By MARK REY MONTEJO
In UAAP history, Ateneo is one of only two schools to win five straight championships – a feat the Blue Eagles achieved from 2008 to 2013.
They went on to win four more titles along the way – the last time was two years ago – that cemented Ateneo’s status as the most successful team the past two decades.
That’s why most of their fans – even the most rabid ones – were downhearted to see the Eagles languishing at the cellar of the 8-team tournament with only one win to show after the first round of the elims.
It’s really disappointing considering the team’s massive financial war chest to court players they believe will fit to the system of coach Tab Baldwin.
But why are they carrying a dismal 1-6 mark?
Baldwin blamed the current form of the team on pressure.
A veteran of many basketball wars, Baldwin stressed that his wards must cope and handle the pressure of representing the Jesuit-run institution’s basketball club well if they wish to turn their fortune around.
“We have to handle the pressure of being Blue Eagles in a not great year and we have to rise to the expectations of ourselves, of our community,” said Baldwin after Ateneo’s 68-58 loss to NU (2-5) last weekend.
“We have to rise to the level of the league and establish that we should be respected for the quality of play that we put on the court. So far, we haven’t done that,” he added.
Baldwin, however, is not yet raising the white flag of surrender, saying there is still time to rectify their mistakes and make go for a playoff berth.
“So this is a real challenge and it’s one that we don’t like being in the thick of, but it is what we have and we’re going to continue to try,” Baldwin continued.
“And find and accentuate the positives and try to improve on the negatives and hope that that process, there’s that word for you all, we hope that that process will start yielding positive results,” he added.
While it will take great courage and time to tame the pressure that his young players are facing, Baldwin still believes their season is far from over.
“It takes a lot of work and it takes some tough guys to be able to handle that and, you know, we’re trying to, we’re trying to help them be that.”
Ateneo tries to turn things around as it returns on the hardcourt again against NU to open its second round campaign Sunday, Oct. 13, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Ateneo needs a spark to keep its flickering playoff hopes alive, so the Eagles should better prepare hard for a tougher grind ahead.
