Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

ADMU

Tab Baldwin admits: ‘We really didn’t want UP in the Finals’


Entering the season, the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles were the overwhelming favorites to win it all.

But this season has showed that the Blue Eagles are also mortal.

Right in the very first game of the season, the Adamson Soaring Falcons stuned the defending champions, 74-70.

Which is why it comes as a surprise that Tab Baldwin conceded that if he had a choice, he would rather face Adamson than the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons in the Finals.

“Now I could say it, we really didn’t want them in the final. But that’s what we got so that’s what we have to face,” he shared after Game One.

This, even if Blue Eagles handily defeated the Fighting Maroons during their two elimination round encounters, winning by an average margin of 12.5 points per game.

Baldwin was wary of the chemistry developing among the Fighting Maroons as the season progressed. Especially since it resulted in UP winning four straight knockout matches to advance to their first Finals in 32 years.

“Much more determined, much more cohesive,” is Baldwin’s assessment of the difference between the Fighting Maroons now compared to when the Blue Eagles faced them.

“They understand their personnel; they understand how to create shots much better and they play for one another. It’s quite obvious,” he said, as UP have found synergy between their two alphas Paul Desiderio and Juan Gomez de Liano.

“So that always makes a team tougher. It’s something I think that probably coach Bo was working on throughout the season, and I think he’s got it pretty close to right,” he added.

“Now they’re a really, really tough opponent.”

In Game One, it showed. The Fighting Maroons were able to weather numerous Ateneo rallies. But the Blue Eagles had one last rally in them and it came at the right time – in the final quarter.

#ReadMore  Patience is the name of the game for 'Big Ben'

That is why Baldwin is bracing for another tough one come Wednesday.

“I think you got to give credit to… you don’t have to give UP credit, they did what they got here to do. I’m sure that’s what coach Bo expects of them. I was very impressed with the way that they played,” praised the decorated tactician.

“We can’t expect anything less on Wednesday from them. We have to expect a lot more from our defense on Wednesday.”

Written By


You May Also Like

ADMU

Ateneo de Manila University has secured major commitments for its volleyball and basketball programs as two University of Santo Tomas high school standouts, Paolo...

ADMU

After spending his entire academic life in the Jesuit system, Kristian Porter has made a difficult decision — to leave Ateneo de Manila University....

ADMU

De La Salle University continued its dominance at the Moro Lorenzo Gym, securing a commanding 89-77 victory over Ateneo de Manila University in the...

Basketball

Ateneo de Manila University will once again host archrival De La Salle University on its home floor, as the two squads collide in the...

ADMU

Ateneo de Manila University will not be participating in the 18th Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup, which tips off on May 18 at the Filoil...

3x3 Basketball

Every time things got heated during the UAAP Season 87 Junior High School 3×3 Basketball Final between Ateneo and UST, young Sky Jazul would...

ADMU

JT Tan has been in the Philippines for the past few weeks, and the country’s “Big Four” universities are making a strong push to...

3x3 Basketball

Two-time defending UAAP Men’s 3×3 Basketball champion De La Salle University kept its title-retention hopes alive after dispatching last season’s final opponent University of...

Advertisement