Perasol: Blue Eagles will fight with or without me

Blue Eagles coach Bo Perasol. Photo by pba-online.net

MANILA, Philippines — Ateneo’s climb to the final four in the UAAP season 76 men’s basketball tournament just got even harder.

Odds are stacked against the Blue Eagles as they’re left with one more game to make or break their bid — and they have to go to battle without their head coach.

But Bo Perasol, after the UAAP board ordered him on Thursday to serve his one-game ban in the game against University of Santo Tomas, said his team will come to play no matter who’s calling the shots.

“My team will fight for that final 4 slot with or without me at the helm,” said Perasol in a text message to INQUIRER.net.

Perasol violated league rules by appearing at the Mall of Asia Arena during his suspension last Sunday in the Blue Eagles’ 77-72 win over University of the East.

But Perasol said he will respect the board’s decision.

“I am not in a position to defend myself or whether I think the decision is right or wrong. However, whatever it is, I will abide by it,” he also said.

The Blue Eagles are trailing the Growling Tigers by half a game going into the last week of the eliminations. UST will battle La Salle on Saturday in another crucial tiff.

Kiefer Ravena, the team’s star guard, is also not giving up on the hope that Ateneo could continue its title retention drive.

“There’s still a chance. Di pa naman sarado yung opportunity na mag-final four kami. Ang masama lang dun we don’t have it in our hands,” said Ravena after Ateneo’s 65-70 loss to NU.

UST and Ateneo square off on September 18, a fitting finale to what has been an exciting elimination round.

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