The process has finally born fruit for the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles.
Entering the season, first-year Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin was handed a young squad bannered by just two fifth-year players. And the youth and inexperience of the Blue Eagles showed early in the season.
During the first Ateneo-La Salle game of the season, the Blue Eagles were clearly rattled. Under the bright lights of the SM Mall of Asia Arena, the inexperienced squad caved in to La Salle’s mayhem defense, committing 30 turnovers and were out-rebounded 41 to 49 leading to a 97-81 demolishing.
“We have to recognize defenses better. We have to learn the game. We are short of experience and basketball knowledge on this team. We are trying to progress better as quick as we can,” Baldwin said after that setback.
Another loss to neighbors University of the Philippines sent Ateneo to rock-bottom. But it also served as a wake-up call for the Blue Eagles to trust the process.
Saturday afternoon, the Blue Eagles played an almost-perfect game against their arch-rivals. They matched the physicality of the Green Archers (out-rebounding La Salle, 48 to 43), and shackled their potent offense (La Salle shot a season-low 29 percent from the field). On the offensive end, Aaron Black and company figured out how to break the press, running past the trap and finding the open man.
Ateneo made La Salle mortal for the first time this season, taking an 83-71 win — the first blemish to the Green Archers’ record.
“Proud of the team. Obviously, we are a happy bunch. It means a lot to beat La Salle and it means a lot to get a win at this stage of the competition. It was a big win for us,” the American-Kiwi coach remarked after the game.
According to the former National Team mentor, the Blue Eagles were patient and showed better maturity.
“I thought our composure was better even if we still had 26 turnovers and we still gave up 25 offensive rebounds, we were more composed and we executed our game plan better compared to the last time. I think that’s what it took,” the 58-year-old mentor shared.
“I don’t think any one let us down today. Everyone came out to play.”
However, Baldwin believes that the Green Archers will be a much better team after this loss.
“But next time anyone faces La Salle, they are going to be much stronger. They will benefit from this first loss for sure. But you can’t beat team if you fall apart to their pressure and their physicality,” he said about La Salle.
“I’m sure that if we play them again tomorrow, we would need a different gameplan. They adjust well, they’re intelligent, and they’re tough.”
With this, he was quick to downplay the pivotal win, a historic yet small feat, as the Blue Eagles’ campaign is still not over. Ateneo will play the Far Eastern University Tamaraws next, a team they beat in the first round.
“Well we have to figure that out one way or another. The next game will be against a tough team like FEU. I don’t have all the answers and we have to talk with the rest of the guys,” he said.
“The fact that we play the game one possession at a time, game by game, I told them that this is the most important game of your lives not because it is La Salle. It is the most important game because it is the next game. Now, FEU is the most important game of our lives.
“If that is not enough reason to wash this one out of our system then we’ll probably fail,” he furthered.
And it is safe to assume that everyone will go back to the gym on Monday to prepare for the bigger goal.
