Setting expectations for the Blue Eagles

This season will serve as a banner year for the Ateneo Blue Eagles. Coming in as 3-peat champions, there is no doubt in my mind that this team is expected once again to contend. More than that, the team boasts of perhaps the most sought after class of rookies. Make no mistake about it, the team is coming back with TONS of expectations from the school, the rest of the league and even the whole basketball community but do keep in mind that despite all these HYPE, there are things that everyone should consider coming into this season:

1. With so many new players and technically only Eric Salamat and Jumbo Escueta leaving the team, incorporating these new players into Coach Norman's system may take time. Only Greg and Kiefer have played significant minutes in the summer leagues among the 5 newcomers. Expect Coach Norman to seldom use the Tallo + Capacio + Pessumal triumverate this year.

2. Between Greg and Kiefer, the phenom seems to have already found his role smoothly. Greg is just HUGE but right now there seems to be some uneasiness with him in the fold - especially on offense. Versus DLSU, Greg overwhelmed 6'8 Van Opstal on the boards and on defense but the Ateneo offense couldn't get its flow when he was down under. Expect him to dominate on the boards and on defense this year. Other than that, don't expect him scoring 30+ points per game just because he's a 7-footer.

3. Seems like Finals MVP Ryan Buenafe and Beda Boy Art Dela Cruz won't be seeing action at all this season. Or maybe never. That's a statement I'd rather not speculate on because of the rumors but yeah, expect these two guys not to appear on this year's roster and that gives us a big hole at the 3 position. Captain Bacon Austria is expected to be on the floor more often and Nico Salva just might spend more time at the three position.

4. Ryan Buenafe was Ateneo's "finisher" last year. Who'll clean the Blue Eagles mess or basically bail them out whenever necessary? Who's going to be Dirk? HAHA! Expect Nico Salva and Kiefer to fill in for this. That pick-and-roll between them will be deadly and unpredictable.

5. Lastly, despite all these "Ateneo domination" proclamations, expect this year's season to be even more competitive than last season. Expect UP to steal some games versus top-caliber teams. Expect NU to make the final four. Finally, expect FEU to top the eliminations with Ateneo following - just like last year. Let me know if this doesn't happen.

So here we are again. It's June and we're a month away from UAAP's opening day. Coming from the blue side, yeah, I see Ateneo as my own sentimental favorites. But wait, I see FEU dominating the year once again.

Predictions

Final Team Standings

1) FEU

2) Ateneo

3) NU

4) Adamson

5) DLSU

6) UST

7) UP

8) UE

Final Four

FEU in 2.

Ateneo in 1.

Finals

Ateneo in 3.

I'm no expert but this is the way I see it.

One big fight!!!