Nais ni Ateneo de Manila University head coach Tab Baldwin na mas dapat pang paghusayan ng Blue Eagles ang kanilang paglalaro sa University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 86 men’s basketball tournament.
Bagama’t nagustuhan ng Kiwi-American mentor ang progreso na ginawa ng kanyang mga ward matapos na makapasok sa win column sa kanilang panalo kontra La Salle University kasunod ng opening day setback, inamin niyang malayo pa siya sa kuntento sa defending champions.
“This was a gutsy win, wasn’t a great basketball win,” sabi ni Baldwin matapos ang kanilang 77-72 panalo noong Miyerkules sa Mall of Asia Arena.
Kinarga nina Kai Ballungay at Mason Amos ang Blue Eagles na nagpakitang-gilas sa back-and-forth closing stretch ng fourth quarter, mula sa impresibong shooting display ni Chris Koon, para talunin ang clingy Green Archers.
Ang tagumpay ay naglagay sa Ateneo sa four-way tie na may 1-1 win-loss record sa tabi ng biktima nitong Adamson University at University of the East.
Gayunpaman, ang walang pigil na tagapagturo ay nais na makita ang Blue Eagles na mapabuti ang kanilang antas ng paglalaro.
“I want to play better basketball. You could ask me that question 365 days a year, you’d get the same answer. I want to play good basketball,” sabi ni Baldwin.
“People say, would you be satisfied with losing? If we played good basketball, probably,” he said. “So I’m not overly satisfied when we don’t play good basketball and win, but I’m really happy with the gutsy performance,” dagdag niya.
“If these were two boxers when the bell on the 15th round rang, they came out to fight. You couldn’t get a more worthy opponent. That’s what makes the rivalry great. What makes this game great is that we fought really hard today, and it was just kind of even because of how tough La Salle is, and how proud their team and their program and their coaching staff are,” sabi pa ni Baldwin. Ni Mark Escarlote
