ALL eyes may be on Ateneo’s new crop of one-and-done players, but their local talents are starting to show up as well, with the latest example being sophomore guard Waki Espina.
Espina backed excellent forward Kymani Ladi’s 18-point double-double with 17 markers of his own in the Blue Eagles' second straight win to start UAAP Season 88.
READ: Ateneo wins second straight nail-biter this time against UE
In their previous game, while the 6-foot-2 guard only scored five points, he also backed playmaker Jared Bahay in facilitating with six rebounds and four assists.
According to Espina, utilizing whatever skills he has for the needs of the blue-and-white is a big priority for him this season, as he prioritizes contributing not just in scoring.
As he explained, “I'm just really surrounding myself around the game plan, immersing myself in whatever coaches want.
“I'll try my best to provide if they need me to hit shots, then I'll try to do that. And if they need defense, I'm just really about whatever the coaches need.”
Espina got a taste of a bigger role during the offseason, where his growth even earned him a First Team nod in the Asiabasket 2025 Collegiate Tour.
And he was the first to admit that the expanded role was something that got to him at first, but he also didn’t take much time to embrace it.
“Initially, it made me nervous because coach Tab [Baldwin] started starting me in the preseason,” he said. “But then, sooner or later, I realized that it was a responsibility that I had to bear, and honestly, it was an honor to be a part of the starting five, despite all the amazing guys around me.”
“So it really gives me confidence to go out and really perform and try to do my best so that I can help the team as much as possible.”
Tab's continued brilliance and guidance
With the extension of Ateneo shot-caller Baldwin, another player who will surely benefit is Espina, who entered at the same time as their co-captain in Bahay.
As one of his biggest believers, not only did the Cebu native sing high praises for his decorated head coach, the former also professed excitement at playing out his collegiate career under the latter, which will span the same amount of seasons as Baldwin’s extension.
“For starters, it's an honor to be coached by coach Tab. He’s a real blessing for the Ateneo program for us, especially playing under him,” he said.
Even more, Espina commended Baldwin’s dedication to truly knowing his players, something that earned him this bigger responsibility, and earned them an undefeated record in this season so far.
READ: For three more years under Baldwin, Ateneo assured to get the most out of its players
“Coach Tab builds a lot of trust around us every time we have our team events and team-buildings. He’s really always around us, immerses himself with us, and really talks to us, and yeah, it's a real blessing to have him for my whole collegiate career,” he said.
With more and more teams pivoting to finding ways to slow down the Blue Eagles' potent reinforcements this season, Espina and the rest of the team are going to have to hold their own as well.
Fortunately, he’s ready for whatever and eager to repay the trust given him.
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