Not the best start for the defending champjons.
The UAAP Season 86 men's basketball tournament has been a nightmare so far for the defending champions Ateneo Blue Eagles.
They lost opening day against the NU Bulldogs, absorbed a buzzer-beating heartbreaker against the Adamson Soaring Falcons, and then blew an overtime affair versus the FEU Tamaraws, falling to a 2-3 win-loss record. The early struggles of the Blue Eagles feel like a foreign territory in the Tab Baldwin era.
But the wounded champions are taking things in stride with the bigger picture still in sight. According to assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga, the team will try to recover by two approaches.
"One is analytical," Arespacochaga told reporters in the post-game presser.
"We told the players to analyze the things that we did wrong and try to learn (from) them. And the things that we’re doing right, we want to keep on improving."
Then there's the more complicated aspect.
"Also, emotionally, because this is an emotional game too."
For the Blue Eagles, these early losses might turn out to be blessings in disguise. The coaching staff wants the players to feel and remember that losing feeling.
"We feel the loss... Hopefully, that would help us be determined to make sure that next game we’ll take care of business."
Ateneo will try to bounce back against the winless UST Growling Tigers on Wednesday.
Catch the game live on One Sports or the Pilipinas Live app.
(With reports from Aivan Episcope, One Sports Digital)