AS Ateneo entered UAAP Season 88 as, unbelievably, bottom-feeders, it needed more than a shot in the arm.
It needed the cavalry to come.
And at first, it looked like the Blue Eagles had just that it in the one-and-done trio of Kymani Ladi, Jaden Lazo, and Dom Escobar, who looked spectacular, special, and just about any other positive adjective, as they soared to a 4-0 start.
Early on, it looked like head coach Tab Baldwin’s ploy of letting three experienced foreign-honed players show the way was a stroke of genius.
Only, Ateneo struggled to sustain that fine form and dropped eight of its next 10 games, suffering a precipitous fall from league leaders to sixth-placers.
In the end, Baldwin, very much on brand, was candid about how it all went down - and down the drain at that, to be more pointed.
“Everybody thinks the one-and-done is a magical cure. It certainly helped our program a lot, but [there’s] pressure on the players, there’s difficulty of integrating into a team in a short period of time and integrating into a competition which they literally knew nothing about,” he said.
After racing out the gates and wasting no time making their presence felt, opposing teams began to zone in on the one-and-done Blue Eagles, Ladi and Escobar, in particular.
It also didn't help that lead guard Jared Bahay and Nigerian big Divine Adili, two other key players, got sidelined by injuries, adding more burden for the veterans Fil-Ams to carry.
And ultimately, Katipunan was left out of the playoff party for the second straight season, as Ladi, Lazo, and Escobar didn't get to don the blue-and-white for even just a little longer.
How they wish they did, because not only did they make a name for themselves in collegiate hoops, they also found their place within the ‘Blue Eagle Band of Brothers.’
Mr. Blue-and-White (and possibly red, too)
Of the three, Ladi was the first - and loudest - to introduce himself to the UAAP.
Before this season, Ateneo went two straight years without a victory against Far Eastern U, falling victim to clutch heroics from L-Jay Gonzales in Season 86 and then Jorick Bautista a year later.
But in this season’s opener, Ladi punched through an eye-opening 26 points and nine rebounds, as they escaped the Tamaraws in overtime.
From there, Ladi wouldn’t deliver a performance under 14 points until their first round closer against National U.
And not only did the the long-limbed, athletic forward stake his claim as one of the UAAP’s premiere scorers, he also caught the attention of coach Norman Black, who added him to Gilas Pilipinas' initial pool of players for the 33rd SEA Games.
READ: Kymani Ladi unsure on Gilas stint amid flip-flopping SEAG rules
Getting the national team nod was an honor, for sure.
Still, what stood out most for Ladi was how tighter the Blue Eagle squad was compared to anything he ever experienced before.
“I think I really started to get what Ateneo was really like, especially when I was going to classes and learning what 'BEBOB' really was and how the team dynamic was,” said Ladi, who averaged 14.29 points and 7.07 rebounds.
“Honestly, growing up, I don't think I was really part of a collective team, especially one that's as close like Ateneo. You see players coming into practice who are from teams years ago. That just shows a lot about what the community is like and how they're there for you.”
While other schools from his former stomping grounds of California had their fair share of notable hoopers, seeing the camaraderie between both present and past players was a sight for sore eyes for Ladi.
As he put it, “Even during your worst of times, you took a tough loss, I see Ange Kouame there in the corner, supporting us still. That's something that I don't think I've ever felt ever. It's great to feel that someone's there behind me.”
From bonus recruit to fan favorite
While Ladi was the unmistakable star and Lazo was also well on the radar, Escobar wasn’t originally part of the plan.
READ: Ateneo's Dom Escobar proves to be real deal - and not just part of package deal
Though that one fateful pick-up game with Baldwin in attendance was the starting point of Ladi and Lazo's journey to Katipunan, Escobar’s shot came a year later.
He, however, far outplayed his origins as some sort of a throw-in alongside a sought-after recruit, emerging as a fan favorite and winning over the Ateneo faithful with his effortless scoring.
He served up a steady 11.07 points and 6.93 boards per outing, mixing physicality with grace that he got from his background in athletics.
But his highlight definitely came in their first round rivalry game with La Salle, when he repeatedly exposed the defensive deficiencies of their former cornerstone Mason Amos, much to the delight of the Blue Eagles' fans.
In that 15-point, nine-rebound master class, Escobar didn’t just hand the Green Archers their second loss, he became retribution personified.
And if you think that his performance had no extra motivation at all, you would be mistaken. Because Escobar has embraced 'BEBOB' so much that he swore to be a kuya for life for the teammates he will leave behind.
“This is a brotherhood that I'll forever cherish, and I'm glad to say that I'm an Atenean. I told the guys I'll be here for them. I'm just a phone call, text away, and I just really appreciate the coaches for taking a chance on us,” he said.
If we could turn back time
Lazo and Ladi were technically recruited at the same time, but they didn’t arrive in Ateneo together.
Ladi came earlier to serve residency, while Lazo held off his Blue Eagle debut to run it back as a Golden Eagle of Cal State LA in the California Collegiate Athletic Association, where Escobar was his teammate.
When he did finally join the One Big Fight, Lazo was solid in norming 5.93 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.57 dimes.
Still, marquee performances like his 13 points in the fourth quarter against Adamson proved that he was one of the many sparkplugs that Baldwin can tap into in any given game.
READ: Jaden Lazo aims for the stars with one-time shot in Ateneo
With his single season being an improvement from his 4.6 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists with Cal State, the 23-year-old guard hoped he got to have more time in Katipunan.
“I just wish I had more time with them. If I had the opportunity to come sooner, I would have come,” he said. “It sucks not getting more time with these guys because I felt like we did get better as the season went on, despite our losing streak.”
“It's not easy bringing in three one-and-dones to an already established team. The way the guys just accepted us and from there just built a brotherhood.”
Lazo’s stay with Ateneo grew so memorable, in fact, that not only does he consider his peers as lifelong friends, he also added staying in the country and trying his luck in the PBA to be an option for his immediate future.
As he shared, “Basketball is obviously a huge part of what we want to accomplish here, but I'm taking away the fact that I have built relationships that I'm going to have for the rest of my life with the teammates and the coaches and everyone a part of the organization.”
“If I want to enter the draft for the PBA in 2027, this helps a lot. I haven't decided yet, but I have a lot of people here that want me to come back, so I'll keep in touch with them.”
One shot, one opportunity
While the effectiveness of this recruitment experiment yielded results that fell short of the usual highs of the league's winningest team of this milennium, the profound impact that 'BEBOB' made on Ladi, Lazo, and Escobar exceeded their expectations.
Even with time against them, the one-and-done trio made sure to give it their all - and not depart hoping they did more.
“We're not just losing three outstanding players, we're losing three very good friends and that's what makes it the saddest and the most difficult part,” said Baldwin.
“I have tremendous gratitude to these three guys. They are not one-and-dones, they're Ateneans.”
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