WITH the cloud of gloom no longer hovering over its head, Ateneo is taking a page out of Letran's playbook for its UAAP Season 89 campaign.
Interim coach Louie Alas has brought in Knights legends and former players Kerby Raymundo and RJ Jazul to reinforce his staff, as the Blue Eagles finally got clearance to compete in the upcoming season.
"They have the basketball know-how. They're winners in every level and have the experience, but more than anything, they are both good men," he told SPIN.ph of Raymundo and Jazul, whom he once coached to multiple NCAA championships.
Jazul was already on the coaching staff this preseason after being part of the Ateneo juniors team.
Raymundo, on the other hand, previously handled the Letran Bataan program and even steered the team to the NBTC National Finals back in 2018.
Blue Eagles' brand new day
Alas has been tasked to pick up the pieces for the Katipunan crew in the fallout of the tragic team-building that saw the loss of the lives of Divine Adili and Rene Baterbonia - painful losses that led to coach Tab Baldwin's resignation and subsequent perpetual ban from the UAAP.
READ: UAAP bans Baldwin, clears Ateneo Blue Eagles to play in Season 89
Moreover, assistant coaches Dean Castano, Sandro Soriano, Jon Jacinto, Hernan Domingo, CJ Elumba, and Grant Dearns, and physical therapist John Rueca - all of whom were present in Dipaculao, Aurora - as well as ex-team manager Epok Quimpo have been indefinitely suspended.
Basically starting from scratch, Alas has also brought in Gene Afable and Bacon Austria to help in the cause, with Nico Salva elevated as interim team manager.
More than anything, the clearance to play has given Ateneo some sort of relief, as the team hopes to honor the memories of their fallen teammates.
"We can't measure it enough. It's a huge blessing for us and we're very grateful and thankful. We praise God for this and the players just want to play for Rene and Divine every chance they get inside the court," Alas said.
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