With the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament in full force, this weekly takeaways tracks the progress of the Ateneo Men’s Basketball Team (AMBT) on their way back to the UAAP summit.

WHILE THERE were expectations for a better turnout this season, not many could have predicted that Ateneo would remain unbeaten after the first week of the tournament. After starting 0-3 in the previous season’s opening week, the Blue Eagles have bounced back tremendously, marking the opening of Season 88 as their best start in four years. Tallying a pristine 3-0 record, the Blue Eagles have wasted no time putting the league on notice—proving they have made the necessary improvements to once again become serious contenders in the UAAP.

En route to their unblemished slate, the Loyola Heights-based squad opened its campaign with consecutive nail-biting victories against the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws and University of the East (UE) Red Warriors. Determined to escape the pressures of slugfests, the Blue Eagles then captured their third straight win in commanding fashion, 77-58, behind a 26-10 fourth-quarter avalanche versus the Adamson University (AdU) Soaring Falcons.

Tied for first place with the also-undefeated National University (NU) Bulldogs, the Blue and White have sparked conversations surrounding a possible return to the Final Four. However, Ateneo’s schedule is only expected to get tougher as they are next set to face last year’s finalists, the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers and the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons.

Following both rivalry games, the Blue Eagles will round out their first-round calendar against other top contenders: the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers and NU Bulldogs. Pressure is also expected to escalate when they face UST, as the matchup marks Ateneo’s first home game at the Blue Eagle Gym in 20 years.

In what is expected to be an early measure of their ceiling as a unit, here are three key strengths the AMBT can bank on to maintain their spotless record.

Captain Clutch

Diego: Leading the convocation of Eagles, Co-captains Kymani Ladi and Jared Bahay have already shown early glimpses of greatness, combining leadership and talent that allow them to deliver during moments that matter the most.

When it comes to Ladi, the California native’s transition into UAAP competition has been seamless and sensational. In the Blue Eagles’ first two outings, the forward earned back-to-back Player of the Game honors with timely offensive bursts that helped Ateneo prevail down the stretch. Against the Tamaraws, Ladi racked up 26 points, the second-highest single-game total so far this season, which included crucial baskets in the game’s final few minutes. The star recruit then built on his strong debut with a double-double against the Red Warriors, posting 18 points and 10 rebounds on 58.3% shooting to swing momentum late in the contest.

Though not necessarily filling the stat sheet, Bahay has steered the Blue Eagles in the right direction by making winning plays in high-pressure situations. The guard has not shied away from crashing the glass despite his small stature, as evidenced by his six timely rebounds against the Red Warriors, which kept possessions alive in key stretches. Additionally, the floor general has been the glue holding the team together, averaging five assists per game—many of which have come in decisive fourth-quarter runs.

It should come as no surprise, then, that the presence of both captains on the floor can completely reshape the course of the game. Nowhere was this clearer than in the final minutes of Ateneo’s highly contested opening matchup against FEU. Following a back-and-forth affair, the Blue Eagles found themselves down by five with four minutes remaining. Rising to the occasion, Ladi and Bahay delivered consecutive baskets from rainbow country to place the Katipunan-based squad back in front. Even with the Tamaraws’ late-game push to force overtime, the offensive firepower of both captains ultimately sealed the win in clutch fashion.

That late-game composure also carried over to Ateneo’s next matchup against UE. With the contest hanging in the balance, both captains combined for the eventual game-winning play, as Bahay dished a crucial assist to an open Ladi for a go-ahead three-pointer.

Even in Ateneo’s grind-out affair with Adamson, the captains showed that being clutch comes in many forms. Case in point, Bahay’s quiet six-assist performance orchestrated a strong second half, crafting a string of timely plays that put the game out of reach and sealed Ateneo’s undefeated 3-0 record.

All in all, what these captains have shown is that leading by example and maintaining a united front are what win games. Now that the Blue Eagles are set for a challenging three-game stretch, their proven ability to remain composed under pressure gives the Ateneo faithful plenty to be excited about.

Magic from the depth

Edge: While the starting five sets the tone of the game and mounts the attack, the rest of the team pushes the pace and sustains the momentum. Without a doubt, Ateneo Men’s Basketball Team’s depth—who have been going above and beyond their nitty-gritty role—is a pivotal facet that rallied the squad to a hot 3-0 start.

In the AMBT’s season-opener against the FEU Tamaraws, the Katipunan-based squad’s bench displayed glimpses of brilliance as they scored 24 of Ateneo’s 86 total points, outscoring the opposing bench’s 18. Leading the pack was one-and-done guard Jaden Lazo, who showcased his automatic jumper and his offensive decision-making with 15 points and three three-pointers. Alongside the combo guard, rookie Divine Adili, despite enduring a lower back injury, tallied seven points and five rebounds while holding his ground against a rebounding machine like FEU’s Mo Konateh.

