Since winning the UAAP Season 85 men’s 5-on-5 title, Ateneo de Manila University’s men’s basketball program has been on a downward trajectory.
The Blue Eagles last reached the Final Four in the 5-on-5 tournament in Season 86, while fielding mainly Team B players in the 3×3 competition.
This year, Nico Salva brought together what he called the “Avengers” — a core three composed of Shawn Tuano, Drew Bongo, and Kyle Gamber, with Thirdy Abdane completing the group.
For Tuano, the jokes have gone on long enough.
The group entered the 3×3 tournament determined to end Ateneo’s title drought.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“We are just trying to make the school proud. Too many years, even in 5-on-5, not even a Final Four placement. We’re just coming out here, bringing something home, and trying to make the school proud,” the 21-year-old winger said.
“We have one goal in mind, and it’s to bring home gold. Whatever we can do to bring a championship back to Katipunan, we are going to try and do that.”
So far, so good for the Blue Eagles. They are 3-0, having beaten FEU, NU, and UE.
The only other unbeaten team in the division is archrival La Salle, which it will face on Friday. But before that showdown, Ateneo still has Adamson and UST — both dangerous squads.
“Right now, it’s whomever our next opponent is. We all know that every team is dangerous and we can’t treat them lightly… But we’re dangerous too! So we’re not going out there thinking that we are inferior, because we’re not,” said Tuano.
“We came here to play and we came here to win.”
