Ateneo may bagong coach at sponsor na ipaparada

Kadalasan, ang pagpapalit ng pangalan at ang pagpapalit ng coach ay nagpapahiwatig ng matinding determinasyon ng isang koponan na makopo ang titulo.

At ito ang nasa isip ng Ateneo sa pagbubukas ng 2002 PBL Chairman’s Cup sa Abril 3 sa Makati Coliseum.

Ipaparada ng Blue Eagles ang kanilang bagong corporate sponsor na Negros Navigation na susuporta sa kanilang kampanyang makatuntong muna sa semifinals sa ilalim ng bagong coach na si Joel Banal.

Sasandalan ni Banal sina Enrico Villanueva, Magnum Membrere, three-point shooter Larry Fonacier, Paolo Bugia at Rich Alvarez.

Nakuha rin ni Banal ang serbisyo ni Celino Cruz mula sa Welcoat na malaking tulong sa backcourt at ang 6’7 rookie na si Val Domingo upang makahalili ni Villanueva at Bugia.

Makakadagdag din ng eksperyensiya sa koponan ang pagbabalik nina Ryan Pamintuan at Wesley Gonzales at sa season na ito, inaasahang magpapakitang gilas din sina Jeremy Anicete, Marco Benitez, Kriz Quimpo, Jec-jec Chia at Jr Elmido.

"Actually, I’m just continuing coach Joe Lipa’s programs with little twists as we’re now on the phase of working on the Blue Eagle’s maturity and hopefully improve a title chances not only in the PBL but also in the UAAP," paliwanag ni Banal.

"Honestly, the problem I see now is that I’m new in the team and I have to know the boys much better and that they also adapt to my system," dagdag nito.

Hindi na bago si Banal sa PBL dahil ito ay nag-coach na sa Casino Rubbing Alcohol noong early 90’s.

"But the PBL has improved a lot since I last coached a team here and I expect a much tougher competition considering how the teams have built up during the off-season," ani Banal.

"We have the materials, but we have to work on team and experience to beat the top teams. Hopefully, as the games go on, the team will jell and play more mature," dagdag nito.