Ateneo de Manila University was once the most dominant school in the UAAP, winning nine titles since 2008 including a rare five-peat under the tutelage of former head coach Norman Black.

But in Season 87, the Blue Eagles could only remember those championship runs as they struggle to find the golden touch that made them the unbeatable of yesteryears.

American-Kiwi coach Tab Baldwin could only preach patience as he rallies his players to do better and make a respectable campaign in the second phase of elimination after finishing the first round with a 1-6 record.

“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 moments 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.

Ateneo is currently at the tail-end of the standings, with its only victory coming from a 60-51 win over Adamson.

The two-time UAAP Coach of the Year hopes that the losing spell will give them hard lessons to ponder on.

“So this is, you know, this is a real challenge and it's one that, you know, 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.

Ateneo tries to turn things around against NU when it opens its second round campaign Sunday, Oct. 13, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

With its Final Four hopes on the line, the Blue Eagles will rely on their main guns Shawn Tuano, Jared Bahay, Andrew Bongo, Kris Porter, Josh Lazaro and Kyle Gamber.