It’s clear what Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin wants: complete players who are tough but not a liability.

The championship coach has urged his players to grow up fast if they ever wish to defend their title this Season 86. 

After four games, the defending champions managed a split 2-2 record including an opening sorry loss which wasn’t the best way to enter the season.

With the departure of key players in former MVP Ange Kouame, Dave Ildefonso and BJ Andrade, the loss is staring Baldwin in the face as the void continues to be felt.

“What we ultimately want, we want complete players. We want players who are not a liability at one end of the court. I think every player has at a minimum been a guy who’s tough at one end and doesn’t hurt us at the end of the floor and then grows from there,” said Baldwin.

However, Baldwin has admitted that some of his expectations can only be met through experiences and growing pains — something that the Blue Eagles were immediately confronted with this season.

Though the 65-year-old tactician was generous with praises for certain players such as Jared Brown and Joshua Lazaro particularly in their 76-69 victory against University of the East, Baldwin wants to have players he can consistently rely on deep into the season.

“You’re gonna get sick and tired of me saying development, growth, maturity all these things but that’s our life right now. We need to do it faster if we expect to be at the end of the season,” he concluded.