Blue Eagles brace for 'killer' stretch in first week of Season 76

Although Ateneo now lacks the roster depth and size it used to enjoy during its five-year reign, that doesn’t mean the Blue Eagles are set to throw in the towel in the UAAP Season 76 men’s cage championships.

In fact, coach Bo Perasol–tasked to pick up where former team tactician Norman Black left off–vowed his charges won’t hand the title on a silver platter, stressing “we’re the defending champions. We have to defend it (title) whatever it takes.”

With five key players, including towering center Greg Slaughter and last season’s Finals MVP Nico Salva, having graduated, the Blue Eagles will have their wings clipped as they go for a sixth straight crown but Perasol knows what will be the key: a winning attitude.

“Sanay manalo ‘yung mga players ko. Yan ‘yung (factor na) nakikita ko na magiging edge namin,” said the 40-year-old mentor in a recent interview. “Kahit undersized, undermanned at yung unchanging expectations ng team, nakikita ko na ‘yan ang pwedeng magdala sa amin,”

Indeed, the Blue Eagles need plenty of those since they will deal with an immediate killer stretch starting against pre-season favorite National University this Sunday at the MOA Arena.

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“If I can choose our first opponent, it wouldn’t be NU. They’re a lot taller than us. We’re quick but they are also quick. But we will try to give ourselves a chance to win,” said Perasol, who also handled Air21 and Powerade in the pro league.

With their frontline “still not 100 percent to play like JP Erram and Giboy Babilonia,” Perasol sounded concerned that they will have a tough time crashing the boards against the taller Bulldogs, bannered by Cameroon natives Sean Mbe and Alfred Aroga.

“‘Yung weakness namin, ‘yun ang strength nila–frontcourt-wise. ‘Yung rebounding ang nakikita namin na magiging problema (against NU), he offered. “Pero if we will have a fair share of rebounds, I think we will have a better chance.
On offense, I don’t think we will have any disadvantage. Nakakapag-execute rin naman kasi kami ng maayos.  Pero sa depensa, mayroon talagang disadvantage lalo sa rebounding.”

After the Bulldogs, the Blue Eagles need to get their bodies in full charge against the Far Eastern University Tamaraws on Wednesday before taking on archrival La Salle Green Archers on July 7, with both matches slated at the Pasay-based venue.

But Perasol would rather take it one game at a time, saying: “Hindi namin masyadong iniisip yung schedule. Ang focus namin, masunod at gawin ng tama yung gameplan. Pwede kaming mag 3-0 start or even 0-3.”

But one thing's for sure for Ateneo, according to Perasol: “We’re going to make sure we’re always in a fighting position.”