It is sometimes difficult to believe that Ateneo was once a struggling college basketball program. They went through a 14-year title drought and a five-year dry spell after that. Now they are on the verge of winning their fourth straight UAAP basketball championship. This will be the longest title reign in the UAAP for the Blue Eagles if they pull it off. “You want to bet against Ateneo this season? They were weaker last year and they beat the strongest team in the UAAP and completed a grand slam,” noted a senior sports columnist. “You want to bet against them now that they have Greg Slaughter and Kiefer Ravena?”

Indeed the 7-foot Slaughter and the wondrous Ravena have been on everybody’s minds and lips. Slaughter will be the biggest player in the UAAP in Season 74 and he has the best big man coach in the UAAP helping refine his game. Ravena has made older players and international competition look very ordinary with his myriad moves and natural athletic gifts. If that isn’t enough forward Nico Salva, center Justin Chua, swingman Kirk Long and guard Eman Monfort are all now another year older and better. If head coach Norman Black gets anything else out of the shock troopers on his veteran roster that will be merely gravy.

Off-guard Eric Salamat and center-forward Jason Escueta are both no longer eligible and are gone pursuing careers in the PBA D League. Swingman Ryan Buenafe, center Jeric Estrada and forward-center Arthur De La Cruz are also off the team. These last three are reportedly on academic probation. “All three are currently enrolled,” said Black during an interview after one Fr Martin Cup game in late April. Buenafe will be the most sorely missed this season. He practically delivered the grand slam title last year when he carried the offensive load then capped that with a pressure trey in Game 2 against Far Eastern University. He was the rookie of the year in the first of these titles, and remained a vital cog as a facilitator and decoy in the back-to-back title run. His ability to alter games with his incredible court sense and recognition will be missed in critical situations.

Black has now won every college basketball tournament in the country that his Blue Eagles have ever played with their title romp in the recent Fil Oil summer tournament. They walloped NCAA champion San Beda 75-56 with Slaughter leading the way with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Ateneo was never threatened in this game, erecting several 19-point spreads incuding the final tally. Slaughter was so dominant throughout the summer that his eligibility was questioned by other UAAP schools. Slaughter however got the green light to play this season, and may have payback on his mind against the three schools that voted against him in the last UAAP Board Meeting before opening weekend. “We are of course very happy with the decision, and with Greg we are a stronger team,” said Black.

Unfortunately things are not quite so kosher with the once-mighty high school program. Suffering major personnel losses over the offseason, the Blue Eaglets will be hard pressed to return to the Finals, much less complete their own 4-Peat championship run. 6-foot U16 mainstay Tom Ramos and 6-foot-3 rookie center Chris Porter will try to anchor a team no longer as deep and as talented as it used to be. Homegrown guards Mark Gamboa and Mio Puno will be pitching in.