From the editorial forum of GreenArrows in www.archerpride.com
This season has finally seen the true transformation of the Ateneo Blue Eagles. Since the resurgence of their basketball program in 1999, Ateneo has slowly and steadily built up a program which would make the Blue Eagles a consistent contender in the UAAP Mens Basketball tournament.
The initial stages of their resurgence which culminated in the 2002 Championship was built on a team which was, in many a pundits’ minds, the collegiate version on an all star team. Led by Enrico Villanueva, he had outstanding support from players like Larry Fonacier, LA Tenorio, Wesley Gonzales, Rich Alvarez all of whom are now stars in their own right in the PBA. Undoubtedly, the 2002 Ateneo team will find few, if any, equals in the UAAP teams so far in this millennium.
But this resurgence showed its own failings when ADMU was unable to retain the crown in 2003 when an Arwind Santos-led FEU Tamaraws won their 17th UAAP basketball crown. This development must have been clearly seen by the proponents and supporters of the Blue Eagles’ program who resolved to correct this situation and correct it soonest.
In 2004, PBA Champion coach Norman Black was hired by ADMU to be its ‘consultant’ to then Head Coach Sandy Arrespacochaga. Champion Coach Joel Banal’s two year contract was up and was ‘moved up’ to the PBA team Talk n Text. Coach Sandy was on his way to a great season until he lost deadshot Larry Fonacier due to an ACL tear in a game against UP. This, however, did not stop Ateneo from finishing the first round of that season with an immaculate 7-0 record. But the absence of Fonacier bore heavily on the Blue Eagles as the season wore on which eventually led to their being booted out in the Final Four stage by the De La Salle Green Archers.
Again, this loss showed the weakness of the program which, since 1999 was mainly based on personalities – players who had great skills – but who could not ‘bring home the bacon.’ Their loss to their arch rivals DLSU in 2004 saw the end of the Head Coaching days for Coach Sandy as Coach Norman Black stepped him as Head Coach.
Having inherited the team and players brought in by the previous program, Coach Norman was still able to bring the Blue Eagles back to the Final Four in 2005 but was again turned back by De La Salle.
With the suspension of De La Salle in the 2006, Coach Norman showed what he had in mind by bringing Ateneo to the Finals against an emotionally driven UST Growling Tigers. The Finals was truly a nailbiting three-game affair which games were determined by only a field goal or two. Ateneo was so close, and yet so far. They were just a missed follow up point away from winning the crown. Sure, UST won the crown but, to me, this signaled the arrival of the ‘NEW’ Blue Eagles.
Last season, ADMU kept close on the heels of the 14-0 UE Red Warriors and swept DLSU in both elimination rounds though both games was decided only in the last minutes of each game. You could feel and see the new confidence of the Blue and White team, a team basically WITHOUT any real certified superstar – so unlike their champion 2002 team which was overflowing with superstar players. Perhaps this new found confidence was a new experience for the team as they never anticipated to lose to a lowly NU team on the last day of the eliminations. A loss which ADMU paid dearly for and which led to their eventual loss to, again, their arch rival DLSU Green Archers in the step ladder semifinals. If it was any consolation to the Blue Eagles, they lost out to the eventual champion Green Archers who swept UE in the Finals. At the very least, ADMU extended the twice-to-beat DLSU and is the only team to have a winning record against the Green Archers last year with a 3-2 win-loss record.
NOW COMES SEASON 71. Immediately after last season, ADMU recruited 4 of the most highly prized rookies of the coming season led by NCAA Jr. MVP Staglet Ryan Buenafe and Bedan Nico Salva. They also got Chiang Kai Shek behemoth Justin Chua and Kirk Long’s Faith teammate Vince Burke. Note, if not already the best, these rookies were at least the tallest batch with Buenafe being the ‘shortest’ at 6’3”. But this was only the first step in Coach Norman’s wholistic approach for the Blue Eagles.
Next step was the intensive training they had in the US which not only allowed the players to bond even more with each other, but brought out and enhanced the individual skills of each of their players. This was crucial because a player like Rabeh Al Husseini would not be as dominant as he is now if not for this training. You could even say that Rabeh would be the Most Improved Player this year if not the Most Valuable Player.
But still, there was something still missing in the Blue Eagles. And here is where Coach Norman Black has woven his magic. He has indoctrinated this batch of Blue Eagles with a philosophy which he had believed in and used in the past but was only mentioned in passing by previous Blue Eagle teams. Coach Black changed the focus of the team and of each player by making them concentrate on the main basis behind the success of Coach Franz of DLSU. And that focus is called DEFENSE!
