Danny Francisco and Eric Reyes — two key members of the successful Ateneo de Manila University men's basketball team — lauded the new batch of Blue Eagles that successfully regained the University Athletic Association of the Philippines title.
One of the best big men to play in the collegiate ranks, Francisco recalled their previous success and compared it to the dramatic triumph of the current crop of Blue Eagles in its Season 85 finals duel against University of the Philippines recently.
Francisco said the Blue Eagles displayed their big fighting hearts in coming back from a 0-1 series deficit en route to winning the title.
"Great games played," the 6-foot-7 slotman, who worked as a sports executive for Cebuana Lhuiller before taking a new role in his corporate job, told Daily Tribune in an interview.
"I cannot say similar things from the way they played now from our time because of how the game is currently being played."
Still, several Blue Eagles caught his attention.
"I love the character and discipline of this latest Ateneo team," he said.
"Several players caught my attention like (Christopher) Koon, (Vince John) Gomez, and (Matthew) Daves) during the championship series."
"They were key whether playing heavy or limited minutes and knowing the team's deep understanding of the game at hand and they delivered."
Francisco was supposed to have a stellar career in the Philippine Basketball Association.
In fact, he led the Blue Eagles in 1987 but failed to suit up in the finals with a collapsed lung. He was in the hospital while Ateneo was battling the mighty University of the East bannered by national team star Jerry Codiñera in the finals.
With Francisco out, the rest of the Eagles in Reyes Alex Araneta, Nonoy Chuatico, and Seph Canlas stepped up to upstage the Red Warriors and clinch the UAAP crown.
"There was absolutely no news about us winning the championship because I was in the hospital," Francisco said.
"I just knew it when the team barged into the room with the trophy and the net with them."
Reyes added that their 1987 title run was the most memorable.
"We were up against UE, the highly-favored team then, and we were the underdogs because they had Codiñera and our star was not even a center, but a guard in Jun Reyes," Reyes said.
The following year, the Blue Eagles came back stronger.
They finished the double-round eliminations with a 12-2 win-loss card to gain a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four en route to facing De La Salle University in the finals.
Both schools originated from the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the oldest basketball tournament in the Philippines, and they brought their feverish rivalry to the UAAP.
In the finals, Ateneo repulsed the Dindo Pumaren-led La Salle, 76-70, with Francisco sealing the victory with two free throws in the closing seconds of the match.
Unfortunately for Francisco, he never realized his dream of playing in the PBA after he was diagnosed with a heart ailment.
If Francisco failed to fulfill his dream of playing in the PBA, Reyes became one of the most dependable role players playing the forward spot.
Reyes shared the front court with Francisco in the UAAP and couldn't help but compare Ange Kouame to his long-time teammate in terms of his dominance inside the shaded lane.
"Kouame had a strong inside presence like Danny F," wrote Reyes via Messenger.
"Ballunggay was good at 3 or 4. He's strong inside and a hard worker. They had shooters much like our Nieto, Canlas and Chuatico. The current batch of Ateneo had big men who can bring the ball down like our (Jet) Nieto, Canlas and (Mel) Basa."
