When the going got tough for this once-unbeaten Ateneo de Manila University squad, they faltered.
Facing adversity for the first time since a strong four-game win streak to start the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament, the Blue Eagles struggled mentally against a familiar rival, the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, on Wednesday evening at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Throughout the tense and physical 40-minute ‘Battle of Katipunan,’ even soft-spoken one-and-done forward Kymani Ladi lost his composure against UP’s defensive-minded frontline, which featured Miguel Yniguez, Jacob Bayla, and Nigerian forward Francis Nnoruka.
But it wasn’t just Ladi who faltered.
The Blue Eagles struggled to counter the toughness displayed by the Fighting Maroons, ultimately resulting in Ateneo’s first loss of the season, 83-69.
Rather than dwell on the setback, head coach Tab Baldwin hopes his team can learn from UP’s example — a squad he praised as highly competitive and physically formidable.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“They’re really tough guys. But I don’t see them as malicious, and I don’t see their coaching staff that way at all,” Baldwin told members of the press.
“I just think they’re highly competitive, and I applaud that. I applaud toughness. I ask our guys to be dogs all the time, and I think the UP coaching staff probably doesn’t have to ask for that very much, because that’s what those guys are, and I admire that about them.
“I think we live in a world today where people overreact to toughness. I mean, get the hell out of sports if you’re not going to be tough, right? And if you’re going to cry about things all the time, well, you’re not going to be on the winning side very much,” he added.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Beyond adapting to a more physical style of play, Baldwin believes Ateneo is at its best when the team remains composed and follows the system he has built over the past nine years.
This philosophy was evident in Ateneo’s four-game winning streak against FEU, UE, Adamson, and DLSU, which gave them their best start since Season 84 in 2022, guided by Baldwin’s system and the ‘BEBOB’ mantra — Blue Eagles, Band of Brothers.
“I think you might be touching on the most important thing, and not just with Kymani as you said, but with the entire team. I think we’re a much better team when we play to a script, when we follow a game plan,” he said.
“And I think this team has the intelligence, the maturity to do that, and I think we lost our way on that point tonight. Hopefully, that’s the most important lesson that we take out of this.”
