The Express will however have to deal with a rejuvenated Alaska squad in their own best of three quarterfinal series which should be a humdinger. Barangay Ginebra faces the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the other quarterfinal pairing.

Winners from the two series will join the Smart Gilas and the Talk ‘n Text Tropang Texters in the semi-final stages.

While all this has been whittled down in another Manila Bulletin article, I don’t know if you have noticed that in most teams, former Ateneo Blue Eagles have been soaring high and making a difference for their teams.

In fact, if you look into the teams (eliminated and not), there is always a former Blue Eagle in their roster, the Smart Gilas PH national team included.

Let us run through the familiar names: Chris Tiu, Greg Slaughter, Japeth Aguilar (Smart Gilas), LA Tenorio and Paolo Bugia (Alaska Aces), Larry Fonacier and Rich Alvarez (Talk ‘n Text), Enrico Villanueva and JC Intal (Barangay Ginebra), Wesley Gonzales (Air21), Doug Kramer (Rain or Shine) and Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Noy Baclao (San Miguel Beer/Petron).

Meralco, Powerade and B-Meg don’t have a former Atenean in their roster as of this writing.

All teams except for San Migue/Petron, are safely into the next round and the former Blue Eagles are either at the forefront or making the proper contributions for their team’s success.

LA Tenorio, Chris Tiu, Enrico Villanueva, JC Intal, Larry Fonacier and Doug Kramer head the list of former Ateneo stars that have been making a difference for their team and if you think about it, these names have at one point in time, played for the reigning UAAP champions. And all that during an import-laden conference should make any Atenean mighty proud!

LA Tenorio has been going great guns ever since last conference and he continues to weave that magic in the current PBA Commissioner’s Cup.

Villanueva has been muscling the Gin Kings to success but an unfortunate injury may sideline him for a while. Fonacier is the quiet shooting assassin but his unpredictable bombs can shoot the lights out any night and against any team.

JC Intal and Doug Kramer have been inconsistent but given the chance and when they do, you can be that they are the nightmare of the opposing ballclub. They can score or provide that defense needed, not to mention swat those incoming baskets at any moment.

Chris Tiu, the Atenean that is expected to be a hot item for the next PBA draft, may be injured but he is expected to be up and about come the semi-final stages. Paired with the top amateur players from the collegiate ranks, the Smart Gilas team is the favorite to win it all unless the PBA teams make the necessary adjustments.

Curiously, the only two losses that the Smart Gilas suffered were at the hands of B-Meg and Meralco. Both teams have already been eliminated which makes it all the more scarier for the PH National Team winning it all.

But don’t tell that to the other teams who are bent on avoiding a guest team to show them up. Tenorio and company are definitely up for the challenge and with the proper adjustments and preparations, you can bet that Smart Gilas will not cop the crown that easy.

While imports are expected to do their thing, watch out for the former Ateneo stars to light up and make a difference. They have shown it during the elimination phase and with the stakes now high, you can bet that this will go up a notch higher.

These former Blue Eagles know what it takes to win a championship and surely, their respective predicaments are nothing new.

Brian Yalung, Manila Bulletin