SINCE taking over as the coach of defending champion Ateneo in 2016, Tab Baldwin has been consistent in downplaying his wards’ big wins.
Ateneo’s gutsy 77-72 come-from-behind win over rival La Salle two nights back in the 86th UAAP basketball tournament was no exception.
“I think a lot of people will get really excited about this, but it’s just the second game of the season. It’s a great rivalry game between two proud universities, and obviously, we’re delighted we won that,” Baldwin said. “Most importantly, I think we found some fight.
“It was lacking last game and to find it is very rewarding. However, the quality of performance needs to be better, but I think it will get better,” he added.
Fil-Am guard Chris Koon showed the way for the Katipunan-based crew with a game-high 19 points, on top seven rebounds and three assists, while Kai Ballungay backed him up with 18 markers, 16 boards and four dimes.
Prized freshman Mason Amos also had 12 points, including eight in the last 3:15, while 6-foot-10 Ghanaian center Joseph Obasa added 11 points and 16 rebounds.
Ateneo redeemed itself from a disappointing 64-77 loss to National University to improve to 1-1.
The shellshocked Green Archers went into the match on a high, having scored an 87-76 triumph over Far Eastern University last Sunday, and dropped to 1-1.
Baldwin heaved a big sigh of relief after the Eagles got the job done against a La Salle five that led by as much as nine points in the third quarter.
“This is a tough game to try and go out and be efficient when you have the emotion and intensity of the opposition. Pretty happy we only play La Salle twice in the regular season,” Baldwin said.
“It’s a pretty exhausting affair out there. Topex (Robinson) is still young, so he probably wanted to go a couple of more quarters, but I was pretty ready for that thing to be over.”
Ateneo could not afford to let its guard down when it takes on Adamson University tomorrow, Saturday, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, according to Baldwin.
“Proud of the guys. Very proud. You guys can do with it what you want, but we will try to keep this in perspective, and understand that we have a big game this weekend, and this won’t mean a lot if we drop the next game,” he said.
“They don’t give bonus points for beating La Salle. Maybe they should, but they don’t, so we gotta get ready for the next one.”
