After an eventful offseason, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Men’s Basketball Tournament is back. This season preview will analyze the state of the Ateneo Blue Eagles as they look ahead to their Season 86 title defense with a chance to win a fifth championship in six seasons.
LAST SEASON, an uncharacteristic perception dawned on the usually-dominant Band of Brothers: for the first time in half a decade, they were perceived as rather mortal against fierce competition. Through the Blue Eagles’ first eight contests in Season 85, they stumbled towards an underwhelming 5-3 record and were in jeopardy of entering the postseason with a twice-to-beat disadvantage.
Such adversity served as a wake-up call from that point on, as the Blue and White rode an undefeated run for the remainder of the elimination round. Ateneo’s resurgent hot streak helped them snag the one seed from rivals and then-reigning champions, the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons, heading into the Final Four.
After easily dispatching the fourth-seeded Adamson University Soaring Falcons in the semifinals, Ateneo went blow-for-blow against UP in a three-game finals slugfest. With their backs against the wall in Games 2 and 3, the Blue Eagles banked on the services of their bonafide stars and x-factors to win their 12th UAAP championship in Ateneo history.
In the wake of the Loyola Heights-based squad’s triumphant title run, they had to face the reality that it was time for some of their biggest stars to move on. As the likes of Ange Kouame, Dave Ildefonso, and BJ Andrade took their talents to the pros in the recent offseason, the defending champions experienced highs and lows in their preseason buildup. Regardless, the new-look Blue Eagles have improved as pocket tournaments progressed, with newcomers Mason Amos, Joseph Obasa, and Jared Brown only getting better with more time-wearing Ateneo threads.
Despite key losses, the Blue and White are still composed of a list of established players. In a roster composed of considerable youth, Ateneo hopes for veterans such as Kai Ballungay and Gab Gomez and team captains Chris Koon and Sean Quitevis to be exemplars of leadership, poise, and skill. With the upcoming season shaping to be one of the most competitive in recent memory, the Blue Eagles’ blend of talented youth and grizzled experience will be put to the test.
As the Ateneo Blue Eagles’ title defense is soon to kick off, here are some notable things to look out for.
- Newfound firepower in the frontcourt
Ralph: Let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way—the incumbent kings of the UAAP will be defending their crown without one of the greatest players in league history: Ange Kouame. The MVP-sized hole in the paint sprung to life in the Blue and White’s several preseason tournaments, showing their inexperience without the 6’10” superstar. The challenge to sustain Ateneo’s edge in the frontcourt now falls into the hands of the next men up—Obasa and Amos.
It is rare for any collegiate team to transition from one center with such raw and versatile defensive ability to another in just a year, and that is the privilege the Blue Eagles have with Obasa. The one-and-done foreign student-athlete has immense scrutiny awaiting him, as he is set to man the middle for an Ateneo squad that enjoyed four previous years of all-time production in that position. Regardless, the All-AsiaBasket Second Team member wisely aims to play with his mind flowing free.
“I can’t worry too much about perception or expectations. I have a job to do anytime I wear the uniform and that’s all I try to focus on,” Obasa said. “I would also try to enjoy the experience because it’s such a blessing to be in this position,” he added.
The newcomer’s workman-like approach is well-backed by the defensive sharpness he exhibited in the buildup to Season 86, as he was one of the leading statistical shot blockers and rebounders in multiple preseason tilts. Beyond the stat sheet, Obasa opens up lanes and space for Ateneo’s offense due to his gravity, by functioning as a deadly rim-runner with his good positioning and standout athleticism. Aside from his motor and tenacity in the defensive end, the 6’10” Nigerian has also shown upside with his shotmaking ability inside the paint.
While Obasa is anticipated to carry a massive chunk of the Blue Eagles’ defensive workload, many view the 19-year-old Amos as an all-important piece to the Ateneo offense. Having suited up for Gilas Pilipinas on multiple occasions, the youngster’s long-advertised three-level scoring skillset was finally unleashed into the collegiate realm during Ateneo’s eventful preseason.
Not only does Amos pose as a matchup nightmare due to his sensational offensive prowess as a big man, but his remarkable efficiency has many projecting him to be a premier talent in all of Philippine basketball.
Amos’s descent into the Eagles’ nest this season could not have come at a more fitting time for Ateneo, as his abilities help fill the void left by many of the team’s former offensive weapons. In the recently-concluded World University Basketball Series, the Filipino-Australian led the Blue and White in scoring with 14.0 points per game coupled with 2.6 triples per contest.
With Head Coach Tab Baldwin zeroing in for the team to prioritize perimeter shooting and offensive versatility this season, expect the strong Rookie of the Year candidate to dazzle and thrive under this approach.
