MANILA—A summer tournament crown doesn’t exactly make Ateneo’s bid for a fourth straight UAAP championship any easier.
If anything, Ateneo coach Norman Black said his Blue Eagles’ latest achievement just made them a bigger target when the UAAP men’s basketball tournament rolls off on July 9.
“I think this is going to be our hardest season,” said Black after the Eagles routed NCAA titlist San Beda, 75-56, to capture their first title in the FilOil-Flying V Hanes Preseason Premier Cup last Sunday.
“The more you win, the bigger the target gets on your chest. And the more people want to bring you down.”
Although rookies Kiefer Ravena and Greg Slaughter turned out sensational as billed, Black also rued the absence of several key cogs.
Last season’s UAAP Finals MVP Ryan Buenafe has been out of the picture due to academic deficiencies along with Arthur dela Cruz, while highly touted freshman guard Mark Tallo opted to return to his province.
“We seem to be losing players right and left,” said Black. “Mark Tallo decided to go back to Cebu. He wants to attend another school, so he won’t be joining us this year. But I think we’re deep enough to be still competitive this year.”
Aside from the Blue Eagles, Black has also been turning his attention to the collegiate-based national basketball team set to compete in the Southeast Asian Games in Jakarta this November.
“No coach is going to allow me to pull their players out of their teams in the middle of the UAAP and NCAA,” said Black of the young squad powered by UAAP Most Valuable Player RR Garcia of FEU and San Sebastian’s Calvin Abueva.
“The pool is there. It’s just a matter of us going back to practice.”