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By JUSTIN KENNETH CARANDANG, GMA News
November 20, 2019
Angelo Kouame: 17 points, 11 rebounds, 6 blocks
With an intact team coming off their second consecutive crown in Season 81, the Blue Eagles begin the season as heavy title favorites. They start their campaign against a familiar foe: Adamson University. The Falcons were the only team that beat Ateneo in Season 81, and they reloaded with one-and-done recruit Val Chauca who wants to make a name for himself in the league.
Reigning Rookie of the Year Angelo Kouame swooped down on the Falcons with a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds. His dunk with 6:52 left in the third period to give Ateneo its biggest lead, 36-23. Another slam dunk late in the final quarter to gave Ateneo a 61-52 cushion as the Blue Eagles repeled a late run by the Falcons.
After the game, Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin admitted going against Adamson was a difficult task. “Franz and his team, they just play so hard, they play intelligently,” Baldwin said. “Now we gotta deal with this Valandre Chauca kid and he's really tough. And I know that Franz would like to probably spread the offense around and his team a little bit more. But I think that you know, defensively we cover a lot of ground, we work pretty hard.”
Baldwin also discussed his team's lofty goal for the season. “Mike Nieto said that he wanted us to be the greatest team ever in the UAAP.”
He warned about the work required to achieve that. “Well, we can't be the greatest team if we don't play great basketball.”
Mike Nieto: 18 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists
Matt Nieto: 15 points, 3 rebounds
Gian Mamuyac: 14 points (career-high), 4 rebounds
“It'll be fun, we'll be ready. I'm sure they will be ready,” coach Tab Baldwin saID about going up against archrival La Salle.
The Green Archers are coming into the season on a mission. With the departure of Kib Montalbo and Leonard Santillan, La Salle brought in four players new players as part of their build up. They also tapped American coach Jermaine Byrd to serve as an active consultant.
One-and-done Archer Jamie Malonzo drew first blood, making his mark in the UAAP with a classic dunk over Thirdy Ravena early in the first quarter.
But Ateneo showed why it was still the most dominant force in the league. The Blue Eagles exploded for 28 points in the second quarter while limiting La Salle to just eight to take a 51-29 lead at the halftime break. Twin brothers Mike and Matt Nieto combined for 23 of Ateneo’s points in the first two periods.
De La Salle tried to make a run late, but it was not enough as Ateneo held steady down the stretch.
Despite dominating the game, Baldwin was unhappy with his team's performance.
“It was tough every step of the way. I think that the break we had at the end of the second quarter was a surprise to us and it was a surprise for them, and in the end it was the cushion I think that we depended on in the second half,” Baldwin said.
“I thought there’s a lot for us to work on. We shot the ball very poorly, our offensive cohesion isn’t anything like it needs to be. I’m pretty disappointed in that, I think that’s a reflection of me as much as anything else and it’s gotta be fixed. But again, overall, the defense was tough. It was aggressive,” he added.
Mike Nieto credited the win to their team mantra: Next man up.
“I think this shows the culture of our team. Na ‘yung mantra namin last year, ‘yung next man up. Since Adrian (Wong) didn’t play in today’s game, I think Mamu (Gian Mamuyac) stepped up,” Mike said.
Mamuyac, known as Mamu to the team, registered a career-high in the game. “‘Yun lang talaga yung system namin kasi ;yung system namin is wala naman talagang star player sa team namin. Tinuturo lang naman sa amin ni Coach Tab na we should take the shots that our system gives us.”
Thirdy Ravena: 17 points, 10 rebounds
Tab Baldwin had nothing but praises for University of Santo Tomas coach Aldin Ayo ahead of their teams' matchup
“This is the truth, I was so entertained watching his team. I love the way they play basketball. I really do,” said Baldwin, who coached against Ayo in two finals series prior to the season.
The Growling Tigers paraded a promising new big man, Soulemane Chabi Yo, and a new sensation from the province, Rhenz Abando. Brent Paraiso, formerly from La Salle, was now part of Ayo’s roster, while the previous season’s super rookie CJ Cansino is back from injury. Mayhem was on its way to test Ateneo.
UST held a slight edge, 56-53, heading into the final period, which promised to be a nip-and-tuck affair.
With 3:40 left in the game, Angelo Kouame made the go-ahead tip to give the lead to the blue and white, 68-67.
After a long scoring drought for both teams, Ravena managed to draw a foul, sinking two free throws for a 70-67 with 11.6 seconds left to give Ateneo the breathing space it needed to pull out the win.
