After a quick offseason, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Men’s Basketball Tournament is back. This weekly series will analyze the state of the Ateneo Blue Eagles as they look to avenge last season’s finals loss.

ATENEO ENDED the elimination rounds on a high note, winning their last six elimination games en route to a first-seed finish in the UAAP standings. Coach Tab Baldwin’s squad captured win number nine against the gritty University of the East (UE) Red Warriors in a game that went down to the wire in overtime, 69-66. Victory number 10, meanwhile, came in what could be a possible Finals preview against the defending champions, the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, 75-67. With an opportunity to add momentum into the postseason, Ateneo outlasted fellow contenders, the Adamson University (AdU) Soaring Falcons, seizing control of the first seed in another close contest for their 11th win, 66-61.

1. The ascension of Gab Gomez

Anton: WHILE GAB Gomez has been hailed as the Italian Supreme by Ateneo alum and star playmaker Matt Nieto, the Filipino-Italian point guard has continued to refine his play game-by-game as he takes on a more prominent role in the rotation. This development was momentarily halted midway through the season when he suffered a minor shoulder injury which sidelined him for several games. He has then returned and lived up to the moniker betrothed to him, bringing his European play style into the fold with his smooth approach and calm demeanor. With this, Gomez has provided a needed spark off the bench, something Ateneo has been desperate to find with their struggles in the second unit.

Although the consistency has been evident throughout the season, Gomez’s big break came during one of their most pivotal games against UP. It was in this match where the second-year point guard started to gain recognition, playing key minutes against the reigning champions. However, it is no easy feat to go up against the dreaded Fighting Maroon backcourt, which includes lockdown defenders JD Cagulangan, Terence Fortea, and Gerry Abadiano. Still, Gomez stayed composed throughout the late stages of the fourth quarter and proved his worth against the league’s best defense. 

Although the numbers may not tell the whole story, Gomez’s value beyond the statistics sheet was immense, breaking full-court presses and setting Ateneo scorers up for the open shot. He delivered as a facilitator in the fourth despite the clamps put on by UP Head Coach Goldwin Monteverde’s guards to not only give Ateneo a critical win, but also instill confidence within the team. 

Suffice to say, Coach Tab’s faith in the Filipino-Italian will only continue to soar as he gets more playing time, especially with his ability to shoot and be a reliable floor general. Gomez’s growth will continue down the stretch this postseason, as his contributions will be vital in the Blue Eagles’ attempts to reclaim the throne that was once theirs. 

2. Can Kai fly high above the flock?

Vito:  THROUGHOUT THE season, Kai Ballungay has been the most efficient player, not only in Ateneo, but in the entire league. As per Stats by Ryan Alba, Ballungay leads all UAAP starters in True Shooting Percentage—a more contextual measure of efficiency that calculates the collective value of field goals, three pointers, and free throws. At 65%, Ballungay is a whopping 18 percentage points above the league average TS%. The Atenean forward also boasts a 62% effective Field Goal Percentage, a statistic that improves upon traditional understanding of FG% by taking into account the value of three pointers.

It’s rare for rookies in the UAAP to keep themselves as methodical and composed as Ballungay is on the offensive end. The pace and physicality of the league usually takes time to adjust to, leading to many first year players to either force the issue or hold back on their aggressiveness. This makes Ballungay’s feat even more impressive, as he has consistently shown in the span of Season 85 that Ateneo can rely on him to take and make efficient shots.

Ballungay’s ever-reliable shotmaking and rim-finishing will likely be called upon once more as the Blue Eagles and the Falcons claw it out in their Final Four matchup. Some of Ballungay’s best games have come matched up against Adamson, and his Band of Brothers will undoubtedly trust that he can replicate those performances. In Ateneo’s two games against Adamson, Ballungay averaged 19.5 points and nine rebounds on an incredibly efficient 65% from the field and 66% from long-range.

After 14 games of surprise performances and unpredictable outcomes in the elimination rounds, Ateneo fans have come to learn that they can rely on Ballungay’s unwavering efficiency when the going gets tough. With Ballungay facing the biggest stage of his UAAP career this far though, the question remains whether he can sustain that efficiency as the unparalleled pressure of the UAAP playoffs continues to ramp up.

3. Containing Adamson’s Jerom Lastimosa

Mookie: ATENEO’S FIRST Final Four opponents will be the Adamson Soaring Falcons, a formidable squad led by King Falcon Jerom Lastimosa. The veteran Falcon is known nationwide as one of the top—if not the best—collegiate point guards. He is a handful for defenders as he can score both inside the paint with his finesse drives and finishes and even beyond the arc with his lethal range. Lastimosa is the heart and soul of Coach Nash Racela’s team, which is why he should be given much defensive attention. Despite sustaining a foot injury against the UP Fighting Maroons in the first round, the Falcon leader has been a beacon of hope in his return. The injury should not deter the Blue and White from preparing for him, as Lastimosa has provided his big-time shotmaking and grit which led Adamson to earn the last Final Four slot. 

Lastimosa is no stranger to the Final Four as he showed early flashes of greatness during his rookie season—UAAP Season 81, the last time Adamson made the semifinals. Lastimosa rose to the occasion as a young role player for his school but ended up missing a potential game-winning three against the Fighting Maroons. Now as a senior, the King Falcon will look to make the most out of his last stint for Adamson and upset the top-ranking Blue Eagles. 

In the last game of the eliminations, Ateneo managed to hold Lastimosa’s offensive production to a meager 10 points, making four shots out of 15 tries. The Blue Eagles used size and high closeouts to neutralize Adamson’s main man as a handful of Ateneans gave their best in guarding the shifty point guard. Dave Ildefonso, BJ Andrade, Chris Koon and even defensive guard Sean Quitevis matched up against the much smaller Lastimosa throughout last week’s game. Quite evidently, Coach Tab Baldwin’s boys came  prepared  after their round one match saw Lastimosa drop 18 points on the Blue and White. 

Ateneo’s last loss to the Soaring Falcons was during Lastimosa’s rookie season, Season 81, but this shouldn’t mean the Blue Eagles should underestimate the pesky Falcons. The title-seeking Ateneo must replicate—and exceed—the performance that they showed in their last elimination game on Wednesday night to get past Adamson once again and keep their hopes for redemption alive. 

This week’s games:

Wednesday, December 7, 6:00 PM vs Adamson University Soaring Falcons at the Araneta Coliseum

(IF NECESSARY) Sunday, December 11, vs Adamson University Soaring Falcons at the Mall of Asia Arena