No pressure on Perasol

NOT TOO many people would like to be in the shoes of  new Ateneo Blue Eagles head coach Dolreich “Bo” Perasol.

In fact, some people even feel sorry for him since his predecessor Norman Black is one very tough act to follow.

Norman accomplished  an  epic five-peat for the Blue Eagles in the UAAP. Taking over from where Norman had left off, would the Ateneo community be expecting as much from Bo?

Is he expected to continue the legacy? Are they looking forward to a six-peat?

Norman has since moved up to the PBA as head coach of  Talk ‘N Text, winning a title in two conferences.

I asked Bo if he was feeling the  pressure as we sipped hot Americano at a coffee shop across Ateneo.

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From where I sat, Bo didn’t look at all pressured. Or was it his preseason trip to Las Vegas and Japan with the Blue Eagles that made him look rested? No furrowed brows, no bags under the eyes,  no slumped posture, no giveaway signs of anxiety. He even lost some weight since Powerade, and that made him look more muscular.

I like Bo’s attitude. He does not put undue pressure on himself. I believed him when he said  he continues to sleep soundly despite the approaching 2013  UAAP season.

He will soon go through what he refers to as his baptism of  fire when Ateneo plays National University on Sunday,  Far Eastern U on Wednesday, and archenemy La Salle on Saturday.

“Those are three matches in a matter of six days,” he said. “If I’m feeling any pressure, any stress, it’s  the normal kind that all the other coaches feel.”

“For example, I am stressed because  FEU would  not release  point guard Jerry Pingoy to us and I really need him. If he doesn’t get a release, he would have to sit out two seasons, because that’s the new rule.”

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Bo said he knows the strength of his team as well  as his opponents. “We won’t have a definite edge  this year because we lost our big men—Greg Slaughter, Justin Chua and Nico Salva. But as long as the team stays healthy, we will be  competitive.”

Unfortunately, Bo’s big men, 6-foot-7 center JP Erram, who averaged eight minutes in playing time last season, and  6-6 G-Boy Babilonia are still recovering from injuries. Babilonia is the son of  the late PBA legend Gido Babilonia, but he is bigger and more athletic.

The Blue Eagles will of  course be counting on the  solid leadership of Kiefer Ravena, not to mention his extraordinary skills and basketball savvy.

“Kiefer is one of a kind,” Bo said. “He has the rare combination of brawn and brains.”