Ateneo de Manila University may be the defending champion but it will be on the disadvantaged side in a Final Four collision with top seed University of the Philippines in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 86 men’s basketball tournament.
Tagged as underdogs in the semis for the first time in eight years, the Blue Eagles of head coach Tab Baldwin will have their backs against the wall as they try to save their reign against the twice-to-beat Fighting Maroons today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
But Baldwin, who took over Ateneo basketball program in 2016 a year after the then No. 3 seed Blue Eagles bowed to Far Eastern University in the Final Four, is unfazed by his team’s precarious position.
In fact, he wants his team to use it as motivation.
“We’re definitely the underdog and I’m putting the Blue Eagle flag directly in the underdog role. I don’t relish it. You know, what have I got to do with it,” Baldwin said.
The Blue Eagles barely made it to their ninth straight Final Four dance, needing to knock out Adamson University in a playoff last Wednesday after finishing the eliminations with identical 7-7 slate.
Ateneo and UP, who have met in three of the last four tournament finals, split their eliminations head-to-head making their much-anticipated game even more exciting.
Baldwin knows that the Blue Eagles’ battle for survival won’t be an easy one against a cunning tactician in Fighting Maroons mentor Goldwin Monteverde.
“UP won’t take us lightly. They’re too professional. They’re too intelligent and Gold, you know, he’s a very clever guy,” Baldwin said of his adversary who steered UP to the Season 84 throne before Ateneo took it back the following edition.
“And he’s got the most professional group of guards that you’d ever hope to have in a roster. They’ll be ready to play.”
Ateneo would have to find a way to contend with UP’s backcourt led by CJ Cansino, JD Cagulangan, Gerry Abadiano along with high-flying Francis Lopez and center reigning Most Valuable Player Malick Diouf.
“But our guys will come out with a lot of heart,” Baldwin said, putting his faith in Jared Brown, Mason Amos, Kai Ballungay, Sean Quitevis, Chris Koon and big man Joseph Obasa.
“And hopefully we’ll have a curveball or two that you know can get us a bucket here and there and just fight to hang on.”
