In the advent of this year’s University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Men’s Basketball Tournament, this weekly series will track the progress of the Ateneo Blue Eagles on their quest for renewed glory in Season 87.

LAST SEASON, the Ateneo Men’s Basketball Team (AMBT) commenced their title defense by uncharacteristically going under .500 through their first five games. Notably, the Blue Eagles initially did not live up to expectations with underperformances against teams such as the National University (NU) Bulldogs, Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws, and the Adamson University (AdU) Soaring Falcons. Despite these early hiccups, Ateneo’s quality shone through, nabbing key victories over rivals De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers and University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons to finish the first round with a 4-3 record.

The second half was also rough for the Blue and White, as consecutive losses to FEU, UP, and NU sent them into a free fall in the standings, nearly jeopardizing their Final Four bid. With their season on the line, the Blue Eagles had to devise a spectacular resurgence to maintain their long-lasting playoff record—and thankfully, they succeeded.

In the final stretch of the tumultuous season, the crew hailing from Loyola Heights clinched three straight victories to secure themselves the season lifeline at 7-7. Despite their loss against rivals DLSU in their round two finale, the Blue Eagles sprung back to form and clinched a semis ticket with a decisive 70-48 win over Adamson in a do-or-die playoff match.

In the postseason, however, the defending champions’ repeat hopes were swiftly dashed by the vengeance-seeking Fighting Maroons, ending Ateneo’s seven-year finals streak.

After an up-and-down preseason, the AMBT is poised to channel Season 86’s heartbreak into motivation for the upcoming tournament, eager to reclaim the crown they once held.

Losing pivotal Season 86 players in the offseason such as Kai Ballungay, Jared Brown, and Mason Amos, the Blue Eagles enter the new season with a makeover of unprecedented proportions.

As the newest chapter of UAAP Basketball is soon to kick off, here is what we expect from this year’s Ateneo team.

Changing of the guard

Ino: In an ever-changing environment, the Blue Eagle Band of Brothers’ lone constant is the fabled system of Head Coach Tab Baldwin centered around shooting, movement, and man-to-man defense. With this year’s squad having more untapped potential than finished product, their preseason will prove crucial to their aspirations for this season.

The Loyola Heights-based squad’s preseason buildup got off to a rocky start with their winless Filoil EcoOil 17th ECJ Preseason Cup campaign, which was characterized by their poor offensive execution and discombobulated defensive communication.

Along with the sudden departure of Amos, the team had to regroup, which led to a change in fortunes for the Blue Eagles at the Fu Jen Catholic University (FJCU) Cup, as they dominated their way to the title through their skill, youth, and athleticism.

In Taiwan, Ateneo played at a faster pace on offense and employed a myriad of effective defensive strategies, like this 2-3 zone against the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors in the finals—a bit of a stylistic departure from the dogmatic Baldwin.

Continuing this motif of change, expect a new-look guard rotation for the Ateneo. Despite being set for another year of retooling in the backcourt due to the departures of Jared Brown and Gab Gomez, this season’s intriguing guard committee remains determined to continue a long and proud lineage of Atenean ballhandlers.

Currently, it seems that blue chip prospect Jared Bahay is a shoo-in as the starting point guard, with the Cebuano heading into the collegiate ranks minted with rare accolades. The Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu standout’s decision-making at the one has been impressive throughout the preseason, with this sequence against FEU during the Filoil tournament showcasing his natural talent in operating Ateneo’s pick-and-rolls.

The 5’9” guard is also a capable scorer, best seen in this play against DLSU as he shifted gears to evade his defender and get to his patented spot at the left elbow.

Bahay’s second-in-command is still to be seen, with Team Captain Sean Quitevis’ suffocating defense and veteran leadership always valuable in the Ateneo ranks. 

Aside from Quitevis, Kyle Gamber’s ability to create his own shot, coupled with his athleticism, can provide Ateneo’s offense with some extra punch.

Furthermore, in the absence of Lebron Nieto, Waki Espina has the tools to grow into the ideal wing player in this day and age, with promising two-way impact as an all-around scorer and perimeter defender.

Change can be scary, and it is no more true for the Blue and White this season. With Ateneo at a crossroads, there is no choice but to trust in Coach Tab’s system and the talent of many of the unit’s youngsters. While championship aspirations are lofty, this young and exciting group of Blue Eagles are primed for takeoff.

More time to thrive

Rav: As mentioned by Ino, Ateneo boasts a formidable roster of guards ready to make a splash in the UAAP at a moment’s notice. Even better, the Blue Eagles feature a frontcourt poised to make an impact despite the departure of Amos.

With the void left by the once-thought-to-be future star of Ateneo, many frontcourt minutes are now up for the taking. As a result, some Blue Eagles are called to add an extra facet to their game, needing to elevate their play to an even higher level to make up for the loss of production.

