Ateneo De Manila is gunning for its first ever UAAP Grand Slam this year. In 2008 they made an improbably run back to the UAAP Finals and beat archrival Lasalle for the title in a clean two-game final sweep. They rode the back of Season 71 MVP Rabeh Al-Hussaini and the brilliance of team leader Chris Tiu. Last year they completed a rare back-to-back title campaign by outlasting University of the East in an unexpectedly tough three-game finale. Hotshot pointguard Jai Reyes and defensive demon Nonoy Baclao saw them through that historic title run. This is the year they try to make it three in a row.

All four of the aforementioned hoops heroes have graduated and are no longer with the team, which means Coach Norman Black will have to rely on a bunch of players who were previously happy playing roles and letting the stars do their thing. Emerging as the new team leader is 5-foot-10 guard Eric Salamat, the UAAP sultan of swipe. Salamat has been known as the most accomplished ball hawk in the league throughout his college career thus far. His steals have fueled the feared Ateneo transition attack. He will have to find more offense this time around though, since he is now the best player Ateneo has at the perimeter.

Joining Salamat at the perimeter are diminutive 5-foot-6 pointguard Eman Monfort, 6-foot-1 guard Kirk Long, 6-foot-1 guard Bacon Austria and 6-foot-2 swingman Ryan Buenafe. Monfort is a certified gunner with incredible range and an unorthodox shooting form. His underrated speed allows him to slip through the seams in the defense. Long and Austria alternate at the combo position helping advance and rotate the ball while also providing the occasional basket. Long will be counted on to also provide strong perimeter defense on opposing superstars. Buenafe had to work on his academics after their last title run and gained some unwanted pounds. He remains one of the most skilled players at the 3/2 spots and is now working to trim down in time for opening day.

Ateneo’s biggest concern now is in the post. They no longer have the sure scoring of Al-Hussaini or the defensive insurance of Baclao. Third-year 6-foot-3 forward Nico Salva has emerged as the new man at the 3 and 4 spots. Salva is very athletic and has underrated strength, but he does not have the height or heft of the other star forwards of the UAAP. Two newcomers will help shore up the 4 and 5 spots: 6-foot-7 center JP Erram and 6-foot-4 forward-center Jason “Jumbo” Escueta. Erram will try to fill the defensive shoes of Baclao. Escueta will try to provide points from the low post. 6-foot-6 center Justin Chua and 6-foot-5 center-forward Frank Golla need to provide more than just 10 fouls between them.

High school basketball seems to be just fine as far as Ateneo in concerned though. Concerns about losing over half the roster that also won back-to-back championships themselves now seem a little overwrought. Apparently Coach Jamike Jarin had more than enough boys in the high school training pool to fill in the shoes of those who have graduated. 5-foot-10 Phenom Keifer Ravena is now the undisputed superstar, joined by fellow RP Youth mainstays: 6-foot swingman Von Pessumal and 6-foot-2 forward-center Paolo Romero. Women’s basketball is still far off from the championships of 2005 and 2007.