Eagles are wiser, stronger this time

After all the hype received last year, the Ateneo Blue Eagles crashed short of expectations.

That’s probably why there’s hardly a stir coming from the gym in Katipunan these days.

"I think last year, the hype affected us in a way. That’s why this year, we decided to keep a low-profile and stay away from the spotlight as much as possible," said Ateneo coach Joe Lipa.

But one thing Lipa is not going to hide is his optimism that this will be a better year for the Blue Eagles in the UAAP’s 64th season which comes off the wraps July 14 at the Araneta Coliseum.

"I think we are going to be a better team this year. I think the boys are more matured than they were last year," Lipa said.

Last year, the Blue Eagles were completely sucked into the hype that surrounded the team. They actually thought opponents would collapse just at the sight of the Ateneo blue-and-white.

After all, there was that much talked-about preparation in the offseason, highlighted by a trip to Korea to hone up for the collegiate wars. Then there was the participation in the PBL and their winning the Fr. Martin Cup championship. Everything seemed to fall into place for the Blue Eagles last year.

But in their first game, the fancied Ateneo squad of Lipa ran smack into a hard-fighting La Salle squad and became victims of a bloody 94-70 rout. So much for the hype. Its confidence nearly reduced to tatters, Ateneo managed to barge into a Final Four appearance, holding a twice-to-beat advantage at that. But the Blue Eagles failed to make it to the Big Dance, losing twice to FEU, 61-60 and 75-67.

Virtually the same batch of Blue Eagles will return to better last year’s stint. And that’s Lipa’s immediate objective.

"Right now, we’re focused on being a better team than we were last year. That’s our primary goal," Lipa said, adding that the team is not setting its sights too far just yet.

"Nobody’s thinking about championships and Final Four appearances just yet. One game at a time muna kami."

Ateneo is really deadset on going all the way, beating the likes of archrival and defending champion La Salle which like, last year, will be the Blue Eagles’ opening assignment on July 15 at the Big Dome.

Enrico Villanueva and Rich Alvarez, last year’s top two players in rebounding overall — 11.3 rpg and 9.7 rpg, respectively — will anchor Ateneo’s game down low with Larry Fonacier, Rainier Sison and Magnum Membrere ready to shoot the lights out from the perimeter.

A key loss for Ateneo will be Wesley Gonzales, who will not be part of the lineup this year, Lipa said. The former national team coach refused to talk about the issue surrounding Gonzales, who is still eligible for two years in the UAAP.

But the veteran player was quoted by the Ateneo Guidon, the school’s official paper, that he didn't fit into the Lipa system anymore.

"That’s what they told me. I was shocked, it was sudden, I didn’t see it coming," Gonzales told Guidon’s sports editor Sandro Paredes.

In Gonzales, the Blue Eagles lost an all-around player who at 6-4 could pose mismatches at the shooting guard and small forward slot.

Still, Lipa is confident that the pieces are falling into place.

"We still have to work on our chemistry but that’s just a minor thing because we are still virtually intact," he explained.

The key addition, Lipa believes, will be former San Beda point guard L.A. Tenorio, who will share the ball-handling chores with Sison.

Lipa, also former UP coach, also believes his team is not the solid pick this year as it was last year.

"Maraming mas malakas na team. I think everybody should take a look at UST, FEU and La Salle. I heard they are very strong this year. NU and UP are intact so it’s going to be an interesting season to watch.