Four-ward: Taking a look at the Ateneo Blue Eagles 2011-12

This appears in ateneo.edu

Four-ward

Taking a look at the Ateneo Blue Eagles of 2011-12

by rick olivares

When Eric Salamat gave his goodbye speech to the Ateneo Blue Eagle faithful at the Church of the Gesu following its epic win over Far Eastern University in last year’s UAAP Finals, aside from thanking people, he asked one question: “Nasaan si Kiefer?”

The Phenom is in blue and white. So is Greg Slaughter.

Even back high school, the Phenom was drawing raves even from his college peers. While playing for the RP Youth Team, he was scoring on noted defenders like San Sebastian’s Calvin Abueva and San Beda’s Rome dela Rosa but he isn’t going to be taking anyone by surprise now. More so after that awesome debut against San Beda during the summer. As the pre-season got on, he found it tougher when pushed, bumped, sandwiched, and punched in the face (by FEU’s Mark Bringas). He’ll get his points but it’s not easy. But he’s got Slaughter in the middle to feed.

And so begins the quest for four straight and the season that everyone has been waiting for is a few days away.

And there are a lot of questions surrounding the coming college hoops season. Let me try my hand in answering them.

Does winning the Filoil Flying V Premier Cup send a message to the UAAP that Ateneo is going to win the UAAP title for a fourth straight year?

Until someone pries it from our cold dead fingers then it’s a yes. It was won with key players – Eric Salamat, Ryan Buenafe, Jason Escueta, Art dela Cruz, and Chris de Chavez missing. Furthermore, they made the semifinals of the Fr. Martin Cup. Had they had a day of rest, they would have played for a second summer title. Of course, Season 74 won’t be as easy as last year because every one has loaded up to beat Ateneo.

Since Season 71, we’ve seen the gradual loss of seasoned veterans to graduation and academics. The players on the previous title squads knew heartache as they were there for the loss to UST in Season 69 and the futile Final Four of Season 70 against La Salle. Those two disheartening losses fueled their championship drives for the succeeding years.

In Season 71, Ateneo went 13-1 in the eliminations and 3-0 in the playoffs

In Season 72, Ateneo went 13-1 in the eliminations and 3-1 in the playoffs

In Season 73, Ateneo went 10-4 in the eliminations and 3-0 in the playoffs

Last year, the Blue Eagles made up for all the anxieties of the elimination rounds once the Final Four began where they flashed their deadly form. And with the controversy surrounding Greg Slaughter’s eligibility (it had to go through a shameful vote), you can be sure the games this season will be a little more personal in nature.

This year, the Blue Eagles parade 11 veterans and five rookies. Of the vets, JP Erram and Jeric Estrada hardly qualify for that as they hardly got any playing time. It is not going to be easy. An 11-3 or another 10-4 record isn’t far-fetched although it is a possibility they could even win all their games if every one is healthy and they play their cards right. Once the second season arrives, they’ll elevate their game.

One thing you have to remember is that this team is made of winners. Players who have won at different ages and tournaments and so they know what it takes to win. And players like Kiefer Ravena, Greg Slaughter, and Gwynne Capacio know what it’s like to be on both a winning and losing side. They know what needs to be done, what energy and effort is summoned to win.

A champion team simply doesn’t win on talent alone. They have unbelievable chemistry and they bounce back in the face of adversity.

But some faces are no longer there and that might tell.

Not having Art de la Cruz to academics (who was on his way in becoming a big time star with Ateneo) is huge. He brought scoring, defense, and intelligence to the Blue Eagles’ second unit. The upside is that the others will have the opportunity to step up.

And there’s the matter of Ryan Buenafe who is like baseball’s Alex Rodriguez. He tantalizes us with his talent but brings so much more extraneous stuff that the team doesn’t need. But he’ll be sitting out this season and some players will have to grow up in a hurry.

How good is this Ateneo rookie batch – Kiefer Ravena, Greg Slaughter, Von Pessumal, Gwynne Capacio, and BJ Cipriano? How is compared to the batch of 2008 when Ryan Buenafe, Nico Salva, Justin Chua, Tonino Gonzaga, and Vince Burke came in? Is Kiefer as good as advertised? Will Greg perform?

When the 2008 batch entered, it was only Ryan who started and delivered immediately. Nico Salva became a bigger contributor the following year while Justin Chua found his form last season. The presence of heady veterans ahead of them cut heavily into their playing time. It’s the same with this batch of 2011 rookies.

