Black, wounded Eagles vow to bounce back stronger

Its pride wounded after absorbing setbacks against its biggest threat on its grandslam bid and its old rival in the collegiate league, Ateneo needs to regroup and resume unfinished business. Multi-titled coach Norman Black vowed his Eagles will come out better, stronger next time and play like true champions.

The Eagles plunge back to action on Sunday against the dangerous National University Bulldogs at the Philsports Arena. The loss was the second in four games for the Eagles, who also lost their opening-day game against league-leading Far Eastern University, 69-72. "We have done a very good job over the years of bouncing back from losses, so I don't see any difference this time," he said. "We just have to figure out what we did wrong and try to fix it immediately for our next game." "But mostly, these players have championship experience so I don't expect them to just roll over and die. I expect them to bounce back," added the multi-titled mentor. The 63-66 loss to the Archers was a reality check that talent cannot win it alone for the Eagles. Black cited several lapses during their game against the Archers that saw them squander a nine-point lead with less than four minutes left. "It wasn't the offense that let us down. It was the defense that let us down," said Black. "Things such as not picking up your man on fastbreaks, not following around screens and giving up wide open three-point shots. Those are the things we need to improve on in our next game." Black explained the absence of Kirk Long and Eman Monfort in the crucial stages of the game was also a big blow to their cause. Long fouled out with two minutes remaining after hacking Joel Tolentino while Monfort suffered from cramps with under a minute left. "We had problems because Eman Monfort asked me to take him out when he was playing so well and he's tiring in the end," Black said. "Kirk Long fouled out and Eman Monfort suffered from cramps, so I have to bring people in the game that I probably won't bring in the endgame," he added. With both players out, Ateneo opted for backup Bacon Austria in the dying seconds while Ryan Buenafe sat on the bench. "He wasn't playing defense," Black said on Buenafe. "(La Salle's) Joshua Webb was able to get away from him so he wasn't playing. And if you want to play for me, you to have to play defense." Ateneo was heading for a victory when it took a 62-53 lead on a shot clock-beating basket by Nico Salva. - RCJ, GMANews.TV