The Blue Eagles have grown in front of our eyes
Only a handful expected the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles to reach the Final Four, let alone the Finals. A crushing loss to neighbors University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons early in the second round supported the general sentiment regarding this batch of Blue Eagles: that they were not good enough.
Coming into the season, the Blue Eagles had to persevere. After Kiefer Ravena, Von Pessumal, and Alfonzo Gotladera exhausted their playing years, the team’s roster was further ravaged during the summer after seven of their blue chip recruits — including prized transferee CJ Perez — did not meet the school’s academic requirements. To top it all off, Tyler Tio, a highly sought-after floor general, had trouble with his citizenship, forcing Ateneo to sit him out for a year.
The obstacles, the criticisms, and the challenges the team had to endure proved too much. But with master tactician Tab Baldwin at the helm, he was able to use this as motivation to his young team. And it brought them together.
Suddenly, the Blue Eagles became must-watch TV. They were able to score (70.9 ppg – third) and defend (67.0 points allowed – second). Along the way they were able to string together six straight wins, including an upset win over the De La Salle University Green Archers, and a dethronement the Far Eastern University Tamaraws in a classic semifinals series.
But all good things must come to an end. The Green Archers served up a special course in the Finals, as they displayed better composure and experience compared to the young Eagles in a not-so-surprising sweep. But the series itself was as close as it could get, with both games being decided by a margin of just 4.5 points.
And no one was prouder of the gallant stand the Blue Eagles made than the team’s father-figure, Tab Baldwin.
“They were the best team all year long. There’s nothing I could say that’s a surprise. They earned this championship. I think a lot of people may have been saying that they were much better than they were performing, that’s exceptionally unfair,” the first-year Ateneo mentor admitted.
“They had to fight hard to win this championship and they showed a lot of character in doing that, and they deserve all the credit for that. I think what we did was to make it tough for them.”
In a way this season was a magical one for the Blue Eagles. However, the unexpected silver finish also brings higher expectations, especially since the team’s core will remain intact for the next two years. In order to meet the demands of the community, Baldwin is looking at improving the team’s physique first and foremost.
“We’ll send them away for the Christmas break with specific jobs to do in terms of developing themselves while they’re on their own, and when they come back, we’ll tackle the physical side first and we’ll try to turn them to bigger and stronger and tougher athletes,” he shared.
“Then we’ll work on individual skills and knowledge of the game, and, from that, we’ll try to develop our players.”
But all of this will go to waste if the Blue Eagles settle for what they already have.
“Obviously, from the outcome of this team, the future looks very bright with the very bright group and significantly high accomplishments this year, but at the same time, if we don’t come in next year thinking what our weaknesses are and what we have to improve, then we’ll probably go backwards.
“The test is not to live up to this year, but the test is to live up to our potential.
“That’s where we’ll try to keep our focus, we’ll try to be player-focused and help our players become the right sort of young men and basketball players to win championships, but it starts with them,” the teacher concluded.
It’s up to the Blue Eagles to live up to what is expected of them.
