The Ateneo Blue Eagles will be a more cohesive team in season 81 of the coming UAAP men’s basketball season thanks to three pocket tournaments which included the 2018 William Jones Cup in Taiwan along with a two-weeklong training stint in Greece.
The Blue Eagles will show everyone the stuff they’re made of when they clash with the Adamson Falcons on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“We’re very excited for the coming season. We’re out for the challenge of defending the crown. Alam namin na hindi madali,” said Blue Eagles skipper Mike Nieto.
The Katipunan-based squad finished fourth in the recent Jones Cup, won a crown in the Break Down tournament, and topped San Beda in the 2018 FilOil-Flying V finals.
“This tournament (Jones Cup) was a bridge too far, to put ourselves against this level of competition, to be standing out there, not as champions, and rightfully hold ourselves speaks positively of the team,” said Blue Eagles coach Tab Baldwin who is positive the experience has prepared them well to take it all this season.
The Blue Eagles will play without two major frontcourt threats in Chibueze Ikeh and Vince Tolentino, who graduated after their successful campaign last season. New foreign student-athlete Angelo Kouame, a 6-foot-10 center, who impressed in the Blue Eagles preseason performances is coming in.
Blue Eaglets standout SJ Belangel, who is recovering from an offseason injury, is also in, along with 6’5 Fil-Canadian Matthew Daves, who is expected to dazzle with his midrange and long-range jumpers.
Season 80 begins this Saturday with the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons clashing with the University of the East Warriors at 2 p.m. while National University meets University of Santo Tomas at 4 p.m.