Humblebola

By Eriko dela Cruz

“Ateneo has had a rollercoaster of a season.” would be the understatement of the year.

They split their match-ups against the number 1 (UP) and 2 (DLSU) seeds, but got swept by FEU. They led against Adamson by 19 in the first round, only for a once cushy lead to evaporate and get beaten by a “happy birthday” three. From being the deadliest third quarter team in the UAAP the past season, to every Ateneo fan dreading the third quarter this season.

There are many reasons (not excuses) for Ateneo’s 7-7 slate– Youth being one of the biggest factors as three of the starting five from season 85 flew the nest. Another factor was some players joining late into the preseason preparations. Coach Tab Baldwin even mentioned the lack of skills training to give way to playing actual games. Safe to say, expectations were tempered for this season.

As the Blue Eagles lost a heart-stopper against the Green Archers and with the Adamson Soaring Falcons beating a powerhouse NU team and then surviving a nail-biter against the UE Red Warriors, everybody expected a slugfest. After all, that was the trend of the “Battle of the Birds in season 86.

Apparently, no one told Coach Tab and the Blue Eagles that.

Coach Tab stepped on that clutch, and put the bus onto a gear no one expected them to have. The Blue Eagles were running their sets more smoothly, rebounding better, and defending well. Ateneo was also exploiting the mismatches created by pick-and-rolls, something they were not able to do as much in the past. After leading by 14 at the half 40-26, they kept that performance going in the third quarter and eventually the fourth.

This performance by the Blue Eagles begs the question, Is this a sign of things to come for Ateneo, or is this just another up-swing before tumbling back down in the Final Four? Will this be enough to stop a fully prepared and as Coach Tab put it, “too professional” juggernaut UP Fighting Maroons?

The answers will soon be revealed as the Ateneo Blue Eagles face the UP Fighting Maroons in the Final Four this Saturday.