“I don't want to say I told you so, but I told you so,” said Baldwin, heaving a sigh of relief after the game.
“You know, that's the kind of game that you can credit your team as much as you want. You can talk about character and toughness, and you know, and pulling it out in the crunch and all of that, but I think that every applaud that you give your team, the other team deserves exactly the same thing because that game could have gone either way. And we were very fortunate. We're very fortunate.”
Baldwin again praised Ayo and the UST squad for giving them a good fight. “I just have so much respect for him and the way he does his job and you know he's a blessing for Philippine basketball, for the UAAP. It was a great game and those last few minutes were pretty tough, pretty tense.”
Will Navarro: 4 pts, 7 rebounds
In a battle of two of the league’s top defensive teams, it was a defensive-minded role player who came up big for Ateneo against Far Eastern University.
William Navarro scored just four points. In the first quarter, he scored on a drive to cap Ateneo’s 11-0 run to start the game. He scored anew late in the fourth period to widen Ateneo’s gap to 15 points, 56-41.
But he earned coach Tab Baldwin's praise for his heads up play on the other side of the court.
“Early in the first half, you know, of course, the game was still close. Maybe we were up 5-0 or something like that. We had a play where Will switched on to [LJ] Gonzales. Now, most people would think that's prime attacking opportunity for Gonzales, but the way that Will is playing right now, with his length, his footwork, speed, and his confidence, he won that battle that one-on-one battle on that possession. He's not going to win all of those, but it gives us the confidence to make that kind of play and if you can make that kind of play, your defense has a chance to be extraordinary,” Baldwin said.
“You know, with his denial defense, and his switching defense, and rebounding and then he blocks [FEU center Patrick] Tchuente's shot at the end of the game, all of those things mean that the other team isn't putting points on the board.”
While his contributions did not show up in the box score, Thirdy Ravena knew just how much Navarro did for the team.
“Hindi nakikita ng tao ‘yung ginagawa niya, what he really helps us as a team,” Ravena said. “He really helps everyone be better, whether it's setting, his man up, or getting a good screen para sa option sa play na ‘yun, kailangan ng team kasi ‘yun ang magpapapanalo sa amin, it's not about scoring.”
For Navarro, it was just another day in the office. “I just did my job. That's all. What Coach wants us to do is doing the little things, every detail, screening, spacing on them, and everything, you just have to do what you're supposed to do.”
Angelo Kouame: 15 pts, 7 rebs, 3 assists
Before the game, Tab Baldwin sounded the alarm against a possible upset by National University, which is helmed by former Ateneo juniors coach Jamike Jarin.
“My assistant coaches, know Coach Jamike so well and you know, they kept warning me, ‘He’s gonna come out with something different, something unusual.’ And he did,” Baldwin said.
But with its coaches wise to the Bulldogs' tactics, Ateneo dominated from wire to wire.
Angelo Kouame posted 15 points and seven rebounds, while Gian Mamuyac added 13 points.
Despite the big victory, Baldwin still pointed to their offense as something that needed improvement.
“Our field goal percentage doesn’t flatter our play really at 40 percent. It’s something we need to continue to work on but also at the other end of the floor our defense is doing a good job,” he said.
Adrian Wong, 11 points, 3/5 3PT
The third quarter had always been Ateneo's territory, with the team able to make halftime adjustments and impose their will on the other team.
It was on perfect display against University of the East, as the Blue Eagles exploded for 35 points in the third period to turn a 35-34 halftime deficit into a 69-50 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.
Veteran guard Adrian Wong was the main man in Ateneo's third quarter storm. His three-pointer pushed the Ateneo lead to 17 points, 57-40, midway through the period.
For Tab Baldwin, Ateneo’s performance during the stretch was the ideal for the team. “The third quarter was the kind of effort I want to see in the team all the time. They played with some fire, some determination,” Baldwin said.
Matt Nieto, 18 points, 5 rebounds
The Battle of Katipunan is on, and the stakes are high for the rematch of last season's finalists. Ateneo is trying to finish the first round with a sweep, while University of the Philippines is hoping to steal the top spot in the standings.
It was a tight affair early on, with the Fighting Maroons taking the first quarter advantage. But the Blue Eagles came charging back in the second quarter to take the halftime edge.
Things began to heat up further after UP coach Bo Perasol confronted a referee. He ended up being ejected at the 6:23 mark of the third quarter.
“It was kind of an unusual game. It does happen sometimes — referees had quite an impact on that game, I thought. It’s up to you journalists and the fans decide whether that was a positive or negative impact. But certainly, there was quite a significant impact,” Baldwin said after the game.
