UAAP preview: Grandslam-seeking Eagles face tough test

The legendary Virgilio “Baby" Dalupan is a rare breed mentor who completed grandslams in the UAAP and the PBA. He was the coach of the University of the East Warriors, then bannered by Robert Jaworski, when the squad won a three-peat from 1965 to 1968. In the PBA, he brought his winning ways to the fabled Crispa Redmanizers. He has the stroke of a master, which was the reason why he was called as the one and only “Maestro" in local basketball scene. By the end of this season's UAAP men's basketball tournament, Ateneo mentor Norman Black hopes he could join Dalupan as the only other mentor to win grandslams in the collegiate and professional cage league. Black, who steered San Miguel Beer to a triple crown in 1989, will try to do what Dalupan had accomplished, and tow the Blue Eagles to a rare grandslam. But repeating history is easier said than done. The Blue Eagles will be without Rabeh Al-Hussaini, defensive demon Nonoy Baclao and cerebral guard Jai Reyes, this season. The trio played a pivotal role for the team's successful back-to-back championships last year. “We lost a big part of last year’s team, but I consider this as a big challenge. How good our team now remains to be seen," said Black, whose wards underwent a pre-season training at the Abunassar Institute of Basketball. AIB is a world-renowned basketball academy where NBA superstars Kevin Garnett, Chauncey Billups and Andrei Kirilenko among others, undergo pre-season, conditioning program to get themselves ready for a grueling 82 regular-season games and possible bone-wearing playoff matches. But Black remains upbeat the remaining holdovers will step up to the challenge. Ryan Buenafe and Eric Salamat are undoubtedly the go-to-guys of the Blue Eagles this season while Black expects Nicolas Salva to have a breakout season with the departure of Baclao and Al-Hussaini. “Nico is expected to have a breakout season as he will enjoy more minutes with the departure of Noy (Baclao) and Rabeh (Al-Husseini)," said Black, owner of 10 PBA championships while coaching the Beermen and the Sta. Lucia Realtors. But Black will have his secret weapon set to be unloaded this season. This weapon will come up front as he will utilize two players who have already served their residency status. “They’re not actually rookies. They are players who have already served the residency rule and basically, they knew exactly what the team is doing," said Black. The multi-titled mentor is referring to his transferees – JP Erram and Fil-Am Jason Escueta. Erram is a 6-foot-7 find from Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro while Escueta is a 6-foot-5 center/forward. They will fill in the void left by Baclao and Al-Husseini. Also coming back for Ateneo are Eman Monfort, Juami Tiongson, Tonino Gonzaga, Kirk Long, Chris de Chavez, Justin Chua, Frank Golla, and Bacon Austria. Two other newcomers are expected to catch UAAP followers’ attention. The name Art dela Cruz does ring a bell to basketball fans. Yes, the former San Miguel Beerman and current Barangay Ginebra assistant coach has a son, Art Jr., who will be one of the newcomers for Ateneo. He will be joined by fellow rookies Jeric Estrada from San Sebastian and Carlo Balmaceda from Ateneo’s high school team. The Blue Eagles are now ready to take off for an ambitious “three-peat." But how high can they fly this season depends on how chemistry comes quickly into fore. - Rey Joble, GMANews.TV