INTERVIEWED by the Inquirer’s Jasmine Payo, Ateneo Coach Bo Perasol said he fully understood the criticisms being continually heaped on him in the heat of smoldering, brimming alumni anger as a result of the stunning slide of his Blue Eagles.
“It’s par for the course—the criticisms,” Perasol said to Payo. “It’s not going to go away with the nature of what Ateneo stands for—excellence, being the best.”
Many alumni want Perasol’s head after Ateneo had sunk to record-lows since Perasol took over following Ateneo’s sensational “five-peat” performance in 2012 under Norman Black, who returned to Philippine Basketball Association coaching where he gave San Miguel Beer its first Grand Slam in 1989.
Perasol’s 2013 debut saw Ateneo miss the Final Four for the first time in ages, his baptism of fire in University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball even marred by an ugly incident involving Perasol chasing a heckling spectator from ringside.
The following year, Final 4 No. 1 Ateneo got yanked out by No. 4 National University, blowing a precious twice-to-beat advantage. That triggered the Bulldogs’ beautiful march to victory and ended NU’s almost 60-year victory drought.
Only the forgiving, calming voice of Ateneo’s Jesuit culture saved Perasol’s neck from a surging, mob-like alumni assault.
Respect the three-year contract, said the Jesuits.
But in this his third season, Perasol’s woes seem to continue bugging him.
Ateneo is tied with La Salle at fourth (4-4), three big games behind joint 7-1 leaders University of Santo Tomas (UST) and Far Eastern University.
The Eagles could be left holding a precarious solo fourth by day’s end as the Archers have an easy foe today.
A win for La Salle at 2 p.m. against the UE Warriors would propel the Archers to solo third at 5-4, a full one-game ahead of Ateneo.
But Perasol, despite his team being in a hole right now amid three straight defeats in its last three games, brims with confidence.
“Going into the next six games, I’m positive with what this team can do,” he told Payo.
He said he would leave Ateneo after the season “regardless of the results,” telling Payo that that is his obligation.
“This is my last year,” he said. “Everyone knows this is our last hurrah with Kiefer [Ravena] and Von [Pessumal]. I don’t think that’s something that needs to be talked about. We all understand that already.”
Yes, that is absolutely understood by the Jesuits. As to the alumni, my lips are sealed.
THAT’S IT. This Sunday’s Super Suspense Show will feature world light-flyweight champion and extremely durable Donnie “Ahas” Nietes, the powerhouse Pagara Brothers, Jason and Albert, and the unbeaten Mark “Magnificent” Magsayo in Pinoy Pride’s 33rd offering—a first foray into the US of ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN at the Stubhub Center in Carson, California. Not because Pinoy tayo but I boldly say again that all four will win. I have subscribed to Skycable for the fights that start at 7 a.m. (October 18), the same day that Brian Viloria will challenge the undefeated world flyweight king Roman Gonzales (43-0) of Nicaragua at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
A make-or-break for the comebacking Viloria, who draws inspiration from his spectacular first-round knockout triumph in his last fight to cap a four-bout winning streak…. A book written by the indefatigable Tessa Jazmines about Baby Dalupan, the “Maestro” of Philippine basketball coaching, will be launched on Monday (October 19), Baby’s 91st birthday. This should be a blockbuster bigger than my own book launch of Iskalper in 1994. Cheers, Tessa!…Congratulations to Southwoods for winning the PAL Ladies Golf plum in Bacolod’s Marapara.
But more than this is a warm applause for Jimmy J. Bautista, the PAL president, for his unstinting support of Philippine sports, not only golf but many other disciplines like boxing, dragon-boat racing and tennis. Cheers, Jimmy!