The Fighting Maroons seemed rattled after Perasol's ejection, as Ateneo dominates until the final buzzer. What was anticipated to be an exciting matchup ended up being the Blue Eagles' biggest blowout in their perfect first round.
Despite the final score, Baldwin underscored how they still need to improve. “We don’t really pause to talk about what we’re proud of. We have a lot to work on. So we really try to stay focused forward, not backward. I think the way you enjoy your season is to win the championship and then it’s all behind you,” he said.
Matt Nieto led the scoring charge for Ateneo with 18 points. “We just trusted the system of Coach Tab. Lahat ng game plan namin, we just trusted Coach Tab. And we just did our job,” he said.
Thirdy Ravena: 17 points, 9 rebounds
After a first round escape, Ateneo pulled out a more convincing victory over University of Santo Tomas.
Main man Thirdy Ravena, interestingly wearing yellow shoes for the matchup against the Growling Tigers, scored 17 points and dazzled with several athletic plays.
But it was his team's effort on the defensive end that Tab Baldwin credited for the result.
“Thank God for our defense. That continues to be something to be difficult for our opposition and that is what we need to continue to understand that there are more ways to attack our defense,” Baldwin said.
Matthew Daves, 10 points (career-high), 6 rebounds
Adamson came into the game looking to end the Ateneo streak. After its title run in Season 81, the Blue Eagles had gone nearly a whole year since their last defeat.
Jerrick Ahanmisi pushed the Falcons to within four points with 21 seconds left, but Ateneo held on with clutch free throws to seal their victory.
“Obviously Adamson came in with a real fire. They had a great plan and they did a great job, they played 40 minutes of really tough basketball,” said Tab Baldwin.
The coach made sure to mention an unheralded workhorse for the Blue Eagles, Matthew Daves, who had his best outing of his UAAP career.
“We had a chat. Just challenging him to be the player we recruited him for,” Baldwin said. “He wasn't the highest scorer, he wasn’t the highest rebounder, he was just the guy out there that got things done because he had the right attitude.”
For Daves, his performance was just him answering Baldwin’s call. “Today like any other game I just wanted to contribute, just do what I can to help the team out.”
Adrian Wong: 18 points (career-high)
Veteran guard Adrian Wong was playing in his final Ateneo-La Salle game, and he made sure it was one to remember.
He scored eight points in the first five minutes of action, keeping the Blue Eagles in the game against a Green Archers squad that started out on fire.
“I think if Adrian doesn't come out hot, we're in trouble in the first half. But fortunately, he did,” Baldwin said.
“It's always a tough game to prepare for. In some ways, it's an easy game to prepare for, because you don't have to get the players focused. But you have to handle the nerves. And, you know, as I said, first half, we looked a little shaky.”
Wong finished with a career-high in his last appearance in the vaunted rivalry game.
“Actually this game means a lot because of course it's Ateneo-La Salle,” he said.
Gian Mamuyac, 3 points, 5 rebounds
Far Eastern University came out gangbusters in the first half, taking a 40-29 lead against the undefeated Blue Eagles at the break.
But Ateneo was able to turn on the screws in the final two periods, limiting the Tamaraws to just 15 points the rest of the way.
“FEU certainly gave us the wakeup call in the first half that we obviously needed. I don’t care if we had 10 playing dates in a row, when you lose your humility when you think all you have to do is put your uniform on to be good, you need a wakeup call,” Tab Baldwin said.
“I wish we never did wake-up calls. But we are human that goes for my coaching staff, me, and our players. So thank you to Coach [Olsen] Racela for that as well.”
Gian Mamuyac typified Ateneo's defensive effort in the second half, proving to be key despite scoring just three points.
“Like what Coach Tab said, FEU did a great job of forcing us to play a different style or play like a team who we really aren’t. In the first half we committed a lot of turnovers. I think in the second half we were able to adjust and we got it down on defense,” he said.
Isaac Go: 13 points
In the dying seconds of Ateneo's title-clincher against La Salle in 2017, Isaac Go showed off his shooting touch by drilling a three-pointer.
Two years later, the big man proved that he still has that silky stroke as the Blue Eagles made quick work of University of the East.
Go led the Eagles with 13 points, going 3-of-6 from beyond the arc.
It was a resurgent performance for Go, who has been relegated to a backup role with the development of Ange Kouame.
“I guess it’s just the embodiment of ‘Next Man Up.’ Anybody is ready to perform when called upon. It just happens to be me today,” Go said.
