Ateneo de Manila University coach Tab Baldwin has a keen eye for spotting prodigious talent.
Ever since taking charge of the Blue Eagles in Season 79, Ateneo has consistently produced players who have gone on to excel in various professional leagues and represent Gilas Pilipinas.
Under Baldwin’s guidance, standout athletes like Thirdy Ravena, Isaac Go, Tyler Tio, Adrian Wong, Angelo Kouame, Gian Mamuyac, and Matt and Mike Nieto have emerged as stars for their respective teams and the national squad.
Baldwin has established himself as an exceptional mentor for player development and can readily pinpoint what distinguishes seasoned players from novices.
He emphasizes the significance of the finer points that set apart veteran athletes from those lacking experience.
Baldwin explains, “It’s the little things, you know, that distinguish veteran players from inexperienced players. You can talk to almost any old basketball player, and they’ll tell you that if you go down to the park and there’s a group of guys playing, as an old player, you want to be matched up with the young players. You want to be on the same team as the other experienced players because, generally speaking, you guys know how to play the game, and you can leverage your knowledge to overcome athleticism and speed.
“It’s the same for young players: learning the little things, understanding how to position themselves correctly, mastering techniques like boxing out if you’re not an oversized and exceptional athlete, and learning defensive footwork when you’re not the quickest guy on the court, knowing how to position yourself to avoid being taken advantage of,” he continued.
“There are many small things like that. We take pride in our program, and we believe that we teach our players these aspects, but they are not automatic, and mastery takes time.”
In the current Ateneo roster, all eyes are on forward Mason Amos as the potential star emerging from their program.
Amos, who contributed 15 points against University of Santo Tomas with a remarkable 3-of-4 shooting from beyond the three-point line, arrived with high expectations, having previously represented Gilas Pilipinas. However, he has been inconsistent in his performances for the Blue Eagles, highlighting the learning curve he faces.
Baldwin acknowledges the challenge, saying, “But when you have a player like Mason, who possesses a wealth of talent that you want to see on the court, these nuances will become apparent at times. He may have off days due to it.
“The sooner he recognizes and learns from it – and he is aware of it – the quicker he will be able to leverage his strengths, and opponents will have fewer opportunities to exploit his weaknesses.”
In the end, Amos and his young teammates must go through the learning process before they can match the achievements of their predecessors. There’s no better mentor for imparting basketball wisdom than Baldwin, who has coached at the international level in the FIBA Basketball World Cup and the Olympics.
Baldwin emphasizes that his team is still in the growth phase, despite their recent victory over University of Santo Tomas, winning 97-77.
“It’s just one good game,” Baldwin says.
“We need to follow it up with more consistent performances.”
