Despite losing big-time players in the offseason, one must not count Ateneo out in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.
Coming into the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament, the Ateneo Blue Eagles are not exactly in everyone’s Final Four predictions.
That’s not actually surprising.
After all, six players left the Blue Eagles nest. That includes Kai Ballungay, who made the jump to the pros and is now playing for Phoenix in the PBA.
Mason Amos, who was expected to take the mantle of leadership following Ballungay’s departure, also infamously decided to take his talent to a rival UAAP school in Taft.
“It’s gonna be a challenging because of how inexperienced they are,” Ballungay told One Sports.
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Without these top dogs, Chris Koon and Sean Quitevis are tasked to lead the squad that also welcomed highly-touted Jared Bahay, Kristian Porter, and Femi Edu.
A proud school that went to the Finals from Season 79 to 85 and won four of them, Ateneo has found itself in an unfamiliar territory.
But Koon and Quitevis, co-captains this season, are embracing the challenge.
“I think our mentality this year is a lot more [of] the underdog mentality,” Quitevis of the 12-time UAAP champion team.
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But do not write Ateneo off just yet.
With Tab Baldwin still at the helm, there is nothing impossible.
Remember the 2021 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade where he almost orchestrated a Gilas upset of world basketball juggernaut Serbia with kids like Kai Sotto, SJ Belangel, and Justine Baltazar at his disposal?
Yes, that impressive Gilas Pilipinas showing had Baldwin written all over it.
“But I think the system will always pull through. i think they’re definitely a hungry team that’s looking to win. I think if they will be alright,” said Ballungay.
Like a Phoenix, the Blue Eagles can rise from the ashes of a forgettable Season 86 and fly high again.
“I think just passion and being able to serve one another, those are our pillars at Ateneo. As long as they stay together, like I said, they are gonna be alright,” said Ballungay.
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(With reports from Gillian Trinidad, One Sports Digital)