MANILA, Philippines – For the past couple of years, Kiefer Ravena has been the undisputed King Eagle and UAAP MVP. With the "Phenom" now chasing his NBA dreams, it is up to the young Blue Eagles – including younger brother Thirdy Ravena – to carry the one big fight for Ateneo de Manila University.

Season 78 record: 9-5

Season 78 summary: The Ateneo Blue Eagles had high hopes heading into the 78th season of the UAAP, with Kiefer Ravena targeting a championship in his final year with the Blue and White. After a rocky start that saw them lose by 24 points to Far Eastern University and squander a strong start to lose to De La Salle University, the Blue Eagles gained their rhythm in the second round.

They reeled off five straight wins, including a 73-62 win over the Green Archers in the second round that put them squarely in the Final Four. However, they lost to University of the East in a shocker in their last game of the eliminations, which dashed their hopes of competing for a twice-to-beat edge.

Up against the FEU Tamaraws, Ateneo battled tooth and nail in the Final Four in the hopes of forcing a decider, but Mac Belo broke their hearts with a buzzer-beating lay-up to end their season.

Coach Bo Perasol, who was in the final year of a three-year contract, left at the end of the season.

(READ: Meet Ateneo and DLSU's new courtside reporters for UAAP Season 79)

Key losses: Kiefer Ravena, Von Pessumal, Arvin Tolentino, Hubert Cani, Jerie Pingoy, Coach Bo Perasol

Key returnees: Thirdy Ravena, Aaron Black, Matt Nieto, Chibueze Ikeh

Key additions: Coach Tab Baldwin, Shaggy Almond

Projection: Ateneo's season 79 campaign hit a road block even before it started, when it was revealed that key players – including transferee CJ Perez, former Rookie of the Year Arvin Tolentino, and point guards Hubert Cani and Jerie Pingoy – were ineligible to play for the team.

All those players are now with other teams, leaving the young core of Matt Nieto, Aaron Black, and Adrian Wong to carry the load for the team. Thirdy Ravena, after a one-year absence, is back as well, and had some promising performances in the preseason.

Also a source of hope for the young Blue Eagles is the presence of Coach Tab Baldwin, whom they believe can lead them to victory even against the toughest teams in the UAAP.

Nevertheless, it will likely take a while before the Blue Eagles find their identity in their first season of the post-Kiefer era.

What they said: "As young players, all we can do is to play hard, and that's all we can promise. Hindi ko naman masasabi na we're gonna finish third or fourth, or that we're gonna make it to the Final Four. All I can say is that we're gonna play it one possession at a time, and we're gonna play 100%, that's for sure." – Thirdy Ravena

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