JAI REYES

The departure of Ateneo’s top three players is not expected to greatly diminish the Blue Eagles bid to capture their third UAAP basketball championship next year.

Ateneo coach Norman Black seemed to have found the right replacement for next year’s campaign. These are Oping Sumalinog, Nico Salva, and Justin Chua whom he believes have what it takes to take the spots to be vacated by Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Jai Reyes, and Nonoy Baclao who all have graduated.

Sumalinog, Salva, and Chua showed a glimpse of their potential when they helped the Eagles beat the Far Eastern University Tamaraws last Sunday, 74-70, to capture the Philippine Collegiate Champions League crown for the second time.

Of the three, the 6-foot-2 Sumalinog appears to be the biggest revelation.

In the decisive third game, Sumalinog made 11 points, including the go-ahead basket, 72-70, in the last 45 seconds.

"He has improved an awful lot. Actually he's always been good, it's just that some of the guys who are ahead of him are starting to graduate and he's showing everybody that he can play basketball," Black said.

Salva, on his part, scored 26 points in Ateneo’s 90-63 rout of the Tamaraws in Game 2 of their best-of-three title series that forced the rubber match.

Th 6-foot-6 Chua, a former MVP in the Tiong Lian Basketball Tournament for Chiang Kai Shek, tallied 15 points and 14 rebounds in their crucial win over UST in the quarterfinals.

Of course, the mantle of leadership will be given to veteran guard Eric Salamat, who exploded for 10 points in the first half to finish with a game-high 19.

Reyes saved his best for last when he scored 17 points to be adjudged as the PCCL Most Valuable Player while Baclao also contributed big time in his final game for the Eagles as he patrolled the shaded lane with authority.

Hussaini did not suit up for the team due to his commitment with the Smart-Gilas Philippine team but his absence hardly mattered as Sumalinog, Chua, and Salva came through with clutch plays to beat the Tamaraws.