win back-to-back titles,? said coach Norman Black.

After eliminating the University of Santo Tomas in the Final Four, 81-64, last Sunday, the defending champion Eagles moved within two wins of matching the record set by the 1987 and 1988 Ateneo men?s champion team.

?In ?87 and ?88, the first time Ateneo won back-to-back, my uncle (Jun Reyes) was the point guard wearing No. 5 also,? said veteran guard Jai Reyes, who starred in the Blue Eagles? emphatic semifinal triumph with 17 points.

?It?s a bit of a challenge and that?s one of the motivations.?

The Eagles ruled the men?s basketball tournament in 1987 and 1988 with a team anchored on Jun Reyes, Danny Francisco, Nonoy Chuatico, Alex Araneta, Jet Nieto and Olsen Racela.

?The focus is there and the concentration is there,? said Black. ?I?m convinced we have the talent. Right now, it?s just making sure that the players stay fresh and that they have the energy when they show up on Sunday.?

Riding an 11-game winning run, the Eagles look unstoppable with Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Nonoy Baclao, Eric Salamat and Reyes spearheading the charge.

But the Eagles still have to wait for the winner of the semifinal knockout duel between Far Eastern University and University of the East at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday at the Araneta Coliseum.

?We?re going into the Finals with a lot of confidence,? said Black. ?The pacing of our practices this week will be very important going into the first game of the championship series. Of course we?ll be paying great attention on the [other semifinal] game on Thursday.?

Black had no preferred opponent in the best-of-three championship showdown, which kicks off on Sunday also at the Big Dome.

?They?re both very good teams,? said Black. ?Obviously one is on a roll and one is struggling a little bit because of some internal problems. But I think both teams will be very dangerous opponents for us.?