Front Page
 RP News  
 Community News
 Immigration
 Commentaries
 Business
 Sports 
 Entertainment
 Features
 Announcements
 News Archives

SPORTS
Links

Archived Sports Stories

Copyright ©1999, 2000 by Radio-TV Pilipino Network, Inc. All rights reserved. Radio-TV Pilipino™, Basta Pinoy!™ News and Asiana Post™ are trademarks of Radio-TV Pilipino, Inc. Terms of use. Privacy policy.

BASTA PINOY! SPORTS REVIEW

Will it finally be Ateneo's year?

MANILA, July 7  -- WillL it finally be Ateneo's year?
The Blue Eagles campaigned with such resolve and almost made it last season. But as fate would have it, the perennial object of their passion -- La Salle -- ended up partying in the winners' throne again.

Already boasting of a surefire source of firepower in Enrico Villanueva, new additions to the Ateneo lineup make the Eagles a team with the right ingredients to finally end a 12-year victory famine.

Signs of an impending Ateneo resurgence became visible last year when it reached the Final Four for its best finish in a decade, losing to Santo Tomas in a showdown that can be remembered more for the lousy calls than the hardcourt action.

What viewers saw on primetime television when Ateneo romped off with the Fr. Martin's Cup at the expense of the UE Warriors is but a sample of the big things they intend to do in the new millennium.

Ateneo might have also sent eyebrows raising by competing in a semi-pro league like the PBL.
They ended up last in the PBL Chairman's Cup alright, but the experience of banging bodies and pitting skills with players from a higher level should have given the Eagles the right exposure for the coming UAAP action.

The 6-6 Villanueva will definitely assert his might after making a name as one of the best centers of the collegiate loop in his sophomore season.

If the ineligibility of Ryan Pamintuan can be considered as a big blow to the Ateneo bid, then the arrival of two prized rookies will surely make up for it.

Two junior MVPs -- Larry Fonacier of the UAAP and Magnum Membrere of the NCAA -- are boosting the Ateneo arsenal and their inclusion is sure to send shivers up the spine of the competing roster.

Paolo Bugia, 6-6, will be there to back up Villanueva at the shaded lane but the bigger role should be carried by fifth year veteran Paul Tanchi, three-point artist Rainer Sison and the high-leaping Rich Alvarez.

Joe Lipa will still coach the Eagles and there will be much pressure in his hands to turn what should be one of the deepest benches in the league into a championship team.

The alumni -- whose all-out support for the Eagles comes very close to getting a PBA franchise if only to enhance its winnability -- is looking forward to that. (SNS)

REQUEST FOR A COMPLIMENTARY COPY

 Refresh your browser to make sure latest update is shown.
 News Items on this website are for private use and must not be reproduced, printed or reposted without our written permission.
copyright (c) 2000 by Radio-TV Pilipino Network, Inc.