PINAPABORAN ang four-peat seeking Ateneo sa UAAP men’s basketball tournament na lalarga na sa wakas sa Sabado.

Mula sa magkapatid na Olsen Racela, ang Far Eastern University mentor na siyang pangalawang longest tenured coach ng liga, at Nash Racela, ang bagong Adamson coach, hanggang sa nagbabalik na La Salle coach Derrick Pumaren, ang lahat ay tinuturo sa Blue Eagles na inaabangan sa kompetisyon, na lalaruin ang first round na walang audience.

Handa na ang mga bataan ni coach Tab Baldwin, na gumiya sa Ateneo sa malinis na 16-0 kampanya noong 2019, sa laban sa kabila ng matinding hamon ng maikling preparation time.

“It’s great to be back, and I wish all the other coaches, all the other captains, all the other teams, the very best. Can’t wait to see you guys on the court,” sabi ni Baldwin sa pamamagitan ng Zoom.

Solido pa rin ang Eagles sa pamamagitan nina naturalized center Ange Kouame, SJ Belangel, Jolo Mendoza, returning Dave Ildefonso at rookie Chris Koon.

Haharapin ng Ateneo ang Katipunan rival University of the Philippines, na hahawakan na ni multi-titled high school coach Goldwin Monteverde, sa ikatlo sa mabigat na four-game opening day bill sa alas-4 ng hapon sa Mall of Asia Arena.

Nagtuos ang Blue Eagles at Fighting Maroons sa Season 81 Finals noong 2018.

“We don’t know a lot about our opponents because of a lack of pre-season games and I think that’s a disadvantage. But I also think that every team has to adjust to the same thing,” sabi ni Baldwin.

Magbabalik si Pumaren, na gumiya sa La Salle sa back-to-back championships noong 1989-90, sa UAAP comeback laban sa University of the East, na minamanduhan na ni Jack Santiago, sa night game sa alas-7 ng gabi.

Ang iba pang opening day matches ay ang alas-10 ng umaga na pagkikita ng rebuilding University of Santo Tomas at Far Eastern University, at ang ala-1 ng hapon na salpukan sa pagitan ng National University at Adamson.

Umaasa si UAAP Board of Trustees chairman Bro. Bernie Oca na magiging matagumpay ang season, hindi lamang sa men’s basketball, ngunit sa sikat ring women’s volleyball at cheerdance events na gaganapin naman sa May.

Nasa kalendaryo rin ang men’s beach volleyball, men’s and women’s 3×3 basketball, poomsae at men’s and women’s chess.

“UAAP Season 84 will be abbreviated but still promises to be as competitive and as exciting, consistent with the UAAP that we have come to know and expect,” sabi Oca sa press conference kahapon sa TV5 Media Center.

Hindi pupuwede ang mga fans at cheering squads sa Pasay venueubalit, ngunit positibo pa rin si UAAP Season 84 President Nong Calanog na maari itong magbago base sa sitwasyon.

“We’re working on having spectators back by the second round.” sabi ni Calanog. “We are just asking for little more patience. Our primary goal here is for the student-athletes to be safe.”

“The first round will be a blur. In two weeks, it will be done.”