1983 Opening Ceremonies
If there was demoralization in the Senior’s team when the switch
to the UAAP happened, it was hardly felt in the Juniors team because in the
first three years that the Blue Eaglets played, the teams then won three
straight juniors titles. The Blue Eaglets eventually lost in 1981 and 1982 with
the defending champion UST Golden Nuggets favored to repeat because of an
intact line-up. In the years leading to the 1987 UAAP Season, the
core of the team would come from the four different juniors teams that represented
the Blue and White from 1983 to 1986.
Bibo Pefianco (13) is taken out of position
THE 1983 ATENEO BLUE EAGLETS
On the other side of the campus, the Blue Eaglets were just coming
to their own once again as the new crop of exciting and promising players were
elevated to the Juniors program. Just three years ago, the Blue Eaglets won
their third straight juniors title and now that the core of that team is in the
Seniors Division, it is time for the junior’s basketball program to make a
comeback. Leading the team were two juniors that revitalized the sleeping
Ateneo Basketball program and gave it the needed jumpstart that would
eventually lead to glory in the late 80s. Jaime Vicente "JV" Gayoso is a dynamo and he was then known as “The man with a
thousand moves!” He can score from almost everywhere on the court and he is so
strong that even if you ride his back on a lay-up he will surely score with a
foul to boot. He is an inside – outside scorer with a decent defensive game. Gilbert "Jun"Reyes Jr. is an example of a thinking point guard. He knows
exactly when to orchestrate, when to score and when to put on some tough
defense. Don’t let that 5’8 height fool you because if you take him for granted
he might as well score a jumper in your face. Back then Alejandro "Alex" Araneta was a work in progress. But definitely a
risk the team is willing to take. Its not often that the rebounds fall in the
hands of a high leaping 6’6 center and he is most effective in countering the
big guys of the other schools. Complementing the three were battle-scarred seniors with Captain Emmanuel “Nolet”
Puno, Bibo Pefianco, Louie Bonoan, Pancho TIzon, Raffy Veloso, Romulo Ramos,
Mike Agleron and Roberto Liamzon. Completing the team were Germz Sanchez, Chim Sison and Randy Sevilla. The Ateneo had three
pairs of brothers playing in both the seniors and juniors with Chot and Jun
Reyes, Vince and Alex Araneta and Franco and Randy Sevilla.
Action under the goal
That season the defending champion UST Golden Nuggets were on
their way to sweep the UAAP Juniors tournament when the never say die Blue
Eaglets weaved their magic to accomplish the impossible. Imagine
having to beat a team they have never beaten for three straight games to be
able to annex the title the Blue Eaglets last held in 1980. First to avert a 12
game sweep then negate their twice to beat advantage in the finals. Leading the
Golden Nuggets were 2 big frontline players in 6-3 Rene “Bong” Hawkins and 6-6
Julian Rabbi Tomacruz. Hawkins was a force inside as he led UST by scoring
44 points against Adamson in one of their games.
Rebound play
Just like any championship, the first is always the hardest one to
get but the Blue Eaglets were not one to surrender right away as Jun Reyes and
JV Gayoso combined with their more senior players Nolet Puno, Bibo Pefianco and
Louie Bonoan to beat the Nuggets in three straight games including the title clinching game to the score of 94 – 85 to win the 1983 UAAP Juniors
title. This year also marked the rise of an Ateneo star in Jayvee Gayoso who
won the UAAP-Celtics one on one competition by edging out Rene Hawkins of the
Golden nuggets. JV Gayoso, the man with a
thousand moves, put more than a thousand moves on display to come out victorious. He literally toiled hard to bring the title back to Katipunan as he shot the ball well and barrelled his way inside the paint to no avail. Jun
Reyes on the other hand combined his speed,
with his impeccable shooting and his excellent leadership earned him the finals MVP. This team would pave the way for greater
things to come.
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One of the best if not the Best Ateneo Juniors team ever
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THE 1984
ATENEO BLUE EAGLETS
After
threading the needle the year before, the 1984 Ateneo Blue Eaglets were
optimistic that the 47th season of the UAAP Juniors Basketball
were theirs to dominate. Coming back was team captain Jayvee Gayoso together
with co-captains Jun Reyes and Germz Sanchez. Alex Araneta would also return
that year together and another star on the rise Randy Sevilla who as a rookie
contributed well. Joining them after getting more seasoned from the PRADA and
PAYA teams were Joseph Canlas, Joseph Kenneth Nieto, Albert Nolido, Juluis
Cendana add to that defensive specialists Bing Arroyo and Jun Oledan, bruisers
Juergen Facundo and Albert Mendoza and the sharp shooting Robbie
Tanjuatco. Back then the Ateneo Juniors team was called “The Super
team” since it is probably one of the most complete teams assembled.
Joseph
“ICEMAN” Canlas is one of big guns
that eventually made it to the senior’s team. One doesn’t get to be called
Iceman if you are not a cool and no one gets to be called Iceman if you are not
as good as George Gervin. Seph is on the same mold minus the finger roll. Seph
can play both forward positions, can slash to middle and can shoot the ball
from afar. Seph can be a lockdown defender and will not back down from any
rough sailing that any opposing player will do.
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The 1984 Blue Eaglets in one of their practice games
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Joseph
Canlas and Jet Nieto are
made in the same mold for they can play both ways as they paralyze you on
offense and shut you down on defense. A natural power forward, Jet loves to mix
it up inside, grab rebounds and shoot the ball from afar. When he was still a
kid in Claret he never knew where basketball will take him but since he loved
the game he played the game with passion. When he transferred to the Ateneo
High School he got to play in the PAYA juniors team coached by the very
outspoken Dondi Baltazar. His flexibility on both ends of the court will is
another asset that returning Coach Rafael Dimalanta will surely take advantage
to the hilt.
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For the second straight year, the Blue Eaglets were King!
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This team
was deep to the core and even the best of the UST Golden Nuggets and Adamson
Baby Falcons were no match. A lot of Ateneans were saying that this team is the
best in their era and they did not disappoint as they ran rings around every
opponent enroute to a 12 – 0 slate and not even the Baby Falcons trio of
scoring machine Romulo Orillosa, Rolando Cupcupin and Teddy Naluz could derail
the team’s date for destiny. There were no empty seats this time and the game
was played at the Araneta Coliseum and was televised. At the end of it all, the
Blue Eaglets captured their fifth title in outstanding fashion. The season was
the baptism of fire of the fab -5 Jun Reyes, JV Gayoso, Joseph Canlas, Jet
Nieto and Alex Araneta that will go on to be the core of the Ateneo Blue
Eagles.
next blog entry: A NEW HOPE: Rising from the Ashes 1985 - 1986
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