Eagles take flight, soar to 2nd best

MANILA, Philippines - Ateneo’s youngsters have matured faster than everyone had imagined in the UAAP LXXIX men’s basketball wars and finished a fighting second to overwhelming favorite La Salle. 

Some say it was an “over-achievement” on the part of the rookie and sophomore-laden team but for coach Tab Baldwin, it’s par for the course.

“The growth was impressive, but I can also say that that’s what we’re supposed to do as individuals and team, grow,” said Baldwin, the former Gilas Pilipinas mentor who was tapped to chart the path for the fledgling Eagles.

“Our job is to grow great players. The by-product of doing that is winning championships. We obviously haven’t developed our players enough yet and that will be our goal, always. All the other things like having the fighting spirit of an Atenean, making the shots, developing the strengths and the physical attributes, and the athleticism, that’s all a by-product of developing the players as they should be and the players dedicating themselves to try to reach their potential,” he added.

The Eagles finished second at the end of the elims and outdueled tough holder Far Eastern in two tight contests in the Final Four. Come the finals, the Ateneans held their own against La Salle before yielding a 65-67 setback in Game One and 72-79 loss in Game Two.

But with an intact core and finals experience, things can only get better for an AdMU side that’s losing only one player to graduation in Giboy Babilonia.

“I think that if we pursue the right goals as coaches and we dedicate ourselves to the players and to their future as young men, all of the other things will fall in line, and that’s what we did and what we’ll continue to do,” said Baldwin.

“Obviously from the outcome of this year, the future looks bright. Very young group, significantly high accomplishments this year but at the same time if we don’t come in next year thinking about what our weaknesses are and what’s to improve then we will probably go back and so the test is not to live up to this year, the test is to live up to our potential,” he added.