MOST PEOPLE recognize Team Captain Chris Tiu (V BSM AMF) as the heart and soul of the Ateneo Blue Eagles. But theh team also relies on three other pillars for strength both on and off the court. Although playing different positions – a forward, a shooting guard, and a point guard – and coming from different backgrounds, they are united by a common goal – to win it all for Team Ateneo.

Determined Big Brother: Nonoy Baclao

Ateneo’s campaign in Season 70 might have ended earlier than expected, but it was during the season when Blue Eagle Forward Nonoy Baclao (III AB IS) asserted his role as a force to reckon with. Although it was only his rookie year, the stalwart from West Negros College was an integral part in Coach Norman Black’s rotation as he went head to head against the likes of La Salle’s Rico Maierhofer and UST’s Jervy Cruz.

It is the games’ very physical nature that almost derailed his journey to the Ateneo. As a grade four student in his native Bacolod, his family asked him to stop playing the game because of its physicality.

He relates, “Nagstop ako nung grade four hanggang first year high school kasi parang natrauma ako – na yung mga gasgas ko [sobra na]… (I stopped from grade four until first year high school because of I was traumatized by the bruising impact of the games).”

However, the bruises and scratches were soon forgotten as his passion for basketball convinced his family that he truly belonged on the hardcourt.

As a gangly 17-year old, Nonoy then strutted his wares in the Collegiate Champions League, initially for the West Negros College Mustangs. However, after wowing several spectators, including scouts from Metro Manila schools, he became a hot recruit – eventually catching the eye of Coach Black, who convinced him to consider transferring into the Ateneo in 2006.

Currently one of the co-captains of the Blue Eagles, Nonoy relishes his new leadership role as the team’s “Big Brother,” guiding the rookies in their on-court and off-court lives.

With the team’s final four hopes and their eventual championship goal in mind, “[I’m] more willing to sacrifice my body and to absorb everything that the coaches teach us in order to reach our goal of entering the finals and winning the championship,” he says in a mix of Filipino and English.

He adds, “kung anong kaya mong gawin sa loob, gawin mo na lahat-lahat. Hustle lang at disiplina.(Do everything and give it all you’ve got. It’s all about hustle and discipline).”

Disciplined youngster: Eric Salamat

Introduced to basketball during his kinder years, Eric Salamat (III AB IS) was a natural at playing the game. His skills were eventually honed as he found his way to competition in minor basketball leagues in the first grade.

Fast forward to his high school days at San Sebastian College, where, as part of the Stags, Eric further polished his skills and integrated the formalities of basketball into his game. He eventually became the King Stag as his abilities dazzled both the scouts and his foes.

Despite offers from several universities, the San Sebastian-based guard decided to head over to the Loyola Schools and be an aspirant of the Blue Eagles. Eventually, the deciding factor was his priority for academic standards. “Maraming nagrerecruit sa’kin pero wala akong ibang pinuntahan, yung Ateneo lang, kasi nga sobrang nagustuhan ko yung standards ng education dito (A lot of schools wanted to recruit me but I picked Ateneo for its educational standards).”

After years as a Blue Eagle, there eventually came the time to not only execute plays but to effectively run the team as well. Sharing the ball-handling duties, he emphasized the challenge of Coach Norman Black onto his newfound leadership role on the team. It just shows the maturity of this Blue Eagle through the years.

As soon as UAAP Season 71 tips off, the one thing he expects from himself and his teammates is discipline. “Hindi naman nagkukulang ng reminders yung mga coaches. Nasa sa amin na kung gagawin namin (We never lack reminders from our coaches. It’s all up to us whether we do it).”

Goal-oriented veteran: Yuri Escueta

The childhood of Nonoy and Eric seem to have one thing in common: early basketball foundations. Continuing the trend would be Blue Eagle stalwart Yuri Escueta (MBA). What more could be expected from the son of a former basketball player for the UP Fighting Maroons? Indeed, it was his father’s influence that led him to start dribbling a basketball when he was just five years old. Competitions soon followed as he later joined the Small Basketeers of the Philippines.

However, despite coming from the Ateneo Grade School, Yuri headed over to San Beda for high school. He believed at the time that the basketball program offered there was better.

It paid off eventually as he experienced winning a championship during his stay, creating buzz around different colleges including the Ateneo. The school then extended an invitation that would reunite him with his roots. The road to Team A began after spending a year under Coach Sandy or as he calls it, being a “red shirt.” Players can train with the seniors’ team only after a year in Team B.

This experience allowed the current co-captain of the Ateneo Blue Eagles to blossom in his leadership role. In whatever way possible, whether to “run the play, play defense or [be a] leader to the rookies,” he’s eager to fulfill his role in the team. According to Yuri, he takes responsibility as the point guard to be a coach inside, ensuring that there is discipline on and off the court.

As he prepares for Season 71, he reminds himself of that elusive goal of the championship year prior to his arrival. Now, with Ateneo being labeled as legitimate contenders, the dreams of winning it all for this baller might just be realized.

Asked to give the first thoughts that come to mind about Season 71, both Nonoy and Eric fearlessly replied “Champion.”

In the end though, aside from their common goal of bringing Ateneo to the promised land, these players also echo the same plea to the community to support them all throughout the season. Eric voiced out, “Sana sumuporta pa rin sila samin kahit natatalo kami. Kasi hindi naman every game mananalo or maganda yung pagkapanalo diba. Kaya sana continue supporting us (I hope that the community continues to support us through our ups and downs, since we will have good and bad games along the way).”