“NAKAKALUNGKOT (This is saddening),” says Eric Salamat as he put on his shoes.
Looking at the court where his teammates are warming up, the team looks incomplete without Jai Reyes, Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Nonoy Baclao. Next year, Eric would have to step up as the team captain.
“It’s a very different group from our champion team,” he continues.
While a lot of people think that next year will be a difficult season for the Hail Mary Squad without its power trio, the boys think otherwise.
Assistant Coach Sandy Arespacochaga says the loss has made the remaining players to improve. More than that, there would be three new faces next year.
Two six-footers from Team B—John Paul Erram and Jason Escueta—will be moving up the ranks to replace the vacancy left by the departures of Nonoy and Rabeh. Both have served a residency year before becoming eligible to play in the UAAP.
The remaing slot in Team A will be occupied by a high school recruit. Although no name has been officially disclosed, Blue Eaglet Ael Banal, the son of former PBA player and coach Joel Banal, is one of the hopefuls.
Test run
Sporting a lineup without Rabeh, Nonoy and Jai, the Blue Eagles got a first taste of playing together when they won over Rizal Technological University on February 20.
They later faced the PBA Coca-Cola Tigers. Although they lost by six points, the Blue Eagles only had good things to say about the match.
“Even though we lost, we played well. We played with heart,” Nico Salva posted on his Facebook account after the game.
Incoming senior Bacon Austria admits, though, that they are still adjusting to the new lineup and plays.
“Nakakapanibago (It feels different). Our offensive and defensive go-to guys are gone,” he says.
Because of this, the Katipunan-based squad would have to rely on the remaining players to carry out Ateneo’s lethal defense. They also need to continue solidifying their teamwork to wipe out the competition.
“I think this is one of the most well-balanced seasons,” team manager Paolo Trillo points out.
Most of the teams in the UAAP are still intact and are more experienced now. Trillo adds that the competition would definitely be tougher than the previous years, so while the Blue Eagles are off-season, they are already in deep training.
Just like every year, over the summer break the Blue Eagles will travel to Las Vegas to train in the Abunazzar Impact Basketball Camp, and then drop by Vancouver to play pickup games against University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University. They will also participate in the Fr. Martin’s Cup and Filoil Flying V MVP Cup.
The team is setting up realistic goals for themselves. Taking it one step at a time, their primary goal this year is to make it to the final four and then “they’ll see what happens.”
“Nakakalungkot talaga (It’s really saddening) but I’m also excited for the younger guys. And of course, we’re looking forward to a three-peat,” Eric ended as he walked to the new breed of Blue Eagles.
