It’s all eyes now on interim head coach Louie Alas, who will be tasked to steady the ship for the sunken Ateneo men’s basketball program on the heels of one of the biggest sports tragedies in history.
With the UAAP finally hammering the verdict on Ateneo with a perpetual ban on resigned head coach Tab Baldwin and the suspension of eight team staff, Alas is looking like the man in charge ready to inherit the full mantle of leadership for the Katipunan dribblers.
And while his role is not permanent just yet, Alas’ mettle will be tested way before the UAAP.
Alas and what’s left of the Blue Eagles coaching staff and roster will try to usher in a new era starting in the PinoyLiga Big Dance, where Ateneo earned a wildcard entry as the No. 21 seed.
Serving as Baldwin’s assistant last season, Alas was appointed on an interim basis last month in the middle of government probes on the Dipaculao, Aurora tragedy that led to the drowning of Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.
In an attempt to do it right slowly but surely, the former PBA and NCAA champion mentor will turn to his old cavalry for help, getting the services of former Letran Knights RJ Jazul and Kerby Raymundo as assistant coaches. Gene Afable and Bacon Austria are also on board with deputy Nico Salva, a five-time UAAP champion with the Blue Eagles, serving as interim team manager.
Alas is hoping this could be enough to guide the Blue Eagles still trying to get on their feet after the unfortunate incident that resulted into a windfall: Baldwin’s resignation and later on lifetime ban from the UAAP as well as the suspension of team manager Epok Quimpo.
Also suspended ‘until further determination by the UAAP Board’ were assistant coaches Dean Caesar Castaño, Sandro Nicholas Romero Soriano, Reynaldo Jacinto Jr., Hernan Ameer Domingo, Caesar Vincent Javellana Elumba and Grant Dearns alongside physical therapist John Eric Rueca.
The PinoyLiga Big Dance, featuring 28 teams, will start this weekend, exactly two months after the infamous team building activity of Ateneo that’s still under a massive national investigation.
It will be the first tournament of Ateneo, which is yet to announce its full roster, since a 72-52 debut win against Adamson in the19th Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cuplast June 6 at the Playtime Filoil Centre in San Juan.
The Blue Eagles two days later embarked on a journey to North Luzon for a camp at the Hermanos Leisure Farm in Dipaculao.
Since then, Ateneo pulled out of the Filoil tourney and the Japan’s University Top League as part of its supposedly UAAP build-up under four-time champion mentor Baldwin.
Ateneo’s move to brave on while paying respects to its fallen players comes on the back of the UAAP’s decision to keep its eligibility to compete in Season 89 but with pre-conditions.
Before the UAAP Season 89 opener on September 12, Ateneo must undertake ‘acomprehensive reassessment of the organizational structure and management of its men’s basketball team in relation to the University’s entire athletics program in order to strengthen student-athlete protection, welfare, accountability, and institutional oversight.’
But first things first, and that’s to revive its program in the PinoyLiga Big Dance against fancied teams from the UAAP, NCAA and other leagues nationwide.