It's a Blue Eagle Week

from www.ateneo.edu via Wikipedia

Yes, I know the Ateneo Blue Eagles didn't technically play this weekend (their Saturday game was moved to the Thursday before. Gee thanks hosts) but there were several basketball storylines that involved current and former Blue Eagles this past week:

Nico Salva Keeping It Real

FEU suffered its first defeat of the season last Wednesday vs NU. Central to the loss was Terrence Romeo's well known penchant for being a ballhog, freezing out his teammates even though they had better shots (hello RR!). For the first round at least, FEU didn't mind because they kept winning games, but the averages eventually caught up to TR's bad shots especially in the closing seconds.

In their first loss, Nico Salva, a former Blue Eagle who was also tagged as an offensive "ball-stopper" gave his two cents on the matter (more details here via spin.ph). I found it funny and ironic actually, since I always saw Nico as a player who always looked for his shot. To be fair, there was a good number of plays during his last 3 years with Ateneo that were designed for him to take that perimeter shot or have him weigh his options. 

Romeo seemed to take that twitter war into heart and in the first half of their game vs DLSU, he tried his best not to be "bwakaw". Then again, this is TR we're talking about, and his game is all about having the ball in his hands. Come 2nd half, he was back to his old self and lost for the 2nd time this season.

Not surprisingly, Salva kept mum this time around, but there was one more personality (a current Blue Eagle) who voiced his opinion on the matter, and it seemed like he sided with TR on this one. I was surprised and appalled at the same time. I don't freaking care if you sleep with the enemy, but once a Blue Eagle, always a Blue Eagle, and you got each others' backs no matter what. Who's the other player you ask? Wait until after the 6-peat ;)

A Tale of Two Minions

Two former point guards of the Ateneo made headlines in the PBA this past week. Jai Reyes making his debut with Talk N' Text, and Emman Monfort coming back from a long injury layoff with Barako Bull.

Jai wasn't too shabby in his PBA comeback, although he did miss a free throw in the dying seconds of regulation that extended the game into overtime. Emman almost won it from almost half-court if not for a few seconds wasted. Either way, it was like watching a live, all-out Ateneo practice on national TV. Jai vs Emman, just like old times. Too bad only one would win, but Emman would come back with avengeance against, unfortunately, San Mig Coffee.

Emman was chosen Best Player of the Game vs SMC with 22 points, 7 effin' rebounds (anong height niyo!?!?!) and shot 4/5 from 3pt country, all career highs. Yep, this is the Emman all Ateneo fans know and miss. He'll always be one of my favorite players, even if he's not with Purefoods hehe.

Who let Doug out?!

Come Sunday, another former Blue Eagle was finally unleashed. After years of underachieving and not getting much playing time, Doug Kramer finally showed the rest of the PBA that he can really play. Much like his Ateneo career, wherein his first 3 years were mostly composed of butterfingers and turnovers before being a key factor in his last 2, Doug seems like he's ready to kickstart his stalled career. 17 points, 10 rebounds, the key defender against Ginebra's import. To think Petron fans were worried how Doug and Junemar can share minutes. Personally, Petron could use more workhorses like Doug, and less big names.

Ateneo Six-Peat Progress

The Ateneo Blue Eagles are still on course for their sixth straight championship with a win vs the hapless UP Fighting Maroons. As with most 2pm weekday games, Ateneo got off to a VERY SLUGGISH start, and good thing they recovered just in time because UP went back to being UP (as a basketball team) come the 2nd half. Kiefer Ravena looks like he's back to 100% with a 14pt, and 14rebs. Ryan Da Best Buenafe only had 7 pts, but look at the weight he has lost! And as a friend pointed out, he now has a dribble pull-up jumper. 

Honestly, Ateneo's major hurdle toward the 6th peat will be their own complacency. As long as they maintain their eyes on the prize (and not personal stats), then it's theirs for the taking.

By Raddy Mabasa of Fabilioh