Early exit: Ateneo misses UAAP Final Four for first time in 11 years

MANILA, Philippines – The Tab Baldwin era of the Ateneo Blue Eagles has been synonymous with UAAP success — stringing up six straight finals appearances, including seven Final Four stints from 2016 to 2023 in the men’s basketball tournament.

During that span, the Blue Eagles formed a dynasty behind Thirdy Ravena, Ange Kouame, and Dave Ildefonso, winning three straight titles from 2017 to 2019, and again in Season 85 in 2022.

But just two years after that last championship romp, the Blue Eagles suddenly became the first team to crash out of Final Four contention in Season 87.

With a league-worst 3-9 record heading into the final week of the elimination round, Ateneo bowed out on Saturday, November 9, after a 65-54 loss to the FEU Tamaraws (5-8), coupled with a UST (6-7) win over UE (6-6), 76-67, in the second game.

The early exit saw the once mighty Blue Eagles missing the Final Four for the first time since Season 76 in 2013.

“The measure of a program, the measure of a person, the measure of a team is what you do when you get knocked down,” Baldwin said after the Blue Eagles’ latest setback against the streaking FEU Tamaraws.

“And, you know, we’re knocked down as a program. And I have every confidence that we will respond, and we will learn from the situation that we’re in and we will use it as motivation to grow in the future,” he added.

Losing Jared Brown, Kai Ballungay, Geo Chiu and Mason Amos in the offseason, the Blue Eagles had to rebuild quickly, but the pieces were not enough to make a dent in this year’s loaded tournament.

The team will have to make the most of the remaining pieces for the next few years built around the Cebuano duo of Jared Bahay and Kristian Porter.

“It has been a most difficult year, but not just for me. It’s been difficult for players that are in positions that they’re not ready for, playing in positions, some of them playing out of position. And you know, trying to give the team everything that they can, at the same time trying to learn, grow, mature, and develop,” shared Baldwin.

“We certainly knew it was possible and maybe even probable. But that’s, again, you know, I’ve said it several times this year… that’s life and nobody waves magic wands. You deal, you play with the cards you’re dealt, you do the best you can.”

But for now, the team is looking to end its campaign on a high note against the UE Red Warriors and the Adamson Soaring Falcons, who are both jockeying for a Final Four spot.

Whatever comes out of this season will be lessons used in the future, said the Kiwi-American coach.

“It really boils down to what you, as a competitor, have in the fiber of your being. And that’s what the coaches are going to call on in the players,” said Baldwin.

“That’s what we’re going to rely on in one another, and you know hopefully, in the short term we can play these next two games at a high level and win games — see what happens and use that as part of the lessons that we have to learn for our future, whatever that future will be.” – Rappler.com