The massive stumbling block on Ateneo de Manila University’s path to the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 89 men’s basketball tournament had finally been removed.

After months of uncertainty due to the deaths of student-athletes Rene Clert Baterbonia and Divine Adili, the Blue Eagles can now shift their preparation to a higher gear following the clearance given by the UAAP board of managing directors.

New Ateneo coach Louie Alas said the league’s decision wasn’t met by a noisy celebration but by humble gratitude as they vow to honor the memories of their departed teammates by playing their hearts out to win as many games as possible.

“Grateful, thankful, and we praise God for that huge blessing. That’s all,” Alas said in a phone conversation with DAILY TRIBUNE on Saturday morning.

“I’m just very thankful. We praise God because of that.”

The UAAP announced that Ateneo would not be suspended after reviewing reports from the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and the National Bureau of Investigation, ending months of speculation over the Blue Eagles’ participation in the country’s premier collegiate basketball league.

Instead, the UAAP handed former head coach Tab Baldwin a lifetime ban from all league competitions and suspended members of the coaching staff and team personnel for organizing the ill-fated team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora, last June that claimed the lives of Baterbonia and Adili.

Former team manager Christopher John “Epok” Quimpo, assistant coaches Dean Caesar Castaño, Sandro Nicholas Romero Soriano, Reynaldo Jacinto Jr., Hernan Ameer Domingo, Caesar Vincent Javellana Elumba and Grant Dearns, as well as physical therapist John Eric Rueca, were suspended indefinitely.

Alas, who will be assisted by his former Letran College players Kerby Raymundo and RJ Jazul as well as Ateneo mainstays Gene Afable and Bacon Austria with Nico Salva as team manager, admitted that there was little discussion with his players before the decision because everyone remained committed to their preparation for the season that will kick off on 12 September.

The veteran mentor, whose son Kieffer Alas will make his seniors debut with the Blue Eagles, said the players never lost hope of eventually suiting up in Season 89 despite the tragic turn of events and all the morale-crushing distractions that came after it.

“We didn’t need to talk because we were preparing. It’s normal. We just talked to our athletic director (Emmanuel Fernandez),” Alas said. “Before it happened, we already knew that they wanted to play.”

In the wake of the tragedy, Ateneo withdrew from the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup and canceled its annual training camp in Spain to allow the players to undergo much-needed therapy and counseling.

The tragedy left a deep emotional scar on the Ateneo community, making it difficult for everyone to immediately return to normal, especially with the backlash the players faced from the public.

Weeks before the UAAP confirmed its decision, Ateneo joined the Pinoyliga Cup-The Big Dance to ensure that stars like Jared Bahay, Shawn Tuano, EJ Kaphe and Ian Espinosa would not be rusty in game situations.

Alas said his immediate concern right now is making up for lost time.

“At this point, I’m not thinking about the Final Four or whatsoever. What I want is for us to catch up because we’re way, way behind in preparation,” said Alas, who has a sterling coaching record both in the professional and collegiate ranks.

“That’s the most important thing — game shape. If you have game shape, everything will be perfect. That’s the aspect we want to see.”