MANILA—Ateneo coach Norman Black and National University mentor Eric Altamirano think there’s more to their teams than their two controversial rookies who are still awaiting the UAAP’s final clearance to play.
Black said the Blue Eagles’ fourth straight basketball championship bid still hinges on a team formula, while Altamirano sees a competitive run for the overhauled Bulldogs.
The UAAP board is set to meet today to uphold or reverse the recommendation of the eligibility committee, which cleared Ateneo’s Greg Slaughter but thumbed down Ray Parks of National University.
“We don’t really rely on one player to win games,” Black said in a press conference yesterday at the Gateway Suites in Cubao. “But we’re hoping for the best, that Greg will be cleared to play. We’ll accept the decision no matter what.”
Season 74 of the country’s premier varsity league unfolds on Saturday with a grand opening ceremony at the Marikina Sports Park.
Basketball action fires off the next day with Far Eastern University and La Salle clashing at 1 p.m. and Ateneo battling another early favorite in Adamson at 3 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum.
“I believe that we prepared hard for this season,” said Altamirano. “If there’s any reason that Bobby Ray cannot play, then it’s beyond our control. We’ll just make do with what we have. But I’m confident with our other players. I’m sure that we’re going to do a good job with or without Bobby Ray.”
The question on Slaughter revolves around his stint with the Smart Gilas national team while serving residency, while Parks’ case involves the academic years he spent overseas (See related story on A16).
University of Santo Tomas coach Pido Jarencio and University of the Philippines’ Ricky Dandan, who have tapped African players, also expect their new recruits to complete the documents required of foreign athletes in time for the season.
But one thing the coaches agree on is that this season’s competition might just be an open race.
“I think [last year’s] top four will have a difficult time with the bottom four,” said Adamson coach Leo Austria.
“You can’t discount any of the team—everyone has improved,” said La Salle mentor Dindo Pumaren.
University of the East’s Jerry Codiñera—one of the new coaches along with Altamirano, Dandan and Far Eastern U’s Bert Flores—also thinks his Warriors will do good even if team stars Paul Lee and Ken Acibar have decided to forego their final year of eligibility.
“I think we’ve adjusted,” said Codiñera. “We’ve been trying a lot of combinations just to be ready.”
Flores also hopes his Tamaraws, bannered by MVP RR Garcia, can book a return trip to the Finals even after losing Cameroonian Pipo Noundou to injury.