Ateneo de Manila University sets its sights on getting back on the winning track as it faces University of Santo Tomas on Saturday in the first UAAP Collegiate Men’s Basketball doubleheader in 20 years at the Blue Eagle Gym.
The Blue Eagles are at home, but for coach Tab Baldwin, that doesn’t guarantee a favorable result, especially against a Growling Tigers squad aiming to build another winning streak at 4:30 p.m.
“Well, since we’ve had zero trainings in that, I’m not even sure it’s a home court yet. It’s home in the sense that it’s the campus that we go to every day. But I think if there’s any chance that it will be a home court, it’s if the crowd really turns out, if the student body really comes and, you know, turns that place into, you know, a special event for the day for the team,” said Baldwin, who in his nine years at Ateneo will have the opportunity to steer the team at the historic Katipunan venue for the first time.
“But again, you know, is it going to be a distraction? We don’t want that. So, I mean, I spent 35 years coaching in leagues where every game was a home or away game. So I don’t really believe in that so much unless you’ve got a rabid, like you know, Cameron Indoor Stadium at Duke, unless they’re intimidating, which I don’t really think is the case here. I don’t really put too much stock in the home court thing. I mean, we were undefeated at UST, so, you know, maybe that’s our home court.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
The last time both teams met was a second-round game on Oct. 29 last year at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion Arena, where the Blue Eagles narrowly defeated the Growling Tigers, 67-64.
Earlier in the day, struggling teams Adamson University and University of the East clash at 1:30 p.m. Tickets for Saturday’s men’s doubleheader at the newly renovated Blue Eagle Gym are sold separately.
The last time the league hosted a men’s twinbill at the Katipunan venue was on Sept. 8, 2005, when Norman Black-coached Ateneo defeated National University, 70-65, and Arwind Santos-led Far Eastern University edged UST, 64-63, in the second round.
The Blue Eagles are currently tied with the Bulldogs for the league’s best record at 4-1, while the Growling Tigers sit in third place at 3-1.
While Ateneo is coming off a 69-83 loss to defending champion University of the Philippines that ended an undefeated four-game winning streak, UST hopes to build momentum after a 111-99 victory over UE, erasing the sting of its first defeat of the season to NU.
“We always take it one game at a time. I think ang difference ay ine-empower talaga kami ni Coach Pido (Jarencio), kaming mga coaches pati mga players, and the level of preparation we do, we take pride in that effort,” said Growling Tigers assistant coach Juben Ledesma.
After facing the Fighting Maroons’ foreign student-athlete Francis Nnoruka, who dropped 28 points in the Katipunan derby, the Blue Eagles will now have to contend with UST’s FSA Collins Akowe, who has been impressive in his first season with averages of 22.3 points and 17.6 rebounds in the España-based side’s three wins.
“Yung sa offense, we’re talking about offense palagi kasi we’re a very fluid team na last year pa lang, and with the addition of Collins, mas nakakaangat lang talaga ng confidence. It really helps us big time and yung kumpiyansa ni coach Pido sa mga boys lang talaga,” Ledesma said.
The Soaring Falcons have only a single victory to show—a 62-59 escape via Ray Allen Torres’ game-winning triple in five games—while the Red Warriors are 0-4 since coach Chris Gavina took over.
As the first round nears its end, Adamson and UE must now make a move if they still want to keep their hopes alive for a deeper run this season.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
On the women’s side, it will be a battle of undefeated teams as Ateneo (4-0) and UST (3-0) take the floor at 7 p.m. The Blue Eagles are on a tough two-game stretch, and coach LA Mumar relishes the chance to challenge the mighty Tigresses.
“UST and NU are our big games for us. But we get to play in the Blue Eagle Gym, we’re very excited about that. We just want to challenge these two powerhouses who’ve dominated our division the past couple of years, actually decade na nga ‘yata si NU, and we just want to join the party. I think ang mindset ng girls is kaya namin, and right now, pinapatunayan namin na meron kami ibubuga this season,” said Mumar.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
UST’s FSA Oma Onianwa will be tested by the Blue Eagles’ frontline of reigning MVP Kacey dela Rosa and Sarah Makanjoula, but the Tigresses have plenty of weapons at their disposal, led by Kent Pastrana.
“Of course, very important si Oma. At least ngayon, hindi na kami undersized kila Kacey or kay Makanjoula. With the help of Oma, at least we can do 1-on-1 defense against Kacey or meron pa rin kami iti-tweak sa opensa. But Oma will be a big help against Kacey sa Saturday,” said UST mentor Haydee Ong.
In Junior High School Boys’ action, UST and Ateneo square off at 9:30 a.m., following the titleholder UE and struggling Adamson matchup at 7:30 a.m.
Games air on the Pilipinas Live app, One Sports, and the UAAP Varsity Channel. – TJ