To illustrate, look no further than Ateneo’s big men. Thrust into a situation where he must rise to the occasion, Kyle Ong is set up to be a serviceable defensive five. Listed at 6’9”, he has shown flashes of being a reliable shot blocker, along with his ability to guard smaller players in a pinch.

Taking a similar role to him is rookie Kristian Porter who looks to remedy some of the offensive load for the Blue Eagles. As demonstrated in his game against AdU in Filoil, Porter plays with veteran-like confidence, even when his shots aren’t even landing. This level of trust in his own ability is considerably remarkable for a rookie, whom you typically expect would be afraid of missing.

Victor Balogun, on the other hand, is Ateneo’s new foreign student-athlete (FSA), but unfortunately, he has not seen much playing time due to visa issues in Taiwan and a back injury during the Filoil tournament. Nonetheless, there should be some uproar surrounding Balogun’s game as a rim protector, given Baldwin’s track record of creating wonders with FSA talent.

Outside the trio, the Blue Eagles’ frontcourt includes several notable members. In addition to being an exceptional defensive specialist, Josh Lazaro has lately shown the drive to integrate a consistent offensive shot into his repertoire, adding an extra dimension to his game.

Shawn Tuano can also become a huge force for the Blue and White once he incorporates more consistency in his free throws and inside shots. Meanwhile, Season 85 champion Chris Koon is geared up for one last dance with the Blue Eagles, aiming to provide much-needed versatility back to the Ateneo squad.

Last but certainly not least is a rising talent that every Atenean fan must keep a close eye on, Andrew Bongo. Sporting the number three, Bongo surprised many with his ball-handling and scoring bag during the Blue Eagles’s preseason campaign. Especially with Season 87 commencing in a few hours, Bongo has the chance to improve further and become an even more dangerous threat to opposing UAAP teams’ defenses.

Overall, Ateneo steps into UAAP Season 87 embracing an entirely fresh identity, with a squad distinct compared to seasons past. After all, the Blue Eagles’ wings just molted, still waiting for a series of experiences to shape them for a definite destination. Will this unfamiliar path lead to a future championship for Ateneo? Only the basketball gods can know.

One thing is certain, however: expectations for the Blue and White have shifted, in a way that is starkly different from yesteryears, presenting new and untested challenges for the Baldwin-led battalion.

Backs against the wall

Gab: Let us rip the band-aid off while we are ahead—the Ateneo Blue Eagles are no longer seen as the top dogs of the UAAP. The departure of many key talents from Loyola Heights and Ateneo’s struggles in the preseason have caused many to cast their doubts. However, this reality comes with its perks, lighting an unusual fire under the AMBT as they enter Season 87 determined to defy the odds.

Team Captain Koon detailed his team’s willingness to embrace their newfound role as underdogs. “Just sleep on us, we want to be the underdog. We’re kind of going in with that mentality too. It’s nice, we have a lot to prove, and rightfully so,” the fourth-year player shared in an interview with Nico Rocha.

It is clear that the Blue Eagles have heard the noise surrounding their rocky offseason—using this as extra motivation to continuously build on their potential as a squad. While they will still require some time to incorporate everyone into their system, this Ateneo team has previously shown that they can succeed with their backs against the wall as shown by their campaign in Taiwan.

Koon has also discussed his team’s struggles in the offseason and how this adversity has allowed their team to grow. Comparing the Blue Eagles’ performance in Filoil and the FJCU Cup, the forward shared how he believes the team improved drastically.

“With that game [against UE], I feel like our mentality was where it needed to be. I think Coach [Tab] was really happy because he saw some glimpses of the culture he once knew.” the UAAP champion stated.

Exploring what Koon was alluding to, as previously mentioned, Ateneo played with a much faster pace in Taiwan, successfully instilling more of a run-and-gun strategy rather than the half-court set offense that Baldwin’s past teams usually employed.

Major benefactors of this adjustment were Bongo and Tuano, who both showed an aggression and determination in their games that was not previously realized. Other benefactors were newcomers like Bahay, Espina, and Sam Reyes, who were able to make a bigger impact on the offensive end.

Only time will tell if these recalibrations will help the Blue Eagles clinch a Final Four berth, but if their recent performances are a sign of what is to come, then expect Ateneo to be a tough out for anyone facing them.

As the clock ticks down to tip-off, one thing can be expected by the Ateneo community out of their flagship squad amid a sea of question marks—unrelenting heart and fight.

This week’s games:

Saturday, September 7, 6:30 PM, vs. University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons at the Smart Araneta Coliseum

Wednesday, September 11, 6:30 PM, vs. University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers at the Smart Araneta Coliseum