MANILA — With the news that the Ateneo Blue Eagles have been cleared to play by the UAAP board, interim Ateneo Blue Eagles head coach Louie Alas said he “is grateful and thankful because we have been cleared to play and that also takes away the anxiety of this prolonged situation.”
The Ateneo Blue Eagles and their former head coach Tab Baldwin were embroiled in a tragic situation when two players — Nigerian center Divine Adili and rookie Rene Baterbonia drowned during a team building activity in the waters of Dipaculao, Aurora last June 8. The tragedy drew widespread condemnation and public scrutiny that has not abated to this day with the CIDG of the PNP as well as the NBI conducting their investigations.
Baldwin was banned from the UAAP with the rest of the coaching staff suspended.
“We have much catching up to do,” added Alas in his return to collegiate coaching.
He has not been on a college team’s sidelines since 2012 after a 11-year stint with Colegio San Juan de Letran in which he led to three NCAA college basketball titles.
“We will be playing this Sunday (August 9) in the PinoyLiga and will have to plan for all these tune-up games,” Alas told this writer. “With the UAAP season starting this September, we have to really do a lot. But we have to plan this around their school schedules.”
“We have all the players back including our one-and-dones,” hge added.
With the previous coach staff suspended, Alas is tapping the services of long-standing Ateneo assistant Gene Afable who played for Letran in high school and the Blue Eagles in college, and former Letran players RJ Jazul and Kerby Raymundo who will be working as the big man coach.
Alas also said he is also considering former Blue Eagle Bacon Austria to join the staff.