As the Ateneo Women’s Basketball Team (AWBT) clinched their fourth consecutive Final Four berth in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), their title aspirations shine brighter than ever. This weekly takeaways series tracks the flight path of the Blue Eagles as they seek to break through the Final Four and capture their long-awaited championship.

WITH AN exciting elimination round coming to a close, the Ateneo Blue Eagles have booked a ticket to the illustrious Final Four for the fourth straight season. Despite ending the season with back-to-back losses to the Adamson University (AdU) Lady Falcons and De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Archers, the AWBT enters the playoffs as the tournament’s third seed, aiming to take the playoffs by storm. In a rematch of last year’s stepladder first round, the Blue Eagles will face the Lady Falcons, with the victor taking on the defending champions National University (NU) Lady Bulldogs for a seat in the Finals.

As the AWBT joins another difficult playoff bracket, the team looks to finish with their best standing since Season 78. Possessing one of the strongest squads in Ateneo history, the Blue and White are geared to push for a prestigious championship in a heavily contested league.

Hammers down

AJ: When it comes to playoff basketball, one thing is assured: contenders will lean on their greatest strengths. Luckily for the Blue Eagles, their superior paint presence is an asset that Adamson cannot easily contest. The same sentiment could be said for the heavy favorites, as NU or the University of the Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigresses simply do not have the size to match up with the Blue and White.

From a statistical standpoint, Ateneo has been punishing teams down low as they finished third in the league for their two-point field goal percentage of 50.7%. Their presence inside is also greatly felt in the rebound category, where the Blue Eagles grabbed 48.7 rebounds per night, leading them to secure an average of 13.4 second-chance points.

With the eye test on offense, besides the usual restricted area leaders in Kacey Dela Rosa and Sarah Makanjuola, the Blue Eagles have seen an uptick in paint scoring. At the forefront of Ateneo’s focus on the inside has been Camille Malagar, who finished tenth in the league in two-point field goal conversion with an impressive 50% from the field.

Adding on to their inside attack are Kate Cancio, Sandra Villacruz, and Erica De Luna, who have pressured defenses with their lightning-quick runs to the rim. From unblockable floaters to masterful footwork, the Blue and White’s offensive attack in the painted area has made teams think twice when collapsing on these dangerous attackers.

On the defensive end of the court, the Blue and White has pulled down the most defensive rebounds in the league at 486, which is 37 rebounds more than the second-ranked Lady Bulldogs. This league-leading statistic is carried by the efforts of Dela Rosa and Makanjuola, who have pulled down 205 and 135 rebounds, respectively, making them first and second in the rank for total rebounds for the season. This approach has denied many of their opponents the chance at extra opportunities—a key component of their game plan. 

In the Final Four, these areas will become points of contention for the Blue Eagles. When the game slows down and possessions become all the more precious, Ateneo will have to rebound the basketball and take away possessions from the likes of Kemi Adeshina, Oma Onianwa, and Angel Surada. The same can also be said for the offense, as the Blue and White will look to the quartet of Malagar, Cancio, Villacruz, and De Luna to continue putting heavy pressure on the rim.

As the Blue Eagles face some of the toughest teams in the league, their size will be one thing that contenders cannot match. Their emphasis on aggressive inside looks is an area that can carry them towards the promised land. If there is one thing Ateneo can lean on, it will be to dominate the paint.

Owning the arc

Carmela: A Final Four appearance has long been a regular for the Blue Eagles. With a team culture that has built generations of prime title threats, they are hungrier and more ready than ever to bring home the crown after 18 years.

In a press conference with Head Coach LA Mumar during the first round, he mentioned that “[they] wanted to challenge [National University and University of Santo Tomas] who dominated the division for the past few years.” He then added that the girls expressed confidence in their abilities to achieve that goal. True enough, the Katipunan-based squad forged their way to another hard-earned stepladder ticket. Still, the dream does not end there: the goal is to book a seat in the finals–a destiny foretold.

However, the yellow brick road comes with obstacles. Given this, the AWBT has to conquer the reigning powerhouses to reach Emerald City. Finding themselves in the same situation as last season, they must first cut the Lady Falcons’ run and counter their all-around game to advance their bid. Once they hit that mark, Ateneo must then find a way through the Lady Bulldogs and the Growling Tigresses’ strength, which is their defensive prowess. While the two teams are fueled with towers of guards, the good thing is Ateneo has blazing footwork and eager marksmen from the deep.

In their second-round game against Adamson, Malagar and Batongbakal registered a 50% efficiency in three-point shooting. Lopez and Oani, too, logged 44.4% and 25%, respectively. Along with this, Batongbakal effectively sank 50% of her perimeter shots during their match against La Salle, while Malagar and Oani both posted a 33.3% shot accuracy.

Evidently, the Blue and White recognize the opportunity to convert from downtown and are consistently doing the work. While they have mastered painting the scoreboard, they have to be ready on all ports.

The key to a playoff spot is to approach every game individually. By mapping out their competitors’ proficiencies, they can find openings, or in this case, outside opportunities, and capitalize on these windows. There is no doubt that the Blue and White are rightfully in contention. These women have gone a long way–and they are just getting started.

Pressure makes diamonds

Ani: Although the Blue Eagles’ season has been nothing short of impressive, it is clear that the climb to the top only gets steeper from here. Standing in the team’s way are three of the strongest squads in the league: Adamson, UST, and NU.

Looking to avenge last year’s Final Four loss, the Ateneo Blue Eagles begin this year’s playoffs with a challenging opener against the 7-7 Lady Falcons. In their first matchup this time last year, the Blue Eagles suffered a heartbreaking 53-59 loss in the opening round of the single elimination playoffs. This season’s first matchup against AdU, however, showed major improvements for the team, as Ateneo battled hard to secure their first win against the program since Season 86.

In their second-round rematch, the Blue Eagles fell just short of victory, 71-77, conceding 31 points off turnovers as they were unable to maintain their dominant showing inside. Still, the two matches show that Ateneo has everything it takes to take down Adamson, and with the right adjustments, there is no doubt that they have the tools to avenge their Final Four loss from a season ago.

UST, on the other hand, has been a constant threat in the league this season, finishing the season invincible at 14-0.  During their first outing against the España-based unit, Ateneo entered the game undefeated at 4–0 and looked unstoppable. Despite a third-quarter drought that led to the loss, the Blue Eagles led the way in field goal percentage, rebounds, and assists, even securing a lead at halftime, demonstrating they can compete with even the toughest squads.

Following this hard-fought matchup, the Blue and White then faced NU in yet another difficult contest. The Bulldogs’ relentless full-court press proved to be a major thorn in Ateneo’s offense, forcing turnovers and disrupting the Blue Eagles’ rhythm. This was evident in their 27 turnovers and a 64–75 deficit during the fourth quarter.

However, despite all odds and in the face of all adversity, the Blue Eagles continued to fight, going on a 15-0 run to take a miraculous lead late in the game, 79-75. While the game eventually slipped away, each player showed their ability to raise their game when their backs were against the wall.

Although these performances underscore Ateneo’s downfalls against the UAAP’s best, they also speak volumes about what the Blue and White are capable of. If any team in the Final Four drops their guard and underestimates this core, they will quickly learn that the Blue Eagles are more than ready to turn pressure into magic.

Next Game:

Sunday, November 30, at 10:30 AM vs. AdU Lady Falcons at the SM Mall of Asia Arena