MANILA, Philippines—Chris Tiu said it best. While being interviewed by Ateneo courtside reporter Kamae de Jesus, he thanked the Ateneo community: the fans who had stuck with the team through despite several heartbreaking losses in the past. They included the 2006 season finals when Ateneo beat UST in Game One with a miraculous Doug Kramer shot, only to lose the next two games and the championship. Then last year, Ateneo beat La Salle thrice, but lost the two games that mattered. It seemed as the team was cursed forever to be relegated to second best.This year, on the brink of a championship, the signs from the Ateneo gallery said it all: “We win in Tiu,” “Thursday is Tiu’s day,” “Bonfire na!” This time, there was no collapse, no choking point, just heart, character and desire to climb to the top. And climb they did, despite lots of pundits passing on this squad in the pre-season. Admittedly, it did seem like a bit of a stretch. Ford Arao, their monster in the center, was gone. Zion Laterre, the hustle machine, had graduated. La Salle had brought back Rico Maierhofer and JV Casio. FEU’s future looked bright. UE was still deadly. But the Eagles believed. Bolstered by one of the best recruitment drives in UAAP history, the emergence of yet another beast in the post in the form of regular season MVP Rabeh Al-Hussaini, as well as the rise of the best defensive player of the year, Nonoy Baclao, the calm, collected, clutch skipper Chris Tiu, and an assortment of role players that stepped up when the team needed it the most, the Ateneo Blue Eagles dominated Season 71 and finished with a 13-1 record. It was defense that won it for them. Coach Norman Black preached that “defense wins championships,” and the team took his words to heart as they executed unstoppable action on the court. “Clamping down on teams” was an understatement of epic proportions. So the Ateneo Blue Eagles are back on top of the collegiate basketball world. Some of you are probably thinking of next year already, when the Eagles have a great chance (fingers crossed) of repeating. But let’s table those thoughts for now. Instead, let’s thank Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Bacon Austira, Nonoy Baclao, Mike Baldos, Ryan Buenafe, Vince Burke, Justin Chua, Yuri Escueta, Tonino Gonzaga, Kirk Long, Jobe Nkemakolam, Jai Reyes, Eric Salamat, Nico Salva, Chris Sumalinog, Chris Tiu, coach Norman Black, and everyone who made this championship possible.
We believed in the team, and they rewarded us with nothing short of one big fight. |
