Following a two-year absence of the 5-on-5 Women’s Basketball Tournament in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), the Ateneo Women’s Basketball Team (AWBT) is finally back in action. This season preview analyzes the state of the Ateneo Blue Eagles as they return to the country’s premier collegiate league.

OUR LADIES in the Blue and White looked elsewhere for playing time after the cancellation of the Women’s 5-on-5 basketball in UAAP Season 84. While their preseason stints kept the team sharp and steady, significant roster changes prompted a need for a restart in the playing system.  

The AWBT is now led by Team Captain Jhazmin Joson, Co-captain LJ Miranda, and veterans Sandra Villacruz, and Angel Gino-Gino. However, with the departure of the majority of the Season 82 squad, the Blue Eagles enlist the help of a promising band of rookies. Ylyssa Eufemiano, Monique Fetalvero, and Junize Calago are but a few of the new members. At the helm of the reinvigorated AWBT, Head Coach LA Mumar is tasked to steer the team to victory in their Season 85 journey. 

The Blue Eagles are eager to recover from consecutive sixth overall finishes in Season 82 and Season 81, having tallied 5-9 and 4-10 win-loss records respectively. The abundance of young players may prove that the AWBT is undergoing a rebuilding phase, however,  the team is still determined to make a run for the UAAP gold. 

“We are not rebuilding though, whatever we have, we are [going to] push with that,” Joson explained in an interview.

As we head into Season 85, here are three big questions to consider as we follow the Blue Eagles on their quest for a championship:

How can Coach Mumar make an impact?

After serving as the tournament director for the basketball games in  Season 82, Ateneo alumnus LA  Mumar was slated to take over as the AWBT’s head coach back in the year 2020. After playing for the Men’s Basketball Team during his whole student life, Mumar was now ready to share his expertise in the UAAP Women’s basketball scene. 

His initial responsibility of coaching the Women’s team during the canceled Season 83 was one of the toughest obstacles to surmount as half the team was graduating at the time. Ateneo’s core which included Katrina Guytingco, Pam Payac, Nic Cancio, and Alyssa Villamor have already exhausted their playing years with the Ateneo. AWBT’s hopes of reaching the Final Four dwindled as the spots of the graduated players had to be filled by the newly-recruited homegrown players.

Amid bustling game preparations and arrangements, Mumar’s stint was unfavorably met with a two-year absence from onsite sports activities brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the unprecedented turnout of events, Coach Mumar has nonetheless showcased his efficient leadership as evident in the team’s recent preseason games and tournament outcomes. 

In hopes of rewriting the AWBT’s fate in the widely-anticipated return to the UAAP, Coach Mumar has yet to set the stage for the girls as they climb up the ranks.

How will returning veterans lead the team?

Boasting a youthful roster, all eyes will be on the veterans to impart their wisdom to the team’s batch of rookies. 

AWBT captain Joson’s experience as the floor general will be crucial for Fetalvero and Calago’s development in orchestrating the offense. Meanwhile, Eufemiano could look to  Miranda’s aggressiveness in dissecting the defense and executing run-and-gun plays. With regard to Ateneo’s frontcourt, the experienced Villacruz can mentor Ateneo’s new wing players Sofia Navarro and Sarah Makanjuola on the much-needed court spacing and positioning of the team

The AWBT are both loaded with UAAP experience and fresh talent, and the rookies’ time with the veterans has been nothing short of productive. In the preseason stints with the team, Eufemiano already played like a battle-tested pro with how confident she is in taking the open shots. If she can consistently find the right positions on the court, there should be no surprise if she makes a run for the Rookie of the Year award. Supporting Eufemiano at the Center position is Makanjuola, whose presence in the post could further elevate Ateneo’s frontcourt. She will be crucial in matchups against the league’s big men like the reigning MVP Grace Irebu of the University of Santo Tomas, who recorded a season-high 25 rebounds against the Blue Eagles in Season 82.

Heading into the team’s first UAAP 5-on-5 tournament in two years, it will be interesting to see how the veterans will mold the future leaders of Ateneo Women’s basketball.

Will preseason experience fare up in the UAAP?

The AWBT has proven their strong foundation and capabilities on the court through impressive achievements in the preseason tournaments Marikina City Women’s Basketball (MCWBL) and Sulit Breakdown Basketball Under 25 (BBi U25). 

Undefeated throughout the entire course of the MCWBL, the AWBT (8-0) emerged as champions after capping off their final game against the Dragons Club (6-2), 108-55. At the start of the first finals bout against the Dragons Club, the AWBT was able to set the rhythm with Villacruz’s and Kaycee dela Rosa’s early offensive plays that consisted of back-to-back shots and bonus free throws. By maximizing their full-court press, the team was also able to secure a 44-point lead against their opponents by the end of the first half. 

The team’s dominance in the second half was then anchored by center Makanjuola, whose rebounds helped fuel the team’s lead. Veteran guard Miranda and rookie Eufemiano combined for a total of 15 boards. Amassing large leads against their opponents, the AWBT was able to maintain their remarkable performance until the end of the match, allowing them to win the championship. 

Shortly after their reign in the MCWBL, the AWBT went on to snag the crown in the 2022 Sulit BBi Women’s U25 championship against the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers, 72-67. For the first time in BBi history, two players were given the Most Valuable Player (MVP) title, with dela Rosa and Joson sharing the award. While dela Rosa accumulated a staggering 24 points, 16 rebounds, and 2 blocks alone, Joson followed suit with a total of 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists.

Given their excellent performances in their preseason ventures, the team has shown that their offensive and defensive tactics are moving in the right direction. However, preseason successes aside, the AWBT has yet to prove their progress in the bigger stage which is the UAAP.

With the introduction of a new coach and a stellar band of rookies, the AWBT’s  lineup is shaping up to be a formidable challenge against their upcoming opponents. Considering that the team’s exemplary players are also choosing to stay for another UAAP season, the AWBT may now have a chance at climbing up the ranks and reaching the Final Four.

“We’ve always been seven, sixth place. But yeah, so it’s a different team. It’s different, like different faces, different coaches. So everything is new, fresh from the start,” Joson shared. 

As the new UAAP season looms just around the corner, the AWBT is expected to maintain their winning momentum from the preseason and use it to their advantage for the bigger league.

Upcoming matches 

Sunday, October 2, 10:00 AM, vs Far Eastern University Tamaraws at the Mall of Asia Arena

Wednesday, October 5, 11:00 AM, vs National University Bulldogs at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion

Sunday, October 9, 10:00 AM, vs De La Salle University Green Archers at the Smart Araneta Coliseum 

Wednesday, October 12, 1:00 PM, vs University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion