BC All Ateneo Affair

WESLEY GONZALES AND JC INTAL

JC was a rookie when the team won in 2002. It just came to me when I said that Wesley was also new in 2002 since he skipped the 2001 season. JC has now recovered from a sickness that involved him not sweating which led us to say “Your practices are no sweat to you right!” Tracy asked both Wes and JC if they have immediate wedding plans, both of them are not yet ready to answer those questions. Wesley was very animated and he even said that playing basketball is just his stepping stone to becoming a movie star! His classmate by the way is movie hunk Alfred Vargas.

JC is now playing with Air 21 and has just finished his first season with the team. He has high hopes that he will be playing lots of minutes soon. Wesley on the other hand is now in his fifth year and is requesting SMB Management if he could be traded to a team that will have good use of his skills as a small forward. He specifically mentioned the Purefoods team. There was already a news item that came out that he was already traded to Purefoods, unfortunately there were things that they are still ironing out so that the trade can be consummated. Good luck to your respective careers guys, the whole Ateneo community is watching you.

THE ATENEO BLUE EAGLETS

The team had Mythical Five member Juami Tiongson, Finals MVP JV Dumrique, his brother Chucky, Center Ivan Enriquez and Kevin Gamboa. They were accompanied by their Assistant Coaches Joe Silva, Gio Tingson and one of the team managers Blue Viray. The four seniors were thankful that they came in together as champions in 2006, learned a lot from their 2007 debacle and are very happy to leave a legacy when they leave the Ateneo High School with another championship. One important thing discussed were their chances of landing a spot in the Ateneo Seniors team. Ivan for one said he needs to improve a lot of things in his game since rumors say that the SSC Staglets main man Arvie Bringas might be wearing the Blue and White jersey come season 72. He would need to compete for the same slot that Arvie will be setting his sights on. At the same time, HS ball is a lot different than college. For one Tonino Gonzaga has adjusted to playing shooting guard but we do remember him as the small Power forward of the 2006 Champion squad. J

Juami and JV were both overwhelmed that they got the nod to be in the Mythical 5 and finals MVP but what lacked a great season was payback against the DLS-Z junior archers. As Joe Silva would put it when I asked him were they ready if DLS-Z would have been the team that advanced to the finals? “The outcome would have been the same irregardless of who we met in the finals!” Very well said. Good luck to the four seniors who will be trying out for a slot in the Ateneo Men’s team and good luck also to Chucky Dumrique who will be one of the key players for next year’s team. Imagine, he will be teaming up with his SBP rival Keifer Ravena against the Gwyne Capacio led DLS-Z team next season. Good luck to the Ateneo Blue Eaglets – One Big Fight!

THE ATENEO BLUE EAGLES

The team had Finals MVP Nonoy Baclao, Graduating super senior Yuri Escueta, balik BC Nico Salva, Bacon Austria, Oping Sumalinog, Mike Baldos and team Manager Paolo Trillo. Most of the things talked about were their mixed feelings in getting the title. As Bacon Austria put it, “This is the reward for the countless sacrifices we made.” I asked Bacon if he had a hard time with his transition from playing forward (small and Power) in High School to playing a little bit of point guard with Coach Norman. He said not really since he believes he has good point guard sense that runs around his blood which he owes to his dad. Nonoy on the other hand mentioned that he has improved a lot specially since he was once rattled by the rowdy UAAP crowd. He has since adjusted and because he has always kept his game face on, he focuses on the game and does not know what happened when he let his emotions out when he blocked an important DLSU offensive. nonoy thus apologized to rico maierhoher for his act or reaction which he deemed as unethical. a lot of them are thinking that back to back championships are not far off. According to team manager Paolo Trillo, they are just finishing some things and hopefully they can plan the cruise to which where the blue eagles will be given the necessary respite and celebration.