Nico Salva from Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles is suspended for the next game against the UST Growling Tigers. A suspension he earned vs FEU.

September 12, 2009 marked one historic UAAP classic. A finals preview between the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles and their most worthy opponents so far, the Far Eastern University Tamaraws. It also marked a bad day for Nico Salva who is accused of having a fist against FEU player Knuttel, which led to his suspension for the coming final four meeting with the UST Growling Tigers this Sunday at the big dome.

A Big Loss for Ateneo?

People say it is no big deal for Ateneo, others believe it might just be the factor that could turn Ateneo’s season around. Of course, Rabeh Al-Hussaini is there to help out in the center position, and he’s truly one of the best players in the UAAP this season, but he had his flaws as well, and that was when Nico Salva stepped up most of the time. But with Salva’s loss for their next outing, the defending champions might see a dim light in the middle of the court if Al-Hussaini gets into early foul trouble.

But there are these believers who say that this is a non-issue for Ateneo de Manila because of the huge talented bench they have. Ryan Buenafe, Kirk Long, high school hotshot Juami Tiongson, #17 Sumalinog and the rest of the gang. But who among them can fill the center of the court? OR, do they even need the middle to be filled with a player?

Salamat and Reyes are two of the most excellent clutch shooters that Ateneo has ever known, and that was proven in their latest outing against the FEU Tamaraws in which they trailed most of the game, but still succeeded. These two players could continue from rainbow area to keep Ateneo in the game against the Growling Tigers. You also need to count in Monfort and Long who have been the killer eagles against the Santo Tomas squad in the first two rounds of elimination, respectively, with shots from beyond the arch.

Buenafe is needed, big time

The only versatile player that I know that can match and even outmatch Nico Salva is the reigning Rookie of the Year Ryan Buenafe who is on a sophomore slump this year. This might be the time for him to step up and prove the critics wrong, all the critics that say that Buenafe isn’t a worthy player after all. He has shown his guts against the National University Bulldogs, and this might just be the perfect moment for him to show that he can play well against a great team too.

For sure, there’s a little hole in the Ateneo line up, but it doesn’t assures UST to have a walk in the park against the Eagles, no, not at all. I still go for Ateneo to pull away victory by miles, not by striking distance, especially with the three point shooters like Monfort and Reyes on the floor.