Thoughts about Ateneo's 0 - 3 Start, and a plea to Ateneans

  I won't be posting the recaps for the past three game dates because of personal problems, but I feel like I really have to write regarding this issue, not only because I am an Atenean, but also because I am a spectator of Philippine Basketball.

   I've been watching the UAAP for almost 11 years now. If you do the Math, that's around 2002, the same year Ateneo won a UAAP championship. I remember the very first Ateneo jersey that I got; it was a Rich Alvarez jersey, and until now, it still fits me quite well.

My very first Ateneo jersey. Rich Alvarez.
(photo courtesy of writer)

    Still fresh in my mind is the memory of my very first Ateneo - La Salle game live, where my mom and I had to brave the floods of Katipunan just so we could go home from the Katipunan MRT Station. Still fresh in my mind is that thriller of an Ateneo - Adamson which saw LA Tenorio hit a clutch step back three to win the game for Ateneo. Still fresh in my mind is the Doug Kramer shot. Still fresh in my mind is me cheering "Go USTe! "Go USTe!" during the Ateneo - UST Finals Series, just because the cheer was so catchy (although UST is probably my favorite team not named Ateneo though). Still fresh in my mind is Ford Arao shining during Season 70 along with Chris Tiu. Still fresh in my mind is me telling Bacon Austria that we have the same phone when I had my shirt signed by him when the team visited the AGS after their championship run in Season 71. Still fresh in my mind is Rabeh dunking the ball in Game 3 of their Finals series against UE during Season 72, which was probably the dagger for that game. Still fresh in my mind is arguably the most clutch shot that I have ever seen in Ryan Buenafe's dagger 3 against FEU. Still fresh in my mind is Kiefer exploding against La Salle after a 0 point game. Still fresh in my mind is Kiefer posterizing Karim Abdul.

  To cut it short really, in probably my whole lifetime, I have lived with Ateneo winning. It didn't necessarily have to be in the Finals, but it could be during the regular season even. Seeing Ateneo go to the Final Four seemed like second nature to me. I was raised with a winning tradition from the Katipunan based team. I was so used to seeing Ateneo hoist championships, and if not so, engaging in enthralling Final Four match ups. 

   Season 76 wasn't expected to be a dominant season for the Blue Eagles, but they were still expected to contend. Despite the graduation of Nico Salva, Greg Slaughter and Justin Chua from the Blue and White, Ateneo still had a solid team nonetheless. Kiefer Ravena was expected to lead the team, especially after a supernova performance during the Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup. His backups were veteran guard Ryan Buenafe, super athletic Chris Newsome and big men Frank Golla and Poy Erram. Despite the lack of a reliable post scorer, success was expected of this team not only because they had the experience to do so, but also because they had a coach who fitted the composition of their line up well in Bo Perasol, a coach known for his teams who have  fast pace guard oriented style of play.

  3 games into Season 76, hope has suddenly turned into doubt. Doubt surrounds the skies of Loyola Heights. Doubt along Loyola Heights that hasn't been seen... in probably forever.

Is Kiefer really the antidote to this slump?
(credits to sports.inquirer.net)

  When Ateneo lost its first game against NU, I was actually pretty happy, because they showed heart and determination despite the deficit they had to rise from. When Ateneo lost to FEU, I still had hope in the Blue Eagles since they were facing an FEU team that had all the momentum, plus an uprising of a certain Terrence Romeo. When Ateneo lost to La Salle well.......

  I was practically speechless.

  I was at a loss for the words. Literally. I didn't know if I was pissed, or if I was disappointed. I just didn't know. It was indescribable. A 14 point lead that vanished as if it was magic. A lost opportunity to escape from the depths of hell. Not only did they lose the opportunity, but they actually dug themselves even deeper into the depths of hell.

  The haters were happily laughing at Ateneo. Why wouldn't they? Ateneo deserved all the scrutiny. After a great preseason showing, they were down in the standings. Comments such as "Wala na yan" "Kay Kiefer lang naman umaasa eh" "Anong klaseng Coach yan?" "Katipuneros unite!" surfaced all throughout the internet. These comments weren't posted solely by fans from other schools; they were even posted from Ateneans as well.

  Fuel was added to the fire when Coach Bo said the following:

"I'm not a believer of adjustments but I always look at the energy level of the players. We led because of our energy but when we lost it was because of energy and that's what happened." - Bo Perasol (credits to Manila Bulletin)

   Ateneans were in disbelief when Coach Bo said that statement. He doesn't in believe in the thing that brought Ateneo to their 5 straight championships; adjustment. Others asked for his firing, while there were also others who didn't buy into his statement. Whatever he may have meant, Ateneans didn't like it.

