Last Season: 13-1 (Runner-up)
Head Coach: Tab Baldwin (6th season)
Who's Gone? SJ Belangel, Gian Mamuyac, Tyler Tio
Who's Still Here? Ange Kouame, Dave Ildefonso, Geo Chiu, BJ Andrade
Who's New? Kai Ballungay, Paul Garcia
NO question: Ateneo wants redemption this UAAP Season 85.
Denied of their dream four-peat, there's nothing that the Blue Eagles want more than to get back to the top in the country's premier college league.
[READ: UP vs Ateneo and other UAAP dates to remember]
Coach Tab Baldwin, the perfectionist that he is, is demanding only the best from his wards heading to this redeem campaign.
"It's time to buckle up and really prepare for the fight," he said, urging his side to bring their A-game every single time. "We have to make it not one big fight, but 14 big fights in order to get to the one big fight."
If Baldwin feels skeptical, he has every reason to. After all, he's parading a rejigged squad without old reliables SJ Belangel, Gian Mamuyac, and Tyler Tio.
Compounding his worries is the status of reigning UAAP MVP Ange Kouame who is still recuperating from a partial ACL tear.
Dave Ildefonso will still be looked at as a leader, but Fil-Am winger Kai Ballungay will be there beside him spearheading Ateneo in just his first year in Katipunan.
Despite Baldwin's reservations, the Blue Eagles are still a force to be reckoned with as seen in their success in Japan at the World University Basketball Series, as well as in their recent Israel trip.
Don't be surprised to see Ateneo fly high again and maybe, get the revenge it badly craves.
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