Eagles feted in bonfire celebration

MANILA, Philippines - In a virtual repeat of last year’s victory bash, Ateneo celebrated its double repeat in the UAAP in grand fashion before thousands of alumni, supporters and fans at the Loyola grounds Saturday night.

The Eagles, headed by Norman Black, Finals MVP Rabeh Al-Hussaini and fellow graduating players Noy Baclao and Jai Reyes, were feted like rock stars in a bonfire celebration dubbed “Back 2 the Bonfire” two days after beating the UE Warriors, 71-58, to complete a back-to-back title romp and their fifth title overall.

Students, officials, alumni, and past and present crop of athletes all wore anything but blue – from shirts, pants, caps and jackets – as they braved the heavy traffic leading to the campus, but this time minus the wet and muddied field that marked last year’s celebration.

Ateneo president Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, SJ, celebrated the thanksgiving mass not only for the Eagles victory but also for the Eaglets, who duplicated their seniors counterparts second straight championship, and the Ateneo grade school cagers and other athletes who also excelled in various fronts in a banner season.

During the mass, Fr. Nebres talked about celebrating their victory by extending a helping hand to the victims of the typhoons “Ondoy” and “Pepeng.”

After the hour-long mass and sumptuous dinner, the Eagles took center stage and shared their thoughts with their cheering supporters.

Black proved sentimental as he paid tribute to his outgoing player – Al-Hussaini, Baclao and Reyes.

Jamike Jarin and the equally triumphant Eaglets, who beat the La Salle Junior Archers also in three games for their record 17th overall championship, also shared the spotlight before the lighting of the bonfire.

“Tonight is really to pay tribute to the players who really worked hard all year, this is really for them and they deserve them,” said Black.

“We’re blessed because of the whole-hearted support of the Ateneo community, it’s our way of showing our appreciation,” Jarin said.

Also gracing the event were former players Japeth Aguilar, JC Intal, Wesley Gonzales, Macky Escalona, Yuri Escueta, Paolo Bugia, Yuri Escueta and basketball analyst Mico Halili and his wife news anchor Pia Archangel.

The triumphant Eagles, however, will hardly have a rest as they are set to resume practice next week for the Uni Games.

“We’ll resume practice on Oct. 19 because we’re preparing for the Uni Games, which is on Oct. 23, where we hope to give our younger guys like Justin Chua and Nico Salva a chance to play, a chance to develop. It’s been the key to our success through the years,” said Black.

The Eagles had also offered incoming freshman Ael Banal, son of former Ateneo coach and PBA star Joel, a scholarship and a chance to play for the seniors’ team next season.

The prolific Banal was a key figure in the Eaglets’ back-to-back UAAP champion squad.

The Eagles are also set for a Boracay trip plus an Asian cruise.

“We’ll probably take the trip again well, probably go back to Boracay like what we did last year. And if we have time, we’ll take a cruise around Asia like Singapore, Phuket in Thailand, Vietnam,” Black said.