Ateneo shoots for 3rd win in Filoil Fling V Hanes Premier Cup

Ateneo shoots for 3^rd win in Filoil

by rick olivares pics by paul ryan tan

The Ateneo Blue Eagles’ grueling summer schedule continues when the five-time UAAP champions take on the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals today at 4:15pm in the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup at the Arena of San Juan.

The height-challenged Blue Eagles won their first two assignments of the tournament against Southwestern University, 77-72, and San Sebastian College, 75-70, but struggled to do so because of their clear lack of ceiling inside.

Projected starting center JP Erram is still not 100% healed from the knee injury that knocked him out towards the end of the last UAAP season. Erram played in the opener against the SWU Cobras where he compiled four points, four rebounds, and one block in 16 minutes. The 6’7” center sat of the last game against the Stags where holdovers Frank Golla and Giboy Babilonia played extended minutes.

“It’s hard for me to really get the team fully ready because so far we have not played with our entire lineup. Players have been injured,” explained first year head coach Bo Perasol who takes the reigns of a winning program built by Norman Black who is now with Talk ‘N Text in the PBA. “So far we’ve held our own but we know there are bigger challenges ahead of us.”

Ateneo has been led by the duo of Kiefer Ravena and Chris Newsome who have averaged 20.5 and 15.0 points respectively. The Blue Eagles are also without senior forward Ryan Buenafe who is spending his summer catching up on his academics.

The Blue Eagles are up against the Generals who have the height and talent to bring the UAAP champions crashing down to earth. EAC has 6’7” Cameroonian center Noube Happi who averaged at least 14 rebounds in last year’s Filoil tourney. The Generals, who finished seventh in last year’s NCAA competition, will also have Jolas Paguia, Igee King, and Sydney Onwubere playing upfront.

Ateneo has averaged 42.5 rebounds in its first two matches but have also conceded 50.5 boards to their opponents.

It isn’t only the Blue Eagles who are looking for a win. The San Beda Red Lions barged into the win column with a tough 67-55 win over Jose Rizal University. The three-time defending NCAA titlists pulled away from the Heavy Bombers in the last few minutes of the game. The Red Lions take on the debuting University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons at 2:30pm while the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta Altas and the Arellano University Chiefs tangle at 12:45pm.

In Juniors action, the National University Bullpups play UP Junior Maroons at 9am while over in the women’s division, the Adamson Lady Falcons face off with the UP Lady Maroons at 10:45am.

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Check this out for videos of the Ateneo-Southwestern University game