Ateneo de Manila University’s struggles in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Tournament have been evident since the start of their campaign.
The team found themselves further exposed with a 54-65 loss to Far Eastern University on Saturday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The defeat left the Blue Eagles on the brink of elimination, dropping their record to 3-9 and putting them in dangerous territory of missing the Final Four for the first time since Season 76 in 2013.
Ateneo has never missed the semifinals in head coach Tab Baldwin’s seven seasons with the team, which began in Season 79 in 2016.
That level of success, which became synonymous with Baldwin’s four UAAP championships, came crashing down in Ateneo’s most difficult season yet.
While a UST win over UE later tonight will officially eliminate Ateneo from the Final Four race, Baldwin remains confident that the challenges faced in Season 87 will help the Blue Eagles mature and improve significantly next season.
“It has been a most difficult year, but not just for me. It’s been difficult for players who are in positions they’re not ready for, playing out of position, and trying to give everything they can, while also trying to learn, grow, mature, and develop. And when you have that scenario, it’s going to be frustrating,” the 66-year-old head coach said.
“Nobody waves magic wands. You play with the cards you’re dealt, do the best you can, and try to make sure that in the future, you get a better hand. You’ll play better, as we have done in the past, and as I expect we will do in the future.”
Despite the disappointments of Season 87, Baldwin remains optimistic about his rookie-laden roster. He believes that the continued growth of prized rookies Jared Bahay and Kristian Porter will be key to helping the Blue Eagles return to the top of the UAAP men’s basketball scene.
Baldwin emphasized that the development of these young players will pay off for Ateneo, even with the absence of co-captains Sean Quitevis and Chris Koon in Season 88.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“I think we want people to think that no matter the circumstances, no matter how dim the light on the horizon is, with the growth of Jared and Porter, we’re going to show up, we’re going to fight, and we’re going to prepare,” Baldwin explained.
“We’ll give the best we can for our team, for the effort we’ve put in this year, for our community, and for all the people that support us.”
While Baldwin is confident that Ateneo will bounce back in Season 88, he is urging his players to focus on the immediate task at hand and end the season on a positive note with two games remaining.
The Blue Eagles’ path to finishing the season strong includes matches against the UE Red Warriors on Wednesday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion, and a date with the Adamson Soaring Falcons, with the schedule yet to be revealed.
“I have every confidence that we will respond. We’ll learn from the situation we’re in and use it as motivation to grow in the future. What happens over the next two games depends a lot on what every individual in our program is capable of as a competitor,” Baldwin shared.
“That’s what we’re going to rely on in one another. Hopefully, in the short term, we can play these next two games at a high level, win, see what happens, and use that as part of the lessons we need to learn for our future, whatever that future may be.”
