The Ateneo Blue Eagles received an emotional boost from former players ahead of their match against the Adamson Soaring Falcons in UAAP Season 87, which ended up serving as fuel for their first win of the year.
As Ateneo squad readied themselves to face the Adamson Soaring Falcons in the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament, the Blue Eagles received an unexpected yet emotional boost.
Former Ateneo players, including Jacob Lao, Ange Kouame, Mike Nieto, Dave Ildefonso, Tyler Tio, Raffy Verano, BJ Andrade, Jason Credo, RV Berjay, and former student-manager Paulo Maligalig, visited the team in a gesture that resonated deeply with the current roster.
For rookie Khristian Porter, the visit encapsulated the essence of what it means to be a Blue Eagle. After all, they are a band of brothers.
Inspired, Porter was hailed the Player of the Game after finishing with eight points and 10 rebounds as Ateneo also earned its breakthrough win of the season.
“It’s a different aura when previous BEBOB [Blue Eagles Band of Brothers] members come back and show their love,” Porter said during the post-game press conference. “I experienced that first-hand as a rookie. I felt the BEBOB culture, and I knew they had my back and our backs."
“After that, I had eyes forward, knowing that no matter what happens, they’d be there for me. It’s their support that really helped me pull through,” he added.
Porter's words echoed the sentiments felt throughout the team. Ateneo team captain Chris Koon highlighted how the visit brought fresh energy and belief into their locker room.
“All of us didn’t really know they were coming in,” Koon shared, who returned from injury after missing two games. “We felt their presence. Each of them talked to us. We had the guys come in before in Season 85, but this was totally different."
“It was tough for us because we didn’t really feel like anybody believed in us except ourselves, so it was great to have past players that still put that trust in us. They gave us the challenge to exceed and live up to the standards of the BEBOB culture,” he added.
[ALSO READ: Chris Koon returns for Ateneo and the Blue Eagles earn breakthrough win vs Adamson in UAAP Season 87]
The visit not only provided an emotional uplift but also came with an unspoken pressure—an expectation to uphold the storied Ateneo tradition, as described by head coach Tab Baldwin.
The seasoned mentor acknowledged the intensity of the former players’ presence and their message.
Baldwin, who has led Ateneo through four championships, noted that the returning players had one important point to make.
“They didn’t feel like the culture we had worked so hard to establish from Season 79 up to 84 was alive. They wanted the current team to understand a bit more about it from their perspective,” said Baldwin.
The visit was more than just a feel-good reunion; it came with a challenge, something Baldwin made clear to his current team.
“There were some very strong statements about how a Blue Eagle conducts himself on the court, on the bench, and in front of the camera. There was pressure. I was really proud watching these young men stand up for something special,” said Baldwin.
In the fourth-quarter of their battle against Adamson, the current Ateneo squad showed exactly what Baldwin was talking about.
Despite facing adversity, the Blue Eagles fought until the final buzzer—a testament to the impact of their former players' visit.
“I think that fighting spirit you say today in the fourth quarter when things weren’t going well, these guys were still fighting their hearts out. So, it’s a great edification of that visit and how we play the game from an emotional standpoint,” said Baldwin.
Ateneo will look to use its morale-boosting visit and victory as the Blue Eagles look for win no. 2 against the FEU Tamaraws on Sunday, September 29 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.