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| Inducted to the 2009 ASHOF - Joseph Kenneth "Jet" Nieto, Joseph "Seph" Canlas, Alejandro "Alex" Araneta, Emilio "Nonoy" Chuatico |
The Ateneo can only hold you for so long so when the dust settled everyone went their own way. There were those that pursued basketball as a career. Jun Reyes was the third pick of the 1990 PBA draft by Pepsi-Cola but made his mark with the Alaska Milkmen as he won countless titles playing for Tim Cone. He briefly coached the Blue Eaglets and won a title in 1997. He retired from the PBA in 2001 and is now in Irvine, California, USA working in the Healthcare industry. Alex Araneta was the first player picked in the 1991 PBA Draft (the first Atenean to be picked #1) by Alaska and he played with the Milkmen until 1995 and retired early because of constant knee problems. He then went on to work with the Alaska Milk Corporation for four years and then migrated to Sydney, Australia where he held various executive positions for a number of Australian companies. JV Gayoso was the seventh pick in the same draft Alex went #1. He gained so much popularity in the PBA playing for Ginebra and was dubbed Mr. Adrenalin. He also came out in various movies at the peak of his popularity in the PBA. He then last played with Tanduay in the 2001 season and is now the Coach of MPBL team the Rizal Golden Coolers. Eric Reyes was the sixth player taken in the 1992 draft by Swift. Eric Also played for Mobiline and last played with Alaska in 2002. Just like his batch mates Albert Mendoza and Raymund Morales, they have been part of their family businesses. Nonoy Chuatico was drafted two notches after Eric in the 1992 draft at #8 by Ginebra. He played until 1996 and then joined his brother afterwards in the Insurance industry. Olsen Racela was the last to be drafted in the PBA as the 11th pick by Coney Island in the 1993 draft. He was traded to San Miguel in 1997 as their lead guard and his game reached epic levels. Olsen is the only one in the team that had two first team mythical selections (2000 & 2001) and three second team mythical selections (1998, 1999, & 2004). He is now one of the assistant Coaches of the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings and head Coach of the FEU Tamaraws. Jet Nieto finished medical school and is now a successful medical doctor. Haj Jeongco is in the field of banking and finance and is an executive in one of the big banks in our country. Two Blue Eagles are now based in the USA. Mel Basa is in Jackson, New Jersey and is in the field of IT and Business Process outsourcing. Seph Canlas is an Executive chef in a famous restaurant in Frederick, Maryland. Gene Afable is one of the assistant coaches of the Ateneo Blue Eagles and the Meralco Bolts PBA team. Jojo Habana is a Senior Director of a big international logistics company. Rico Santiago handles technical services for a luxury watch retailer in Canberra, Australia. Danny Francisco went back to basketball but as a commentator in the MBA from 1998 – 2000 and Team Manager of the Cebu Gems. He is now into real estate investments.
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Inducted to the ASHOF 2012 - Enrique "Eric" Reyes, Daniel "Danny" Francisco, Gilbert "Jun" Reyes Jr., Rodericko Cesar "Olsen" Racela |
"Excellence in Sports has always been a part of the Ateneo
tradition. The Ateneo Sports Hall of fame Inc.'s mission is finding heroes for
they embody the very meaning of Magis - aiming for excellence. They serve as an
inspiration to young athletes and achievers. Every three years those who embody
this Ateneo tradition is honored and recognized!" Twenty-one years after the
historic back-to-back title win; members of the 1987- 1988 Blue Eagles were asked
to go back to the hill to be recognized as members of the prestigious Ateneo
Sports Hall of Fame. The 2009 Inductees were Nonoy Chuatico, Alex Araneta, Jet
Nieto and team captain Joseph Canlas. In 2012 the next cycle of inductees were
called as Jun Reyes, Eric Reyes, Danny Francisco and Olsen Racela were also
included to the Ateneo Sports hall of fame. Such a fitting
recognition to the people who brought back the Glory of Ateneo Basketball.
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| Yours truly with the 1987-1988 BLUE EAGLES |
The story of the 1987 – 1988 Blue Eagles is a story of redemption. A story on how this team brought back the once flourishing sports program of the Ateneo that was demoralized when we made the switch from the NCAA to the UAAP. A story of how champions are made and how a champion crowd can help back you up. A story of sacrifice and how a team fought different kinds of adversities that went their way. A story that inspired future generations of Ateneans especially the 2003 Ateneo Blue Eagles whose core came from the champion Blue Eaglets teams. Just like today, these men will always be band of brothers and immortalized by Coach Tab’s mantra – the next man up mentality! One Big Fight!
THANK YOU FOR READING THIS BLOG THIS IS FOR THE ATENEO!!!
SOURCES:
Player stories
Newspaper clippings
Manila Standard Archives
Manila Bulletin Archives
Rick Olivares Bleachers Brew
Various Guidon copies
Various Aegis yearbooks
Various Blue Books
and My own notes
Not all pictures are mine
THANKS TO
·
OGIE
NARVASA
·
NONOY
CHUATICO
·
MEL
BASA
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JET
NIETO
·
ERIC
REYES
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ALBERT
MENDOZA
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RANDY
SEVILLA
·
OLSEN
RACELA
·
DANNY
FRANCISCO
·
RICO
SANTIAGO
·
CYRIL
SORIANO
·
THE
1987-1988 BLUE EAGLES
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