Despite the bumper-to-bumper ball game in their matchup against the Red Warriors, the Blue and White’s bench proved that all of them are ready to step up when called. Waki Espina proved just that, scoring 17 points off the bench and sparking the team’s offensive plays in the fourth quarter. Also coming off the bench, the ever-reliable Josh Lazaro fortified the Blue Eagles’ command in the paint, contributing three points and seven rebounds. With the Blue and White’s bench players embracing the mindset of being ready when called, they once again outscored the opponent’s bench, 25-11.

Ateneo’s second-stringers feasted against the pestering defensive team of the Adamson Soaring Falcons, as they masterfully erupted for 49 commanding points. Adili, Lazo, and Ian Espinosa played with unparalleled intensity, all individually scoring double digits with 16, 15, and 10 points, respectively. Putting their two-way efficiency into perspective, the trio correspondingly garnered +24, +16, and +9 plus-minus efficiency ratings, leaving AdU’s defensive unit in shambles.

In the first three games, Ateneo’s bench showed pride and passion with how they outrevved and outblitzed the opposing squads. However, their craftiness and focus will be up for more challenging tests in the upcoming games as they consecutively go head-to-head against crowd-favorites—DLSU, UP, and UST. Despite the bigger mountains to climb, Ateneo’s depth will be the game-changer for the Blue Eagles’ rally to the top.

Hounds of disruption

Ravi: Defense wins championships is a phrase often heard in basketball circles. While it is still too early to jump to any conclusions, the AMBT have displayed some of the same defensive tenacity reminiscent of past Ateneo dynasties.

Notably, the Blue Eagles rank second overall in both steals and opponents’ turnovers with an average of 9.33 and 16.33, respectively. Active in their pursuit of disrupting the driving and passing lanes, Ateneo has clearly bothered opposing offenses, evidenced by Adamson’s 22 turnovers, which is recorded as the most turnovers committed by a team in a single game this season.

Fueling the steals department for the Blue Eagles is Bahay, who is tied with UE’s John Abate for the league-high at eight total. Joining the true-blue athlete are Lazo and Dominic Escobar, tied at seventh with a total of five steals each. Having three of the top 10 players in steals playing alongside other physical defenders in Espinosa and Shawn Tuano is a luxury not many teams can match.

Despite applying suffocating pressure, the Tab Baldwin-coached unit has managed to avoid unnecessary fouls. Staying committed to playing honest defense, Ateneo holds the league-low of total fouls at 42. Their combined discipline and coordination have become a catalyst in generating scoring runs–turning defense into offense by forcing errors and running the fastbreak.

Beyond the statsheet, what stands out is Ateneo’s resilience in securing stops when they need it the most. In the overtime period of the opening game, it was an intercepted pass from Bahay that enabled Ladi to reclaim an 82-80 lead with under a minute left. In the next possession, the Blue Eagles forced a shot clock violation on the Tamaraws, seizing full control of the game’s momentum.

Their second game against UE saw a similar ending as Escobar stripped the ball from Nico Mulintapang with 20 seconds remaining to protect a 61-60 lead. Needing one final stop to secure the win, Ateneo’s full-court pressure forced Precious Momowei into a half-court heave that was once again swiped away by Escobar.

Meanwhile, Ateneo’s blowout victory versus Adamson hinged on their Lazo-led backcourt defense, as the combo guard showed his knack for making correct rotational reads and anticipating passes. Entering the final period with only a three-point advantage, 51-48, the Blue Eagles went on a 17-1 run after holding the Soaring Falcons to zero field goals for the first seven minutes of the fourth quarter.

In games that boiled down to a few end-game possessions, Ateneo’s stifling defense propelled them to an undefeated start. Despite making a strong first impression, the AMBT remains a team with a lot to prove as they brace for a challenging slate–including squads with some of the best scorers in the UAAP. Continuing this trademark ability to hound opponents–even the so-called juggernauts of the league–may determine whether they are true championship contenders or just mere gatecrashers for this season.

This week’s games:

Sunday, October 5, 5:00 PM, vs. DLSU Green Archers at the SM Mall of Asia Arena 

Wednesday, October 8, 4:30 PM, vs. UP Fighting Maroons at the SM Mall of Asia Arena 

Saturday, October 11, 4:30 PM, vs. UST Growling Tigers at the Ateneo Blue Eagle Gym