Ayaw ni Ateneo de Manila head coach Tab Baldwin na masyadong mahuli ang kanyang mga manlalaro sa sandali ng kanilang matagumpay na pagpapataob sa karibal na University of the Philippines para tapusin ang unang round ng University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 86 men’s basketball tournament.
Binalaan niya ang Blue Eagles na ang kanilang mga unang back-to-back na panalo sa season ay madaling makalimutan kung hindi nila ma-sustain ang kanilang momentum.
“This game really means nothing if we don’t back it up. Every one of you won’t recall this, you won’t think about this but this is the first time we won back-to-back this season. If we can’t do more of that, then this will just be a moment,” saad ni Baldwin matapos ang kanilang 99-89 overtime win sa Mall of Asia Arena.
Sumandal ang Blue Eagles sa pagputok ni Mason Amos sa extension para tuluyang maalis ang Fighting Maroons. Pinilit ng UP ang overtime matapos malampasan ang 10-point deficit sa fourth quarter.
Umaasa si Baldwin na ang tagumpay ay magiging simula ng isang malaking bagay para sa kanyang koponan na umihip ng mainit at malamig para simulan ang title-retention bid nito.
Kasalukuyang nasa ikatlong puwesto ang Ateneo na may 4-3 win-loss record na nakatabla sa archrival na De La Salle University.
“It just feels good to win. We’ve been on the losing end three times this year and that doesn’t feel good. You can’t belittle the fact that you’ve beaten a team that’s 6-0 and I’ve been in that position before. It is a very, very good win for our program, but you gotta keep things in the context of the entire season,” sabi ni Baldwin.
“And it becomes meaningless if we don’t play good basketball and follow this up and keep improving as a team. This is a great sign for the development of our team,” dagdag niya.
Para kay Baldwin, hindi sila puwedeng magkumpiyansa dahil magsisimula na ang second round.
“We have seven games to go. Until we show consistency over more than just a couple of games, nobody should rest, nobody should feel comfortable. So, I don’t really care about placing, we’re in the position now where we have to talk about winning games and I don’t like to do that, but I have to,” sabi ni Baldwin.
“So, it feels good to get the win, and the placings on the standings is irrelevant right now,” dagdag niya.
Bubuksan ng Ateneo ang mahalagang yugto ng karera para sa Final Four sa Miyerkules laban sa Far Eastern University, na tinalo ang Blue Eagles sa overtime sa kanilang unang pagkikita sa Mall of Asia Arena.
