After Season 72, What Next?

During the bonfire, Ryan Buenafe and Eric Salamat promised that we will have a three-peat. In reality, can we? What could be up next for the Blue Eagles in the next season?

Hypothetically, without considering yet any new players that might arrive or be elevated to Team A. The first five could be as follows:

Center-Justin Chua
Power Forward-Nico Salva
Small Forward-Ryan Buenafe
Shooting Guard-Eric Salamat
Point Guard-Juami Tiongson

And of course a few notes:

-I think that it would be better for Kirk Long and Eman Monfort to just come off the bench. The former could be a formidable replacement for Eric Salamat in terms of defense. Thus, while the Court General runs the offensive side of the game, it would be Long who would take care of the men-to-be-checked. The latter needs to be relieved of some pressure, but as soon as he gets his game, he could alternately start the game.

-Perhaps the advantage of Tiongson being in the first five is that with his consistent shooting and playmaking skills way back in high school, he could easily fit in the rotation.

-the strongest points in the team for next year is the backcourt, contrary to this year's focus on big men. Perhaps Norman Black would do a few tweaks in the offense and defense of the Blue Eagles, putting the 1, 2, and 3 spots at the heart of the plays

-Salva and Chua, as starting men, have to be men of the post to stand against the big guys of the league. Perhaps, they would receive the ball less than Rabeh or Nonoy Baclao used to. There has to be at least one of them to be equipped with sleight of hand and proper timing to block shots.

-bench players who need serious leveling up include Oping Sumalinog (he did an awesome job on the defensive end this season), Frank Golla, and Tonino Gonzaga

-we have to have really strong and big men who would make it to team A. We would be facing a stronger Paul Lee, Aldrech Ramos, or Yutien Andrada for that matter. Simply put, we have to be just prepared for everything.

It might be too early to predict things, but it's what we have for the moment. Hopefully, Coach Norman and the scouts would come up with something that would fill in the spot of Rabeh, Nonoy, and Jai.

One big fight. Onwards to 2010.

P.S. Seeing the stats of the UniGames, it is possible that the current line up will be used in Season 73. It's too early to tell if this would work well, but then, considering the performance of the newcomers in the starting line up, it is possible that they could get better and we have our next big inside scorers. Ateneo is like the Lakers these times. We have a load of backcourt players but lack frontcourt intensity. I hope that we a)make up for that, and b) use that to our advantage.