Championship Calibre

Rookie superstars, sophomores with renewed vigor and spunky, and veteran mainstays who decided to make it better this year. This is what the Ateneo Blue Eagles is composed of this year, as the UAAP Season 71 Basketball begins this month.

Led by the hot hands of Veteran player-turned-TV host Chris Tiu, the Ateneo Blue Eagles indeed is one team to beat in this year's UAAP season. The loss of the Eagles' height due to the departure of big men Ford Arao and Zion Laterre was compensated by the improvement of their rising stars Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Mike Baldos and Nonoy Baclao, and the return of the erring Power Forward Jobe Nkemakolam. Ateneo also added more vigor, youth and firepower by recruiting highschool standouts Ryan Buenafe, Nico Salva, and Justin Chua. All these alongside the playmaking capabilities of Jai Reyes and Kirk Long, the speed and agility of Yuri Escueta and Eric Salamat, and the auspices of grandslam coach Norman Black. The Blue Eagles are indeed a team to beat in this year's UAAP Season.

The Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles 2008 Lineup:

Chris Tiu

Yuri Escueta

Rabeh Al-Husaini

Severino Baclao

Mike Baldos

Kirk Long

Eric Salamat

Jai Reyes

Ryan Buenafe

Nico Salva

Jobe Nkemakolam

Raymond Austria

Justin Chua

Vince Burke

Mike Sumalinog

My fearless forecast in the UAAP Season 71?

Final Four: Ateneo, La Salle, FEU, UST

Championship: Ateneo vs. La Salle

Champion: Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles

GoAteneo! One Big Fight!