Securing their third consecutive Final Four appearance after the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 87 elimination rounds, the Ateneo Women’s Basketball Team (AWBT) looks to chase greater heights. This weekly takeaways series delves into the squad’s performance as they trek through the Final Four intent on attaining glory.

FOR THE third year in a row, the Ateneo Blue Eagles once again clinched a spot in the illustrious Final Four. However, the squad ended their elimination round campaign on a sour note after a 52-58 defeat to the Adamson University Lady Falcons (AdU). Now, both teams will once again come face-to-face in the first rung of the revitalized stepladder format, with the winner advancing and taking on the second-seeded University of Santo Tomas (UST) Lady Tigresses.

With formidable odds stacked against them, the Blue Eagles are at their wit’s end, needing a spotless postseason for a chance at UAAP glory.

David vs. Goliath

Diego: Over the course of the elimination round, there are three squads that have been able to cage the Blue Eagles so far this season. Those teams are National University (NU), UST, and AdU—the very units above Ateneo in the standings that are also the culprits for all of the Blue and White’s six losses during the elimination round. With the postseason on deck, let us analyze a few of their matchups and see what the Blue Eagles need to do differently this time around.

Notably, there were moments wherein the Blue Eagles stood a chance at victory against these contenders. During their second round matchup against UST at the Quadricentennial Pavilion, the Katipunan-based squad only lost by four on the road. Their kryptonite came in the form of their perimeter shooting, cashing in only 18 points to UST’s 32.

The Blue and White have an arsenal of long-distance shooters at their disposal, such as Gilas Youth standout Kai Oani and senior Yunika Angala to name a few. The challenge now lies in consistency with being able to drain it from anywhere on the court, especially during the postseason where it matters the most.

Subsequently, the Blue Eagles’ elimination round finale against the Lady Falcons was a game of cat and mouse. After taking an early 10-6 lead in the first quarter, the Blue and White were unable to maintain their energy, resulting in a deficit that went as big as 15 at one point in the fourth quarter before Ateneo ultimately took defeat.

The team’s lack of cohesion and constant miscommunication, which can be evident all throughout the match, resulted in turnovers and easy points for the opposition. Now, with both teams set to square up once more, the Blue and White must be able to form a solid rotation that leads to improved overall efficiency.

Furthermore, the Blue Eagles’ struggles with holding the ball are all but a recurring theme, as this tendency of the squad also surfaced when they gave up 30 points off turnovers to the Lady Bulldogs in an earlier round two loss. With the Final Four upon us, the team must be able to keep the ball on a string and consistently convert their plays to points despite resistance from intimidating defenses.

Staring down stiff postseason competition, the Blue Eagles will often be deemed the underdogs, punching way above their weight class. To avoid an early exit in Round 1 of the stepladder, the team needs to maintain their energy to emerge on top. It will be difficult, but far from impossible because there has always been clear potential and talent in the squad. On a good day, the team is a force to be reckoned with that fronts an intimidating presence on the floor for any adversary.

Stronger, better, together

Rav: Out of all the quandaries the Blue Eagles have faced throughout the season, only one has remained as persistent as that bed hair you cannot just comb down—Ateneo’s overreliance on their starting unit.

On the one hand, this dilemma may not necessarily be terrible, considering it is directly tied to Ateneo’s “strength” and identity as a top-heavy squad. This approach has clearly done wonders for the Blue and White, with the team leading the entire league in starter points—totaling a whopping 800 points across the regular season. Keep in mind, the UST Lady Tigresses—which ranks second in starter points—have only accumulated 569, which pales in comparison to the Blue Eagles.

On the other hand, as if fate took a twisted turn, this strength has been paired with the worst bench performance in the UAAP, with Ateneo’s bench only averaging 12 markers per contest. Aside from this season, this flaw in the LA Mumar-led crew has been quite apparent since Season 85.

While Ateneo has undoubtedly become a mainstay in the Final Four in the post-COVID era, this issue has stayed as an enduring weakness for the team. Proof of this statement can be found in several of our Weekly Takeaways over the years, which have frequently featured the topic.

