HEAD COACH: Tab Baldwin (9th season)
LAST SEASON: 4-10 (8th)
HOLDOVERS: Jared Bahay, Josh Lazaro, Ian Espinosa, Shawn Tuano, Andrew Bongo
SUBTRACTIONS: Sean Quitevis, Chris Koon, Kristian Porter
ADDITIONS: Kymani Ladi, Divine Adili, Dominic Escobar, Jaden Lazo, Jelomar Rota, Alden Cainglet, Lebron Nieto (returning from injury)
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FROM winning it all four times out of the last seven, Ateneo was the biggest loser in UAAP Season 87.
And we say that with all due respect to brilliant Tab Baldwin and the most successful team in the league's men's basketball tournament in modern times.
The fact is the Blue Eagles, the unassailable and untouchable dynasty of the last decade, finished last, with just four wins to show in 14 games.
That the once-mighty had fallen was far from unbelievable. It happens to the best of them. Believe this, though: this proud program isn't going to let that happen again.
While we'll hear no guarantees from Baldwin himself, Jared Bahay's second year coupled with the entries of Nigerian powerhouse Divine Adili and one-and-done stud Kymani Ladi is a good a start as any for Ateneo to claw its way out of the bottom in Season 88.
"It is what it is. It can be a good thing if people underestimate you, but it can be a bad thing if people feel confident they are better than you and they're out to prove that," the four-time collegiate champion coach answered when asked by SPIN.ph about the lower than usual expectations on the Katipunan crew.
"Really the onus is on us to prove we're worthy of climbing the ladder into the top of the rankings. That’s the goal, but again, it's going to be proven through performance, and not through talk."
Jared-y for more
For all this to happen, though, somebody should take the mantle of leadership.
With Ian Espinosa and Josh Lazaro, veteran smarts and championship experience are still there. Nonetheless, the steering wheel itself is up for grabs - and Bahay has just finished his driver's education, and his license will now allow him to operate heavier machinery.
"He's definitely going to have benefitted from last year. He's matured from that process. It was a tough situation for any freshman, especially point guard, to come into, to carry the load he did," said Baldwin.
Bahay himself is revving up for his new role, as the team captain in just his second season by saying, "I want my teammates to feel my leadership more, as it is what we need to play good basketball."
READ: Jared Bahay feeling better in the driver's seat for Ateneo
Great expectations were thrust on him in his rookie year, what with his background as CESAFI juniors superstar and back-to-back No. 1 in the annual rankings of under-19 players in the Philippines.
For majority of last year, however, it was clear he was adjusting to the collegiate game, as his averages of 10.6 points, 3.9 assists, and 2.9 rebounds in 23 minutes showed.
Now, he looks like he's more prepared than ever, bulking up and building guns holstered right on his arms.
And so, with a sturdier Bahay and a graduating Espinosa, the Blue Eagles are all set at guard.
One-and-well-done
Flanking them then are newcomers in the frontline in 6-10 Adili and 6-8 Ladi, who will raise the Katipunan ceiling that was quite low last year with now-departed Kristian Porter, though a workhorse at 6-5, as the main man in the middle.
"Divine is a guy that has talent, physical maturity, but he's still very young. Freshmen do freshmen things. The quicker he can learn and grow up, the more he can learn his role, the more effective he's gonna be 'cause he has talent and he has the physical capability to compete from Day 1," said Baldwin.
Ateneo is quick to temper expectations on Adili, though he has already tasted success in the Philippines, as NAASCU juniors MVP for New Era University.
As their shot-caller put it, "The learning process is real and he's going to go through it. We're going to all suffer through it with him at times. The key is how well he takes the knocks that are gonna come."
Remember, however, that the last time the blue-and-white took on an unpolished gem straight out of high school and played him full five years, the result was one Ange Kouame.
Ladi, meanwhile, won't have as much leeway, being one-and-done.
"He's tough, a guy that’s very competitive in nature, he's got talent, good size. I think he's highly motivated to have a good season. He's looked good in a lot of preseason games, but UAAP is a different beast. He's looking forward to the challenge. I'm confident he can have a good season, but we wanna see it in our own eyes," said Baldwin.
Indeed, the Fil-Am forward has already opened eyes and jaws in the select preseason tournaments the Blue Eagles appeared in.
Even with those two, though, they seem to be quite lacking in size, especially compared to perceived contenders like the University of the Philippines (Francis Nnoruka, Gani Stevens, Mark Belmonte, Sean Alter, Migs Palanca), University of Santo Tomas (Collins Akowe, Gelo Crisostomo, Koji Buenaflor), and La Salle (Bright Nwankwo, Mason Amos, Luis Pablo, Lebron Jhames Daep).
Don't forget though, that Lazaro and Andrew Bongo, their starters at 4, are another year wiser, as Shawn Tuano is a big guard who can also go from the wings.
All in all, Ateneo - yes, they who have taken home 10 titles since 2002 - is flying under the radar heading into this season, and that is a trap opponents should avoid.
The fact that they're coming from the bottom should scare you. The fact that we've seen little of them should scare you. The fact that Ateneo is still Ateneo - and will always be Ateneo - should scare you.
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Read up on what to expect from the other teams in UAAP Season 88 here:
NU UAAP 88 PREVIEW: Bulldogs' big picture now crystal clear
FEU UAAP 88 PREVIEW: Tamaraws enter comfort zone after 'Pre-xit'
UE UAAP 88 PREVIEW: Red Warriors giving swag with fiery Gavina in charge
ADAMSON UAAP 88 PREVIEW: These surprising Falcons just got taller and younger
UST UAAP 88 PREVIEW: This is Tigers' best shot at first title since 2006
LA SALLE UAAP 88 PREVIEW: Great expectations, meet Green Archers
UP UAAP 88 PREVIEW: It's Fighting Maroons against the world
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