TENSIONS may be brewing inside the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles camp following reports that some players are unhappy with the team’s offensive system under interim coach Louie Alas.
According to an informant by Abante Bilyonaryo Group’s Homer Sayson, Ateneo has moved away from the free-flowing offense previously implemented by former coach Tab Baldwin and has increasingly relied on horns sets under Alas.
The report claimed that the system has given Alas’ son, rookie Kieffer Alas, a prominent role in the offense and greater freedom to take scoring opportunities, allegedly leaving some teammates dissatisfied.
The concerns surfaced after Ateneo opened its Pinoyliga Big Dance campaign with a 71-60 victory over Our Lady of Fatima University on Sunday at the Blue Eagles Gym.
Kieffer Alas finished with 12 points in the win, while one-and-done recruit Travis Roberts led Ateneo with 17 points and seven rebounds to earn Player of the Game honors.
The Blue Eagles held a slim 50-47 advantage entering the fourth quarter before pulling away. Ateneo eventually built its biggest lead at 71-55 as Roberts, Alas and Jared Bahay made key contributions down the stretch.
The victory was particularly significant for Ateneo as it marked the team’s first game since the June 8 deaths of Blue Eagles Rene Clert “Bobet” Baterbonia and Divine Adili during an off-campus team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora.
The Blue Eagles are scheduled to continue their Pinoyliga campaign on Sunday against the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Blazers. (By the Staff)
