MANILA, Philippines – Talks of a double threepeat quickly made its rounds even as Ateneo celebrated its double back-to-back UAAP championship romp with a victory bonfire party at the school grounds last night.

The Blue Eagles and the Blue Eaglets, though, brace for a tougher season ahead after sweeping the seniors and juniors basketball tournament for the second straight year.

“Next year is a little bit of a question mark,” said seniors coach Norman Black, citing the departure of key cogs Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Noy Baclao, and Jai Reyes. “I won’t be making any predictions right now because I’m not particularly sure.”

With the three veterans at the helm, the Blue Eagles duplicated the school’s back-to-back title feat in 1987 and 1988 after tripping the University of the East Warriors, 2-1, in the Finals series.

Eaglets coach Jamike Jarin said his would also be a roster of new faces.

“We’re losing 10 players,” noted Jarin after his Eaglets similarly pulled off a back-to-back with a 2-1 series triumph over fierce rival De La Salle Zobel Junior Archers.

But Jarin is taking consolation with the return of Finals Most Valuable Player Kiefer Ravena, who averaged 16 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 2.7 steals and 1 block in the championship round.

Black said the Eagles have to cope minus Al-Hussaini, who captured the Finals MVP with averages of 22.3 points and 11.7 rebounds just a year after capturing the season MVP.

Black, though, expects sophomore big men Nico Salva, and Justin Chua to step up next season.