Ateneo's Long is Pharmaton Coach's Choice of the Week

Despite the exodus of three key players in their championship run the past two seasons, the Ateneo Blue Eagles remained on track for a possible three-peat.

Without Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Noy Baclao and Jai Reyes, the Blue Eagles's title retention bid seemed to have drawn a black eye.

But after the first round, they found themselves right behind front-running and still unbeaten Far Eastern University (7-0) with a 5-2 record.

Team captain Eric Salamat and up-and-coming forward Nico Salva are delivering what they’re supposed to do. But behind the twosome tandem is Kirk Long’s solid play.

Long, who is already in his fourth year with the team in the UAAP, has risen to become the team’s third option on offense.

His scoring has seen a gradual increase in the last three years. After only averaging 2.3 points in just 12 minutes of play two seasons ago, his scoring clip doubled (5.4 points) as his minutes increased to 19.5 last season.

Going into the second round this season, Long is logging in 9.4 points per contest with his single-game high of 19 points last July 31 led the Eagles in thrashing the National University Bulldogs, 82-65.

He scored in double figures on four of Ateneo’s first seven games.

“He has shown since his rookie year that he can shoot the ball. He’s coming along now and he’s giving us what we need of him,” Ateneo coach Norman Black said.

Long became the second player to be picked as the Pharmaton Coach’s Choice MVP last week.