The Ateneo Blue Eagles are looking to bounce back in UAAP Season 87, eyeing to create a new dynasty with their new prized recruits.
Is the UAAP men's basketball dynasty officially over for Ateneo de Manila University?
After failing to defend their crown in Season 86, the Blue Eagles had a tumultuous offseason, seeing several of its top stars leave for the professional league or transfer to another university.
[ALSO READ: 'I wasn't happy there': Mason Amos breaks silence following his transfer from ADMU to DLSU]
This has left Ateneo at its most vulnerable state after winning four out of the last six UAAP titles since Season 80—the latest coming in Season 85.
Despite this, the Katipunan-based squad is raring to prove why they are still a team to watch out for in the upcoming Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.
Head coach: Tab Baldwin
Team captains: Chris Koon, Sean Quintveis
Key Additions: Jared Bahay, Kristian Porter, Femi Edu
Key losses: Mason Amos, Kai Ballungay, Jared Brown, Joseph Obasa, Gab Gomez, Raffy Celis
Season 86 record: 7-7 (4th)
Despite losing several key players, Ateneo rang in several noteworthy and prized rookies, such as Jared Bahay, Kristian Porter, and Femi Edu, the younger brother of Gilas Pilipinas standout AJ Edu.
[ALSO READ: UAAP: Ateneo secures commitment of Femi Edu, Kristian Porter for Season 87]
Bahay, in particular, had a rather talked-about offseason after the Gilas Pilipinas Youth guard initially committed to the University of the Philippines but ultimately decided to stick with Ateneo.
After completing his final season with Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu in the CESAFI Juniors, Bahay decommitted from the Maroons and opted to join the Blue Eagles.
Ever since he was a little kid, the 5-foot-9 guard has dreamed about playing in the UAAP. Seeing some of his idols wear the blue and white, Bahay also found himself wanting to play for Ateneo.
“Since I was kid, I was dreaming to play in the UAAP and of course 'yung Ateneo pinapanood ko dati sina Kiefer Ravena, 'yung batch na 'yun. Idol din ng kuya ko sina Kief, so ayun parang na-influence ako, gusto kong maging Atenista paglaki ko,” Bahay told One Sports.
Familiarity will be key for Bahay and the other Blue Eagles, with several of its rookies coming from Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu or being teammates in Gilas Youth.
“Siguro may familiarity rin kami kasi kami magkasama na kami elementary palang. Some of the Gilas boys nandito na rin. 'Yung mga Cebuano, sina SQ (Sean Quintevis),” said Bahay. Medyo napadali 'yung transition, 'yung pag-fit ko dito.”
[ALSO READ: UAAP: Jared Bahay settling well in Ateneo after de-commitment from UP]
This is also true for 6-foot-5 big man Kristian Porter, whose older brother Kris played under Baldwin in Season 80.
The 18-year-old Porter is coming off his second Mythical Five season in the UAAP high school ranks with the Blue Eaglets, averaging 18.1 points, 15.5 rebounds, and 2.2 steals.
“When I came here to Ateneo de Manila, siguro sinundan ko lang 'yung kapatid ko, 'yung brother and 'yung sister ko. Siguro it had a heavy impact on me rin since growing up Ateneo talaga ever since and it's the 'bleed blue' culture and the 'OBF' na tied talaga sakin,” Porter added.
Though lofty expectations are seen from Porter in just his rookie season, the Blue Eaglet standout is ready to contribute in whatever he can for Ateneo.
“My personal expectations for my rookie season is to do what's expected of me, from the coaches, from my teammates, and I'll just do what I can to help the team, help team morale, whether it be on the court, off the court, on the bench,” said Porter.
“I'll try to be the guy to always lift their spirits when we're down or pag kailangan,” he added.
While many believe this could be a long season for Ateneo, the Tab Baldwin-led squad has always been a team that likes to prove its doubters wrong.