Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin believes there is still work to be done for the Blue Eagles, especially after nearly squandering a 31-point lead against La Salle in their first clash of UAAP Season 88.
For the first three quarters, Ateneo looked every bit like the team that was off to a perfect start in UAAP Season 88.
Then came the fourth quarter, where the Blue Eagles nearly blew a 31-point lead before holding on to an 81-74 win to extend their unbeaten start to 4-0.
[ALSO READ: Ateneo survives furious La Salle rally to stay perfect in UAAP Season 88]
Ateneo appeared to be cruising to a commanding victory over DLSU, leading 68-38 entering the final frame.
But the Green Archers suddenly woke up, launching a 19-0 run to cut the Blue Eagles’ lead to 68-57 with under four minutes remaining.
The Green Archers got as close as five points in the final minute, but Ateneo managed to hold on with steady hands at the free throw line to avoid a monumental collapse.
Play and Prove
That near letdown will serve as a reminder of one of the key areas Ateneo must continue to work on, according to head coach Tab Baldwin.
“For the coaching staff and for me, the boys still need to prove they can play 40 minutes of good basketball,” Baldwin said.
“There’s nobody in our organization who doubts that we have a lot to learn from what happened in the fourth quarter,” he added.
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Ateneo scored just 13 points in fourth, while DLSU erupted for 36 after scoring only 38 in the first three frames.
“I think the contrast between the first three quarters and the last quarter is so stark, and I don’t think there’s anybody in our organization who has any doubts that we have a lot to learn from what happened in the fourth quarter,” Baldwin said.
His overall assessment, despite Ateneo picking up the win: “As a guy who’s hardly satisfied, obviously, I’m not satisfied at all.”
Baldwin did, however, commend Kymani Ladi and Dom Escobar for their performances in their first Ateneo-La Salle game.
“We’ve got several new guys who’ve never played in this rivalry before, and I’m not going to take away from what they accomplished,” the 67-year-old coach said.
Ateneo's Dom Escobar drives past La Salle's Mike Phillips in their firs t meeting this UAAP Season 86 | Photo: The UAAP
Looking ahead, Baldwin believes that if Ateneo can correct its performance in the fourth quarter, the Blue Eagles will be legitimate title contenders.
“If we can learn from these lapses in the fourth quarter and understand what it takes to be solid for 40 minutes, a lot of people will have heightened belief in this team,” the former Gilas Pilipinas coach emphasized.
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.