  All of a sudden, Ateneans are losing hope.

  When I went to school the Monday after the Ateneo - La Salle game, some of my batch mates actually teased me concerning the situation of Ateneo, stating that they didn't believe that a 6 peat was possible anymore.

  I couldn't blame them, to be honest, but deep inside, as an Ateneo fan and as an unofficial writer and supporter of the team, I was hurt.

  After years of success from the team, they were falling down. After years of insurmountable support from alumni, the school and even regular Basketball fans, there was doubt, and some were even completely giving up on Ateneo. Fans were GIVING UP, and worse, THEY WERE MAKING EXCUSES.

  "Wala naman si Kiefer eh" "Nagpapadehado lang yan" "Give other teams chance naman diba, let's be men for others!"

  That's what really ticked me off.

  I'm not really ticked off that Ateneo's struggling this early into the season. I'm disappointed and saddened of course, but it was no reason to lash at the team. Even champions fall. But what really ticked me off was that fans were actually GIVING UP, and THEY WERE MAKING EXCUSES.

  First of all, why are you guys giving up? Those are just 3 games. Think positive. There are 11 games to go, and we've seen crazier things happen in the UAAP. Win or lose it's the school we choose right? That's the line we Ateneans recite every time we sing our alma mater song right? So LIVE UP TO IT.

  Second, why make these crazy excuses? I understand some are for jest, but there are people who actually make these excuses and they actually mean it.

  "Wala naman si Kiefer eh"

  Is Kiefer Ateneo? Is Kiefer the only talent in Ateneo? Will he be the one to provide ALL the scoring when he comes back?

It's TEAM Ateneo for a reason. Lose as a TEAM, win as a TEAM.
(credits to the GetBlued Facebook page)

   Ateneo is a TEAM. TEAM Ateneo. Kiefer isn't the only player in Ateneo, they have other pieces as well. Kiefer is a huge loss for Ateneo's offense, yes, but there are other players who can also score in the team. It's the TEAM's responsibility to adjust to the loss of their main man. Plus, the term actually disrespects the TEAM as well. No one player is bigger than the team that he belongs to. WE not ME. 

"Give other teams chance naman diba, let's be men for others!" 

  Personally, I absolutely hate it when fans say "give other teams a chance". It's like saying, "Can you guys give us the game?". Sports shouldn't be like that. It's a competition, and in a competition, there can only be one winner. How does one win? By giving one's best. 

  These players are all competitors. They all want to win and represent their school properly. Why would they even tryout and join the team in the first place? Why would they sacrifice their bodies for the sake of one ball? For the sake of representing their school, and so that they can win for their school. In sports, there can only be one winner, and we should learn to accept that. We can't have everything.

 As a plea to Ateneans, I'd like to say..

Don't give up on our Seniors' Basketball TEAM.

  If you guys actually expect them to win, SUPPORT them. They need every support that they can get. Leaving the team alone won't help. In the end, no one wins. 

  There are 11 games left. As I said, CRAZIER things have happened in the UAAP. This season is practically an open one. ANYONE can win, and that includes our team, TEAM Ateneo. Let's give our all out support for the Blue Eagles, win or lose.

Support the other Ateneo sports teams as well; they need it to.

  The Ateneo Basketball program as a whole is actually having quite a tough time as of the moment. Other than the seniors' team struggles, the Juniors' team and the Women's teams have been struggling as well. 

  The Women's team hasn't been doing too well as of late, and they just lost a game against the UE Red Warriors this past week, a team with 1 WIN between Seasons 74 and 75. In short, the Women's team BADLY needs help right now. 

  The Juniors' team has been underachieving as of late. The team has been looking for redemption after two championship - less seasons, and their team looks built to do so. Despite lacking a legitimate post presence, they are still expected to contend. Expected to lead the team are versatile super forward Thirdy Ravena, undersized big man Mike Nieto, graduating forward Jme Escaler, their starting shooting guard Aaron Black and their quarterback in Matthew Nieto.  The team looks very much primed to contend, but they will definitely need help from you guys, the fans.

Hey, they need our support too. Redemption.
(credits to admu.edu.ph)

No need to argue with fans from opposing teams

  This won't help, guys. In fact, it will make things even worse. It will give fans from opposing teams that Ateneans are classless and are simply spoiled brats. We don't want that to happen, as that could trigger other fans to bashing our players. They don't need any of that. They need less pressure, and we should help them.

  11 games to go. It's still a long way. Anything can happen, so let's not give up, guys. 

Win or lose, it's the school we choose.

ONE BIG FIGHT.

ONE BIG FIGHT!