Ateneo decimated but retains nucleus for 2013

MANILA, Philippines - Five-peat UAAP men’s basketball champion Ateneo Blue Eagles believe they still possess a solid nucleus that can contend for next season despite the departure of their multi-titled coach, five players and their chief patron.

“We’ll still have a solid nucleus for the team next year. We’ll just have to work through it, double our efforts and give it our 110 percent,” said Kiefer Ravena, who is expected to be the take-charge guy for a “new-look” Blue Eagles that will gun for a six-peat in Season 76.

The Eagles will lose starters Greg Slaughter and Nico Salva to graduation, alongside back-ups Justin Chua, Tonino Gonzaga and Oping Sumalinog. A new coach will take the place of Norman Black, who ended his eight-year tenure as chief tactician for the basketball program that will now feel the absence of staunch supporter in Manny V. Pangilinan.

Ravena will hook up with Juami Tiongson, Frank Golla, ACL-hit JP Erram, Season 73 Finals MVP Ryan Buenafe, among other holdovers for another shot at the coveted crown. Ateneo is also set to unleash players from Team B Fil-Am Chris Newsome and Fil-Canadian John Lasa and other high school recruits.

“We have some guys in the Team B right now taking residency. One is Chris Newsome. He’s finishing his two years of residency and he’ll play next year. He’s one of our main players coming in,” team manager Paolo Trillo said right before last night’s bonfire activities on the Ateneo campus.

Also being eyed is Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu’s Dawn Ochea, the juniors MVP in the Cesafi.

“Ateneo will be hurting as far as bigs is concerned,” said Black, referring to the departure of 6-foot-11 Slaughter and 6-foot-5 Chua. “But as far as guards and the wingmen, it will be very competitive.”

As to Black’s replacement, Trillo said nothing is finalized at this point.

The post-Black, post-MVP years beckon for Ateneo but the Eagles believe the system that they started is already in place and just needs continuity.

“The program, I think, is very solid right now. The legacy that coach Norman Black left behind is there so the school just has to continue recruiting students who want to study and play basketball over here. They have to continue to work hard, stay humble, stay focused and really continue to improve as we look forward to next year,” said Trillo.

The rest of the field are waiting in the wings, led by runner-up University of Santo Tomas, which will field a near intact crew next season.