IT IS all eyes now on interim head coach Louie Alas with a tall order to steady the ship for the sunken Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) men’s basketball program on the heels of one of the biggest sports tragedies in history following the tragic drowning of its players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili in Dipaculao, Aurora last June 8.
With the UAAP finally hammering the verdict on Ateneo with a perpetual ban on resigned head coach Tab Baldwin and the suspension of eight team staff, Mr. Alas is ready to be the man in charge for a new era in Katipunan — at least for now.
“It’s still an interim role. We’re still coping and trying to catch up,” Mr. Alas told The STAR onSunday as Ateneo attempts to get on its feet and pick up the pieces of the embattled program.
And while his role is not permanent just yet, Mr. Alas’ mettle will be tested way before the UAAP, where the team remains eligible to compete in Season 89 according to the league’s decision last week, as the ADMU Blue Eagles earned a wildcard ticket as the No. 21 seed in the Pinoyliga Big Dance.
The UAAP, however, whipped resigned head coach Mr. Baldwin with a lifetime ban and suspended team manager Epok Quimpo, assistants Dean Caesar Castaño, Sandro Nicholas Romero Soriano, Reynaldo Jacinto, Jr., Hernan Ameer Domingo, Caesar Vincent Javellana Elumba and Grant Dearns alongside physical therapist John Eric Rueca “until further determination by the UAAP Board.”
Now at the helm, Mr. Alas’ first order of business is against Our Lady of Fatima Phoenix in Round 1 of the 28-team Pinoyliga field, that fired off over the weekend, on Aug. 16 at the Blue Eagle Gym, hoping to make it a good start for what’s left of the Ateneo coaching staff and roster led by his own son and upcoming rookie Kieffer.
“We had no basketball action for more than a month. We’re on our third week now since coming back but there’s still a lot of things to tackle,” added the former PBA and NCAA champion mentor, who notched the services of his former Letran Knights RJ Jazul and Kerby Raymundo as assistant coaches.
Seasoned deputies Gene Afable and Bacon Austria are also on board with former deputy Nico Salva, a five-time UAAP champion with the Blue Eagles, serving as interim team manager.
Pinoyliga will be the first game for Ateneo, which is yet to announce its full roster, since a 72-52 debut win against Adamson in the 19th Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup last June 6 at the Playtime Filoil Centre in San Juan. The Blue Eagles two days later embarked on an unfortunate journey to North Luzon for a camp at the Hermanos Leisure Farm in Dipaculao.
Since then, Ateneo pulled out of the Filoil tourney and the Japan’s University Top League as part of its supposedly UAAP buildup under four-time champion mentor Mr. Baldwin. — John Bryan Ulanday