Kiefer and Greg will contribute right away and how. Well, Slaughter isn’t exactly a rookie. He played for three years for the University of Visayas where he led them to a three-peat in CESAFI. He knows what it’s all about. Kiefer was named MVP of the Filoil Flying V Premier Cup! And that was alongside veterans RR Garcia, Garvo Lanete, and Alex Nuyles. Mapua’s Yousef Taha was another rookie who cracked the summer tournament’s Mythical Five selection. Yes, dad, the Phenom is for real.

Of the remaining three – Gwynne, Von, and BJ -- I figure Capacio to get a few more chances than the latter two. Now the rookies contributing can be good and it can be bad. You can look at the Miami-Chicago Eastern semifinals for why and that’s it’s the vets who will deliver while the rooks must learn that they cannot cut corners. Ryan had an easier time assimilating himself because of the presence of Chris Tiu, Eric Salamat, Nonoy Baclao, and Rabeh Al-Hussaini to name a few.

I remember during the rookie year of Kirk Long, I asked a team official who will lead the Blue Eagles in scoring after the departure of JC Intal. He said, “Kirk Long.” I think Kirk has rounded out into a great all-around player and someone who should have been in the Mythical Five selection of last season but back then it didn’t seem so.

Still it’s a possibility that Kiefer could lead the team in scoring. If it doesn't happen, he will – to my recollection – be the first frosh to do so since Steve Watson pulled the trick in 1975. What made Watson’s feat all the more incredible was he was only a high school senior playing in the seniors team (it was allowed back then) and he was leading the team in scoring.

It is also possible that Slaughter will battle FEU’s wondrous RR Garcia for league MVP (with Ravena making it a three-way fight) but that is the least of the Blue Eagle slotman’s concerns. He’d love to win a UAAP title that would fit nicely with his CESAFI titles that he pocketed while with the UV Green Lancers. It’s a good way to head into the PBA Draft (the jury is still out for him finishing his two years in blue and white).

The Blue Eagles will go back to the offense they had in Seasons 71 and 72 when they had Rabeh Al Hussaini – they will feed the Buddha in the lane.

After this year where Long, Monfort, and Austria end their college careers, Capacio and Pessumal will be the ones to carry this team.

As for the veterans, with no Al-Hussaini, Baclao, or Salamat around, Nico Salva, Justin Chua, and Tonino Gonzaga must contribute not only heavily but also more consistently. Ditto with Emman Monfort.

Is Oping Sumalinog going to regain his PCCL form of two years ago?

In that series, he was posting up, defending the slot against Aldrech Ramos and Reil Cervantes no less, running the break, and pretty much doing everything. He made up for the absence of Rabeh Al-Hussaini in that tournament and FEU was unprepared for his onslaught.

But that was then and this is now after a costly ACL injury. From what I’ve seen in the pre-season, I sure hope so because so far it’s not there. I sure hope that he is able to log minutes and contribute consistently.

Are we going to miss Ryan Buenafe?

We sure will. Nothing like a proven crunch time player in the team’s arsenal. Not having him is one weapon less we have. We had Chris Tiu and Ryan Buenafe on the same unit before and at times the ball never seemed to touch the floor as it was whipped around in crazy fashion leading to a bucket. We were like the FC Barcelona of basketball.

Kiefer and Greg will make up the loss of the output of Salamat and Buenafe. When the game is on the line, the duo’s number will be called up and can you imagine if Ryan were suiting up this year? Who would the opponent guard?  

The four-peat can be achieved but it won’t be easy.

The Blue Eagles do not have an outside gunner. Will this affect their attempt at a four-peat?

Since Jai Reyes graduated, the team has not had a gunner to keep the defenses honest. They do have Emman Monfort but similar to last season, they have a bunch of others who can hit it from time to time – Ravena, Austria, Gonzaga, Sumalinog, Capacio, and Buenafe. They may have a terrible percentage at it but when the chips are down they make them.

How do I see the rotation?

Greg Slaughter – Justin Chua – Jeric Estrada

Frank Golla – JP Erram

Nico Salva – Bacon Austria – Oping Sumalinog – Gwynne Capacio

Kirk Long – Tonino Gonzaga – BJ Cipriano - Von Pessumal

Emman Monfort – Kiefer Ravena – Juami Tiongson 

Norman will go to a 12-man rotation for this team with Capacio being given some minutes.

How do you size up the competition?

Everyone has upgraded their lineup. All built to beat Ateneo. I figure FEU will really miss Reil Cervantes and Paul Sanga. Adamson has the same crew but this could be their last chance to get past Ateneo. National University with or without Ray Parks will not be an easy customer. La Salle will be tough because they got taller with the addition of Norbert Torres, Arnold Van Opstal and Alfonso Gotladera. Plus they get up to play the Blue Eagles. We could meet them for the UAAP title.