Two months after the fatal team-building activity of Ateneo de Manila University in Dipaculao, Aurora, Louie Alas continues to draw strength from the community surrounding the Blue Eagles.
The incident resulted in the deaths of incoming rookie Rene Baterbonia and sophomore Divine Adili. The Blue Eagles who took part in the activity were also victims of the incident, as several players nearly drowned.
Now, as Ateneo continues to navigate the difficult months that followed, Alas believes basketball has become part of the team’s healing process.
“Ang biggest healing lang namin is to play, and like noong first game, diba sabi ko sa inyo, we praised God,” he said.
That resilience was on full display Sunday as Alas and the Blue Eagles overcame a 13-point deficit to stun College of Saint Benilde, 81-78, in an emotional display at the Blue Eagle Gym. His son, Kieffer Alas, led all scorers with 21 points and helped spark Ateneo’s comeback, but for Coach Louie, the victory was about more than basketball.
Similarly to their previous outing against Our Lady of Fatima University last Sunday, Alas said he and his coaching staff once again refrained from talking to the team after the game.
“We didn’t talk to the players again after the game, kasi mas importante sa amin to keep on thanking them because of this. Look at the lineup, eleven lang kami kanina, wala mga national players namin. Kanina, si (Michael) Asoro, got injured,” said Alas as Andrew Bongo and Shawn Tuano are with Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 for the FIBA 3×3 Nations League-Asia Southeast Asia Conference in Malaysia.
“So kanina, mas focused kami sa prayers for healing nila.”
Despite the depleted roster, the Blue Eagles turned the game around in the second half.
Benilde shot 56-percent from the field in the opening half, but Ateneo’s defense clamped down after the break. The team limited the Blazers to 12 points in the third quarter and 13 in the fourth.
“We gave up 12 points and 13 points in the third and fourth quarters, 29 and 24 in the first and second, so na-half namin ‘yun,” he added.
According to Alas, much of that defensive surge came from Ian Espinosa, the team’s long-time point guard and appointed leader.
Espinosa spoke to the team during its final two defensive possessions, reminding his teammates of one of their most difficult practice drills.
“Ian was talking to them during the last two possessions, ‘yun yung biggest defensive stops namin. Sabi niya, ‘This is the best time to show off your Indian run,’ ‘yun talaga yung mahirap na practice,” he beamed.
The win, however, is only another step for a Blue Eagles team still looking ahead to bigger challenges.
Ateneo will face either Adamson University or Mapua University in the quarterfinals, while Alas knows his team must make significant improvements before the UAAP season.
“We need to improve din; you can’t do that against UAAP teams. From the first to the last second, you have to play consistently,” said the former Letran head coach.
“Guidance pa rin and lots of viewing.”
For now, though, Alas remains grateful for the people who have continued to stand behind the Blue Eagles through one of the most difficult periods in the program’s history.
With the Blue Eagle Gym roaring behind them Sunday, he emphasized just how much the community’s presence means to a team that has endured unimaginable loss.
“Ang hirap sukatin pero immeasurable, sobrang importante.”
