THE Ateneo Blue Eagles maybe in a rebuilding mode, but they will try to make it again to the Final Four in the coming Season 87 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament.
Their talented recruits Jared Bahay, Kristian Porter and Femi Edu are expected to provide them the spark they need to make it far in the coming season, which gets going on Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Blue Eagles, who will meet the University of Philippines Fighting Maroons in the 6 p.m. opening game, will find out how good they are with Bahay, Kristian Porter and Femi Edu in the mix.
Bahay is a standout from the Sacred Heart-Ateneo de Cebu, like Porter, while Femi is the younger brother of Gilas Pilipinas standout AJ Edu. He entered the roster late June after graduating from Copleston High School in Ipswich.
The Blue Eagles were unable to defend their crown in Season 86 as they saw many of their players joining the professional league.
Coach Tab Baldwin is left with Chris Koon and Sean Quintveis to bring experience to the team, after Mason Amos, Kai Ballungay, Jared Brown, Joseph Obasa, Gab Gomez and Raffy Celis departed at the end of Season 86 with a win-loss record of 7-7 at fourth place.
Bahay, at first committed to suit up for the Fighting Maroons, but changed his mind later.
There’s familiarity with Bahay and other members of the Blue Eagles, who also came from Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu.
On the other hand, the 18-year-old Porter earned second Mythical Five season in the junior ranks with the Blue Eaglets, with his averages 18.1 points, 15.5 rebounds, and 2.2 steals.