However, as someone who has covered the AWBT, I can say this confidently: this weakness is beginning to subside.

Although not as evident when examining raw stats, each individual player on the Blue Eagles’ bench has shown the propensity to step up in high-stakes scenarios. More often than not, these players have functioned as the final piece to some of the team’s wins aside from the starters.

One of the names that stands out when discussing these games is Gracie Batongbakal. In a thrilling match against the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws, the Algoma University transferee provided Ateneo with much-needed help from the three-point line, emerging as one of the key players in the 69-53 victory.

Another player worth mentioning is Ylyssa Eufemiano, who exploded with nine points in the first frame of Ateneo’s season-opening game versus the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons. Similarly, in a recent match, Nicole Aguirre summoned a highly efficient 11-point performance, which sealed Ateneo’s 10-point victory over the University of the East Lady Warriors.

The list does not stop just there, with players like Katelyn Cancio consistently delivering serviceable performances throughout their time on the hardwood.

With all of these performances into account, one thing is for sure: the Blue Eagles’ bench must not be underestimated. While some of their issues may persist, this Katipunan-based squad has already become more cohesive than the teams of the past. All they need now is that extra push for consistency across the board, and perhaps the AWBT can finally win it all.

Aerial dogfight

Eury: The Blue Eagles are gearing up for a high-stakes clash against the Lady Falcons in a battle for third place, a matchup that promises to be a test of resilience and strategy. AdU has exceeded expectations this season, soaring from last year’s sixth-place finish to claim solo third in the eliminations this time around. Led by the steady leadership of Elaine Etang and Victoria Adeshina, the Lady Falcons set fire to post their best first-round record for the first time in 12 years.

On the other hand, this matchup is an opportunity for the Blue Eagles to bounce back after two narrow losses to their adversaries during the elimination rounds. In their first round encounter, Ateneo fought hard but fell short despite an impressive 36-24 edge in points in the paint. Yet, as mentioned earlier, the glaring difference between the teams lay in bench production.

While AdU showcased a more balanced offensive attack, the Blue Eagles’ starters carried the load, contributing a staggering 97.22% of the total points in the match. This stark imbalance highlights Ateneo’s heavy reliance on their core five, underscoring the importance of their bench stepping up in the upcoming battle.

The second round clash followed a similar script, with AdU narrowly edging out the Blue and White. This time, the Lady Falcons matched the Katipunan cagers’ dominance in the paint, with both teams scoring 26 points inside. While Ateneo’s bench made a commendable effort with 17 points, it paled in comparison to Adamson’s 33.

Seng Calago, typically a starter for the Blue Eagles, came off the bench but still contributed an impressive 13 points. However, beyond the junior guard, the rest of the bench posted a meager total of four points. This disparity emphasizes Ateneo’s ongoing challenge: while their starting five can carry the load, their bench will need to find more consistency and production if they are to keep pace with AdU’s depth.

As they prepare for this crucial showdown, precision under pressure will also be key. In the second round match, the Blue Eagles briefly reignited their hopes when standout rookie Oani drained a clutch three-pointer with just under 30 seconds remaining, cutting the deficit to 52-58.

With overtime possibly within reach, Ateneo appeared poised and determined for a dramatic comeback. However, the weight of the moment became too much to bear as the squad failed to execute, ultimately losing out. Thus, it is clear that execution under pressure has been a recurring issue for Ateneo, and overcoming this mental hurdle will be critical if they are to win this contest.

After narrowly missing out on the third seed in the eliminations, the Blue Eagles now have a golden opportunity to break free from the fourth-place finish they have settled for in the past two seasons. With pride on the line and history waiting to be rewritten, the Blue and White are poised to soar higher than ever before as they push toward their Final Four bid.

This week’s games:

Saturday, November 30, 12:00 PM, vs. Adamson University Lady Falcons at the Smart Araneta Coliseum