- Another backcourt makeover
Gershon: With the departure of star guards Andrade, Ildefonso, and Forthsky Padrigao, the Ateneo faithful are now left questioning how the Blue Eagles’ new backcourt will fare in hopes of repeating as champions. Unfortunately, this would be their second backcourt rebuild in a row after the exit of key guards SJ Belangel, Tyler Tio, and Gian Mamuyac two seasons ago.
Coach Baldwin will be searching for floor generals and sharpshooters to fill out the void left by the previous season’s star guard trio. However, the new look of the Ateneo backcourt—which comprises veteran role players and raw, talented rookies—does not have a clear-cut go-to guy. This lack of star power in the guard positions is unfamiliar territory for the reigning champions, a squad that usually fields a star-studded backcourt on their previous rosters. As a result, the Tab Baldwin offense could potentially go through a point-guard-by-committee system this season.
At the forefront of Baldwin’s playmaker options is veteran court general Gomez, who flourished as a reliable backup last season. The Filipino-Italian guard’s Season 85 averages per game of four points, one rebound, and two assists do not tell the whole story of his success in leading the second unit’s offense. The pass-first point guard’s playstyle will also be a crucial asset in Ateneo’s current system, and will significantly benefit the offensive rhythm of the likes of star forward Ballungay and marksmen Amos and Koon.
Another choice for Coach Tab to man the point is 5’10” scorer Ian Espinosa, who displayed his shot-creating skills in Ateneo’s preseason tournaments. In a tightly-contested AsiaBasket Las Piñas Championship finals against the College of Saint Benilde Blazers, the one-guard produced a game-high 15 points on 3-5 shooting from beyond the arc to propel the Blue Eagles to the championship.
Aside from veterans Gomez and Espinosa, Fil-Am rookie Brown will be looking to help with playmaking duties as well. The Westmont College of California standout impressed in the 2023 World University Basketball Series, averaging 6.5 points, 4 boards, and a team-high 4 assists.
Looking to provide much-needed stability to the young team, newly-assigned co-captains Koon and Quitevis will be playing with additional chips on their shoulders as they attempt to steer the Blue Eagles to back-to-back titles. Koon is projected to fill in the shoes left by Andrade, the captain and primary spot-up shooter of last season’s championship squad. However, the streaky Filipino-American shooter’s 30% three-point clip last season would require a drastic improvement if the Blue and White are to have any desire to defend their title.
Meanwhile, leading the crew on the defensive end of the ball is Quitevis, whose heart and hustle were on full display in last year’s championship run. The 6-foot winger’s perimeter defense and contagious energy on the court will be key, especially in clutch time, where the crucial plays that don’t show up in the stat sheets matter the most.
There is no denying that other UAAP rivals will be boasting more experienced and talented backcourts this upcoming season. Ultimately, the biggest test for this new combination of Blue Eagle guards is whether they will be able to hold their own against the likes of UP’s JD Cagulangan and De La Salle University’s Evan Nelle.
- All signs lead to Kai
Euan: As discussed earlier, the loss of the ever-reliant trio of Kouame, Padrigao, and Ildefonso was noteworthy, to say the least. In the UAAP’s 85th Season, they led the entire squad in all five major statistical categories. In 15 games, Ildefonso headed the scoring department at 12 points per game, and Padrigao dished 5.5 assists and 2.3 steals per game. Meanwhile, Kouame nabbed 11.3 rebounds and rejected 2.5 shots per game.
With the loss of the big three—who all had made the top 10 in minutes played for the tournament last season—who will step up in the limelight for the Blue Eagles?
Enter the explosive second-year forward, Ballungay.
Last season, the 6’7” sophomore impressed fans during his anticipated debut season, averaging 11.1 points, 5.6 boards, and 0.9 steals in 15 games. The 21-year-old’s shooting efficiency was another bright spot, as he finished second in field goal percentage for the tournament at 56.3% on 110 attempts. Ballungay also drilled 62.5% of his 2-point field goals and 44.74% of his 3-pointers, both league-best percentage-wise.
Ballungay was also entrusted to start and finish games during Season 85, proving himself as a key cog in the defending champion’s Season 85 run. Combining last season’s experience with his recent preseason run, the sky’s the limit for the 2023 PinoyLiga Finals MVP in the upcoming Season 86 tournament. Only time will tell if Ballungay will make the expected leap as the go-to guy, but it will not be a shock to see him finish Season 86 with some individual hardware for his trophy case.
This week’s games:
Saturday, September 30, 4:00 PM, vs. National University Bulldogs at the Mall of Asia Arena
Wednesday, October 4, 6:00 PM, vs. De La Salle University Green Archers at the Mall of Asia Arena
Saturday, October 7, 11:00 AM, vs. Adamson University Soaring Falcons at the Smart Araneta Coliseum
