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UAAP Season 71 Preview: Ateneo Blue Eagles
Wed, Jun 18, 2008 by Pandaemonaeon
Overview: It seemed like only yesterday when the Blue Eagles were on every TV show, newspaper and bonfire party at the heels of their championship season. Even their back-up point guard managed to score a big role as then-ABS-CBN franchise player Heart Evangelista's fictional boyfriend. They still have one guy on TV all the time these days, but there's no hardware this time around. All things considered, Ateneo has been there each year getting so close (including two Finals stints) only to fall short in the end.
Why you should root for them: Active crowd, a male cheerleader who later became a senator, Georgina Wilson
Why you shouldn't: Mama Eagle, a halftime show featuring oversized drums and infants that lasts a whopping 14 minutes
Roster changes: With Ford "is this me coch?" Arao and Zion Laterre the only departees, Ateneo will be fielding a nearly intact line-up bannered by Chris Tiu who holds the distinction of being the only PACUCOA-accredited player in the UAAP. How many Filipinos can swish jumpers off the dribble? Okay, bad example. Do they have movie star looks? There are indeed quite a few, I'll give you that. But how many of them have their own TV show? Better yet, are they "student-athletes"? Only Chris Tiu, I'm afraid. Now, I don't know what academic prowess has to do with hardcourt supremacy exactly, but what I do know is that Chris Tiu is smart.
Star player and resident go-to guy Jesus will also be back for an unprecedented 50th season with the team. After nearly 20 weeks of protracted negotiations (with the bearded playmaker almost going to the School of the Holy Spirit), the two parties eventually agreed to a new deal, the icebreaker being the nullification of Boracay from all Holy Week itineraries and 6 units of Carpentry being added to the school curriculum. A close call for the Ateneans since time and again, the presence of the Messiah allowed them to carve out miraculous victories, most notably Gec Chia's aptly-named "Hail Mary Shot" of 2002.
Bench: The addition of rookie sensation Ryan Buenafe alongside the likes of Yuri Escueta, Jai Reyes, and Noy Baclao fortifies an already deep bench for the Blue Eagles. Surprise contributor Kirk Long can also spread his wings being the lone foreigner in the roster.
Go-To Move: Other than running a lot of back screens, Ateneo has the luxury of summoning the power of divine intervention at any time, an option exclusively available to them. When a big bucket is needed, assigned scrubs of the same gender will hold hands, clutch their rosaries, and chant holy scriptures in ominous unison. This act will then set foot a series of baffling events that involve the opposition laughing uncontrollably at the inherent cheesiness they're witnessing, leading to a prompt turnover.
Kryptonite: Pay a camera man to film their huddle; possessing a pathological fear of being videotaped, Norman Black's survival instinct will immediately kick in, prompting him to do everything in his power to make the camera go away, be it instructing his wards to obscure the view, sic a shit-faced Sandy Arespacochaga, or if all else fails (and it usually does) - pout. When the dust settles, this entire episode would have wasted enough time that when the horn blares the 3rd time, the coach is still getting his pentel pen to work, prompting the former Piston to utter a crisp and dejected "fuck!"
Outlook: Expect the Blue Eagles to make it to the Final Four and possibly a Finals date with their Taft-based rival.
Wed, Jun 18, 2008 by Pandaemonaeon
Overview: It seemed like only yesterday when the Blue Eagles were on every TV show, newspaper and bonfire party at the heels of their championship season. Even their back-up point guard managed to score a big role as then-ABS-CBN franchise player Heart Evangelista's fictional boyfriend. They still have one guy on TV all the time these days, but there's no hardware this time around. All things considered, Ateneo has been there each year getting so close (including two Finals stints) only to fall short in the end. Why you should root for them: Active crowd, a male cheerleader who later became a senator, Georgina Wilson
Why you shouldn't: Mama Eagle, a halftime show featuring oversized drums and infants that lasts a whopping 14 minutes
Roster changes: With Ford "is this me coch?" Arao and Zion Laterre the only departees, Ateneo will be fielding a nearly intact line-up bannered by Chris Tiu who holds the distinction of being the only PACUCOA-accredited player in the UAAP. How many Filipinos can swish jumpers off the dribble? Okay, bad example. Do they have movie star looks? There are indeed quite a few, I'll give you that. But how many of them have their own TV show? Better yet, are they "student-athletes"? Only Chris Tiu, I'm afraid. Now, I don't know what academic prowess has to do with hardcourt supremacy exactly, but what I do know is that Chris Tiu is smart.
Star player and resident go-to guy Jesus will also be back for an unprecedented 50th season with the team. After nearly 20 weeks of protracted negotiations (with the bearded playmaker almost going to the School of the Holy Spirit), the two parties eventually agreed to a new deal, the icebreaker being the nullification of Boracay from all Holy Week itineraries and 6 units of Carpentry being added to the school curriculum. A close call for the Ateneans since time and again, the presence of the Messiah allowed them to carve out miraculous victories, most notably Gec Chia's aptly-named "Hail Mary Shot" of 2002.Bench: The addition of rookie sensation Ryan Buenafe alongside the likes of Yuri Escueta, Jai Reyes, and Noy Baclao fortifies an already deep bench for the Blue Eagles. Surprise contributor Kirk Long can also spread his wings being the lone foreigner in the roster.
Go-To Move: Other than running a lot of back screens, Ateneo has the luxury of summoning the power of divine intervention at any time, an option exclusively available to them. When a big bucket is needed, assigned scrubs of the same gender will hold hands, clutch their rosaries, and chant holy scriptures in ominous unison. This act will then set foot a series of baffling events that involve the opposition laughing uncontrollably at the inherent cheesiness they're witnessing, leading to a prompt turnover.
Kryptonite: Pay a camera man to film their huddle; possessing a pathological fear of being videotaped, Norman Black's survival instinct will immediately kick in, prompting him to do everything in his power to make the camera go away, be it instructing his wards to obscure the view, sic a shit-faced Sandy Arespacochaga, or if all else fails (and it usually does) - pout. When the dust settles, this entire episode would have wasted enough time that when the horn blares the 3rd time, the coach is still getting his pentel pen to work, prompting the former Piston to utter a crisp and dejected "fuck!"
Outlook: Expect the Blue Eagles to make it to the Final Four and possibly a Finals date with their Taft-based rival.
Panda, dalawa na yung foreigners ng Ateneo.
Kirk Long and Vince Burke.
Kirk Long and Vince Burke.
Copyright © The 15th Parallel
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