UAAP: Tab Baldwin beams with pride at ‘gutsy’ Ateneo in win over UST

Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin is rarely one to praise the Blue Eagles for winning a game in the UAAP. But dealing with a team flanked with rookies in a year when wins have been harder to come by, he’s giving a little more leeway.

 

Faced with a rare road game as they battled the UST Growling Tigers at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila, the Blue Eagles powered through with crucial defensive stops late in the ball game to eke out a 67-64 win.

 

[RELATED: UAAP: Ateneo staves off UST at Growling Tigers’ den for back-to-back wins]

 

 

The win marked their first back-to-back victories in Season 87. And after a tumultuous first round where they ended up 1-6, Baldwin is happy to see things finally going their way.

 

“I don’t know when the last time in the UAAP you had to play a road game. Of course, I’m used to that throughout my career. Most of the leagues I’ve coached in were home and away but never here, and it was a mystery to us why that happened,” said Baldwin.

 

“But it did. And what it required of us was to really gut it out. And I think this was one of the gutsiest wins we've had, you know, in a few years.”

 

The Blue Eagles began the game well enough, as they went on a 7-0 run to begin the match. While they were holding the advantage for most of the ballgame, UST was able to threaten late in the ball game.

 

But Ateneo skipper Sean Quitevis forced UST into a crucial turnover to score and put the Blue Eagles ahead by four, 66-62, with 11.7 ticks remaining in the ball game.

 

Though they weren’t really out of danger until the final buzzer, Quitevis’ basket and a free throw from Ian Espinosa were enough to give the Blue Eagles some much needed breathing room.

 

 

For exemplifying growth, Baldwin praised his leaders — Quitevis and Espinosa.

 

“What did it take to win that game? It took 17 offensive rebounds. It took holding Nic Cabañero, holding him to 18 points, but on 31% shooting. And we still missed a ton of easy shots under the basket, and still only shot 58% from the free throw line," said Baldwin.

 

“And so, you know, sometimes when, as we have been this year, sometimes when you're your own worst enemy, not taking advantage of the opportunities that you create, you've got to gut it out. And [Sean and Ian] are the best example on our team of that type of character. They're real warriors," he added.

 

Espinosa finished with 11 points, six rebounds, two assists, and one steal, while Quitevis struggled finishing only with two points — but proving to be the most crucial — to go along with three rebounds, two assists, and three steals.

 

 

Though there’s still a lot left to be desired for a coach as strict as Baldwin, there’s only so much he can put on his young players, and as results are finally starting to show from their hard work, Baldwin said that he’ll take this win.

 

“[It was a] really tough defensive performance today. And just happy that we get the win, happy for the team. They've worked exceptionally hard and it's good to get some results.” he said.

 

Currently, the Blue Eagles are 2-of-2 in the second round. They’ll be hoping to make it three in a row when they face the Adamson Soaring Falcons on Wednesday, October 23, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.