Black shrugs off loss of key players, wants team to move on

Ateneo coach Norman Black doesn't want to entertain thoughts regarding the departure of Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Jai Reyes and Nonoy Baclao. "Let's move on," said Black, moments after the Blue Eagles' 69-72 loss to title favorite Far Eastern University last Sunday. "We didn't play well but we played a good team also," said Black. "I think what's very important is that we should stop talking about what Ateneo has lost. They're not coming back and we just have to focus on this team," he added. Ateneo tries to make it to the win column on Thursday when it takes on Adamson at the PhilSports Arena. Against the Falcons, the Eagles will need to do a better job shooting the ball. They shot a miserable 1-for-14 from the three-point area and got clobbered off the boards by FEU, 46-35. "We have to rebound the ball better, that's No. 1. We also have to move the ball well, because we felt we were stagnant," said Black. Nico Salva finished with 14 points while veterans Ryan Buenafe and Kirk Long added 13 and 11 points, respectively. But Black also wants to see a more intelligent Eric Salamat, who was held to just six points behind a 2-of-12 shooting, while dishing out just only two assists. "We started Eric Salamat at point guard during the Father Martin Cup and he's actually doing a good job. But I think he got hung up in trying to score than trying to be a playmaker in our Sunday's game," said Black. - JVP, RCJ, GMANews.TV