Book chronicles Eagles’ 5-title romp

THERE’S more than just glitter in Ateneo’s championship romp.

And that’s what “5: A Tribute to Excellence” hopes to reveal as it chronicles the Blue Eagles’ sweet yet arduous road to a record five straight UAAP men’s basketball titles.

“There are many things that happened during the five-peat that people don’t know about,” said shipping magnate Arben Santos, the project’s committee chair. “We did our best to have a quality and substantive book.”

The book launch, backed by the MVP Sports Foundation, is set at 5:30 p.m. this Friday at Ayala Museum in Greenbelt, Makati City.

More than just game recaps, the coffee table book looks into the winning sports program that started in 1999 with the Tokyo recruitment of Rich Alvarez, who turned into a two-time UAAP Most Valuable Player.

It also puts the spotlight on the team architects led by former Ateneo coach Norman Black and top sports patron Manny V. Pangilinan and past stars like LA Tenorio to current King Eagle Kiefer Ravena.

The book features photos by Philip Sison, text by Rick Olivarez and edited by Alfred “Krip” Yuson and cover design and layout by Franco Sevilla.

Proceeds of the book, which will be offered at a discounted price of P3,000 on launch day, will go to the ADMU 616569 Foundation Inc. and the Ateneo Sports Endowment Fund.

Donations to the foundation will also entitle the donor to a free copy.

It will be available soon at LS Bookstore at the Ateneo main campus in Quezon City and Professional Schools in Rockwell, Makati.