Perasol on the way out?

MANILA, Philippines - Ateneo coach Bo Perasol found himself in the middle of a firestorm after the Blue Eagles suffered a major collapse in what had seemed to be a won-game against archrival La Salle last Sunday.

Social media swirled with calls for Perasol’s head from frustrated AdMU supporters following the Eagles’ stinging 76-80 setback to DLSU.

Online sports portal Spin.ph reported yesterday that school officials and backers were to meet in an effort to make things better in the second round, with a change in coach mid-season reportedly being considered.

Assistant coach Ronnie Magsanoc, the site said, looms as the top candidate if ever AdMU does decide to give Perasol the boot.

Although they won four games in the initial phase, Ateneo’s three losses were ego-shattering. The Eagles got blown away by Far Eastern U, 64-88, in opening weekend. They rebounded with three straight victories but then suffered a fourth-quarter meltdown in a 58-68 loss to University of Santo Tomas. 

After a win over fading University of the Philippines, AdMU squandered a 15-point cushion and bowed to La Salle last Sunday.

Perasol is apparently getting flak for relying too much on veteran Kiefer Ravena in the clutch, particularly in the game against UST and DLSU. Ravena, though, failed to hit the mark on both occasions.

“He is really struggling making his shots but again how can we not go to him?” Perasol said after the DLSU game. “He is our leader, and he has bailed us out in the past. There is always a time that a good player and even an excellent player will have bad games.”

Ravena, the reigning MVP, owned up to the losses.

“I felt bad for not being able to lead the team. Being a leader, I should have that sense of direction and I think that was the mental thing that I wasn’t able to help the team, especially in the latter part,” he lamented.

“Some people put the blame on me but that’s how the cookie crumbles. It’s not being a hero, it’s not wanting to be a hero. But if we lose, we lose by me, my captains, Von (Pessumal) and the guys. At least, I played the game with no regrets. People will give their own opinion about the game and I respect that,” he added.