‘Ateneo hates to lose; it’ll be on me’

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Ateneo coach Bo Perasol knows what he got himself into. So the calls for his ouster and the hurtful criticisms hurled at him following the Blue Eagles’ recent losses no longer surprise him.

“Ateneo hates to lose, and I’m in the middle of that,” said Perasol, who took on one of college basketball’s most sensitive coaching jobs late 2012.

“It’s natural that it will be on me because I’m the leader. They can’t pinpoint anybody there. I’m the leader of the team. That’s going to happen with anybody else who leads this team. I really don’t take that personally.”

It had been a tough week for Perasol as talk of a mid-season coaching change swirled last week following Ateneo’s meltdown versus University of Santo Tomas and fierce rival La Salle.

Although the team management and school officials later expressed their “full support” for him, Perasol affirmed yesterday that he’ll just ride out his third and final contract season with Ateneo.

“This is going to be my final year, regardless [of the results],” he said. “I have an obligation here. Everyone in the team knows this is my last year. Everyone knows this is our last hurrah with Kiefer (Ravena) and Von (Pessumal). I don’t think that’s something that needs to be talked about. We all understand that already.”

Perasol said the past week had also been difficult for his players, with Ravena also getting flak for his recent on-court struggles.

Perasol commended his squad for coming out fighting this time in their loss to Far Eastern University, 66-61, Sunday. In the first round, the Tamaraws ambushed them by 24 points, 88-64.

“With what the team experienced emotionally this week, and with them showing that kind of energy, there’s a positive side and that’s important,” he said.

Calls for Perasol’s firing came on his debut season in 2013 when the Eagles failed to reach the Final Four after five straight crowns under coach Norman Black.

Perasol drew criticisms yet again last year when the No. 1 Eagles got bundled out by the fourth-ranked and eventual champion National U in the Final Four.

“It’s par for the course—the criticisms. It’s not going to go away with the nature of what Ateneo stands for—excellence, being the best.”

But for now, Perasol just wants to focus on the final stretch of eliminations as the Eagles remain tied for third at 4-4.

“Going into [the next] six games, I’m positive with what this team can do,” he said.