DRUMS were already beating, as Ateneo’s long-awaited return to action got underway, with the Blue Eagle Gym filling with the familiar blue-and-white of the faithful and the Blue Babble Battalion setting the tone for a homecoming 71 days in the making.
It had been that long since the Blue Eagles last played a preseason game, and 69 days since the Aurora tragedy that claimed the lives of players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili, forcing the program to an unimaginable stretch away from the court.
Yet when Ateneo finally emerged in front of its home crowd in Katipunan on Sunday, the atmosphere was much livelier than expected after everything this men's basketball team had gone through.
For a moment, it felt almost like another game day, with the fans choosing to welcome Ateneo back energy and enthusiasm.
The mood, though, shifted during the moment of silence for Baterbonia and Adili before tip-off, bringing the weight of the past two months back into the gym.
Noise gave way to silence, as players stood together, with tears held back before their first fight since the tragedy.
Even before the ball went up, however, the program had imposed safeguards around its return, prohibiting members of the media from conducting interviews with any Blue Eagle, whether player or staff.
A SPIN.ph source explained the measure was intended to lessen the noise surrounding the team and the school, essentially keeping things at 'minimal information,' as Ateneo navigated its return to competition.
Resume play
Instead, the Blue Eagles let their basketball do the talking.
The cobwebs took time to shake off, as they endured a slow start against Our Lady of Fatima University in the Pinoyliga Cup Round of 28. Once they settled in, they pulled away for a 71-60 victory, giving the program a much-needed momentum boost to build on after months of uncertainty.
Kieffer Alas was at the center of the restart, finishing with 12 points and providing the blue-and-white the production it needed to find its footing.
In many ways, his performance reflected the mantra that has carried Ateneo through the past few months: faith over fear.
The final score may look modest against the bigger ambitions awaiting the Blue Eagles, particularly with a UAAP Season 89 on the horizon, but this day was never really about making a statement in the preseason tournament.
READ: Ateneo thankful to be back in action to honor Bobet, Divine
It was about getting back on their own floor in front of their own crowd, and giving all of them a chance to move forward.
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