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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Collegiate devider Blue Eagles eager to bounce back

Blue Eagles eager to bounce back

Published Sep 17, 2025 02:52 pm

At A Glance

  • Fueled by their dismal finish with a 4-10 record in Season 87, the Blue Eagles vowed to put their best effort with two-time UAAP Coach of the Year Tab Baldwin staying at the helm.
Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin (UAAP Media)
Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin (UAAP Media)
The most dominant force in men's collegiate basketball in 2010s, Ateneo is looking to reclaim what was once its throne in the UAAP with renewed confidence coming into Season 88.
Fueled by their dismal finish with a 4-10 record in Season 87, the Blue Eagles vowed to put their best effort with two-time UAAP Coach of the Year Tab Baldwin staying at the helm.
Baldwin and Co. have moved on from their campaign last season but the lessons are well acknowledged for the rest of the remaining players.
“We don’t care about last season, that’s water under the bridge,” said Baldwin, who guided the Blue Eagles to a three-peat from 2017 to 2019, and the most recent one in 2022.
“This team will build their own identity, and they’ll make their own mark and we’ll have nothing to do with last year,” he added.
With Chris Koon, Sean Quitevis, and Kristian Porter kissing goodbye, Ateneo still has high hopes of bouncing back this year.
“I think all the young players believe in themselves and they are optimistic about their chances to succeed,” Baldwin continued.
“And when you put the ball together and you get the collective performance, everybody’s gonna feel that way, there’s a lot of optimism in our camp and determination,” he added.
The 67-year-old tactician counts on sophomore guard Jared Bahay to banner the Blue Eagles.
“He had a pretty big role last year as a freshman [and] I just think his impact needs to be better this year,” said Balwin.
“In a way of a guy that leads the team and gets the most out of his teammates from the point guard position and I believe he’s closer to doing that [kind of play, compared] from last year,” he added.
The 5-foot-9 versatile guard alongside fellow holdovers Andrew Bongo, Ian Espinosa, Shawn Tuano, and Josh Lazaro are leading the Blue Eagles' hope of improving their record with a couple of fresh faces including Kymani Ladi and Divine Adili.
Ateneo begins its quest on the opening day this Saturday, Sept. 20, facing Far Eastern University at the Quadricentennial Pavilion Arena inside UST Manila campus.
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