It is DEFENSE which makes Coach Franz very successful in the UAAP year in and year out regardless of the skill levels of his teams. Many teams in the UAAP had better players in the 10 year tenure of the Coach Franz era, but DLSU has continued to be a major force in the UAAP despite the relative inferior line ups Coach Franz has to make do with. Coach Franz has brought DLSU to the Finals in 8 of the 9 years he has coached DLSU. And with line-ups which, at the beginning of each season, seems like a weaker one than the year before. Yet, Coach Franz has managed to make DLSU a force to reckon with every year because of his system. A system based on DEFENSE!
Prior to the start of this season, Coach Norman stated in an interview that to win, Ateneo had to play up to the ‘game level’ of both DLSU and UE which he emphasized stressed DEFENSE! To win, Ateneo would have to retool and play DEFENSE with the same intensity and level that both DLSU and UE play with. And here, you see where Coach Norman ‘transformed’ the Blue Eagles.
At the end of the first round, ADMU has been the best DEFENSIVE team in the UAAP. Surprisingly, defending champion DLSU is only in the middle of the pack. And where is ADMU as of this writing? Number 1 – a position they have held since the start of the season. I may be wrong but with 12 games played, this is the longest that any ADMU team has held the number 1 position in this millennium.
What explains this consistent performance? Well for one, Rabeh Al Husseini has been playing MVP ball. No one, not even the most ardent Blue Eagle follower would have imagined that Rabeh would be their main man this season. But, he is not their only MAIN man.
There is, of course, their only certified superstar Chris Tiu who has taken his game to a totally new level. No more forcing his shots to help his team. He passes well, defends adequately and scores when the team needs him to score. Instead of forcing his game, he has allowed the game to come to him and he has made their opponents pay dearly for it.
Also, another main man for Ateneo is my own choice for best player – Nonoy Baclao. Nonoy gives the team the added advantage of covering defensively the areas that Rabeh can not cover. In my opinion, his intimidating defense, specially as a shot blocker, has given him a wider coverage in the paint with which to clamp down on any incursion by opposing teams and helping the Blue Eagles get the defensive and offensive rebounds. Nonoy is a tall player who is also quick and fast. Last year, he was easily foul prone which led to the Green Archers knowing how to take him out of the game. But this year, with the new concept of TEAM DEFENSE under Coach Norman, Nonoy has thrived – quietly BUT very effective.
Ryan Buenafe is truly a super rookie. At the 3 position, he gives Ateneo the height and basketball IQ at the position most teams tend to take forgranted. He even brings the ball down when teams like UE and DLSU press the ADMU guards using his height and ball handling skills to bring the ball with time to spare. Also, he brings his game inside the opponents paint to daringly challenge the opposing teams’ big men to stop him which is not quite often.
Eric Salamat, a co-Baste junior player like Buenafe, has also blossomed this season. His type of pesky defense fits well into Coach Norman’s system. He and Nonoy give the Blue Eagles solid defense both down low or up high making it difficult for many teams to play any level of step up tempo. Also, he has started to assert himself on the offensive end thus making up for the little slack in the offensive performances of Jai Reyes, Yuri Escueta and Kirk Long. The Salamat-Tiu combination is probably the deadliest backcourt combination this year, even better than UE’s or FEU’s.
Yes, Coach Norman has transformed not only the Blue Eagles but also the Blue Eagles’ fans. Whereas they would cheer lustily for every shot of past players, now they cheer even more for every rebound, block, steal and interception that their players get. Coach Norman has been responsible for this transformation and unless the other teams, DLSU included, realize this, the Blue Eagles are mowing down the opposition enroute to a possible FOURTH UAAP crown.
In the past, after DLSU always made the Finals, my Atenean friends would text me congratulations and good luck. I could almost feel their angst and frustrations. I would always say, that it is never about the players because players come and go every year. But DLSU continues to be a force to reckon with because IT’S THE SYSTEM! It’s the system that matters. No matter the results, DLSU’s performance and consistency is always dependent on THE SYSTEM. Specially on DEFENSE.
This year, Coach Norman’s SYSTEM and philosophy is bearing fruit. It was a work in progress since 2004 when he became the team ‘consultant’. His SYSTEM and his emphasis on DEFENSE has made the Ateneo Blue Eagles the team to beat this season. And if we don’t watch out, the Ateneo Blue Eagles could be the team to beat EVERY season for as long as Coach Norman is there to implement HIS system.
Are the Ateneo Blue Eagles for real?
You better believe it!