With still two games left in the elimination round, a sweep still seemed furthest from the mind of the Blue Eagles. “Sport is about performance, not about bragging about performance. So we’re very much focused on what our next performance is gonna be,” Baldwin said.
Angelo Kouame: 17 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks
The 6-foot-10 center Ange Kouame set the tone for Ateneo early in the game, showing off his point guard skills by bringing the ball down and scoring coast to coast. He scored 13 of his 17 points in the first half.
All but one player from Ateneo scored in the game, resulting in the Blue Eagles' biggest winning margin for the season.
“I think for two weeks in a row or two games in a row, we’ve come out with a great attitude and it’s been reflected in the way they played. The pace of the game, the defensive intensity, the rebounding, these are the things that make coaches proud,” Tab Baldwin said.
One win away from sweeping the elimination round, Baldwin downplayed its importance. “I understand that that is a sweep or not a sweep but again, those are just minor issues for us.”
SJ Belangel, 14 points, 3 rebounds
A UAAP team last swept the elimination round of the men's basketball tournament back in 2007. Coming into their matchup against University of the Philippines, the Blue Eagles had a chance to make history.
But beyond bragging rights, a win would give Ateneo an automatic seat in the finals.
UP drew first blood, taking a 21-20 advantage after the first quarter. But sophomore SJ Belanguel ignited a 19-2 run that gave the Blue Eagles a 43-27 lead with a minute left in the first half.
“We understand that this is a significant accomplishment for a basketball team, to go through a season undefeated. But as you all know, the job isn't done,” Baldwin said, tempering the celebration after the victory.
The Blue Eagles were not only assured of a finals ticket, but it meant that the three other teams in the final four had to duke it out in a stepladder for a chance to face Ateneo.
“It’s not gonna be very difficult for us to get our focus on the playoffs and watch the stepladder take place and see who comes out of it. It’s gonna be tough for those teams,” Baldwin said.
Despite the sweep, Mike Nieto insisted they haven’t reached their ultimate goal. “It doesn’t mean a thing - all of the hard work and the sacrifices that we did during the offseason, it doesn’t mean a thing if we don’t win it all come the finals. We’re hungry for more, 'yun na lang sasabihin ko,” he said.
Still, Baldwin paid tribute to what his squad has accomplished.
“There’s been a grave misconception about my basketball team. When they talk about us being kind of super-efficient and almost robotic, I don’t think that people understand the amount of heart that it takes to build the basketball team that we have built, and the job particularly that this these five (Ravena, Matt and Mike Nieto, Isaac Go, Adrian Wong) seniors have done in that,” Baldwin said.
He described his squad as the “hardest-practicing team” he coached in four decades. “This is a team that has a tremendous amount of heart because what determines heart?” he said.
That doesn’t come because you’re super disciplined or because you’re robotic guys that just do what you’re told. It’s driven by an unbelievable sense of determination, passion, belief in one another, and I think that’s what equates to heart.”
Thirdy Ravena: 32 points (season-high), 5 rebounds
University of Santo Tomas survived three straight knockout games in the stepladder — one against Far Eastern University and two against University of the Philippines — for the right to challenge the great blue wall of Ateneo.
The series also marked the third finals meeting between Tab Baldwin and Aldin Ayo, two of the greatest minds in Philippine college basketball.
The Blue Eagles, coming off a long layoff, were quick stamp their mark, scoring the first eight points of the game. Despite a run by the Growling Tigers in the second quarter, Ateneo went into the halftime break with a 54-39 advantage.
Like always, Thirdy Ravena put on a finals show for Ateneo. He scored 14 of Ateneo’s 22 points in the third quarter, scoring from beyond the arc to under the basket.
For Baldwin, winning the game is just “one half” for them. “Well, it’s good to get the win obviously. But we tend to not really see that as a win. We see that as the first half of basketball and we just get a long halftime break. We get to prepare for the second half, which will be in your eyes, Game Two. A lot to work on,” Baldwin said.
For Ravena, his finals explosion was part of his long kiss goodbye to college basketball
“It’s my last year. I don’t wanna say at the end of the season na hindi ko binigay lahat. So I’m just laying it all on the line for my team and for the community. Kasi ayoko naman umalis na may feeling ako na kaya ko pa magbigay,” he said.
Thirdy Ravena: 17 points, 7 rebounds
SJ Belanguel: 15 points (career-high)
Despite an off shooting game from Thirdy Ravena, Ateneo remained dominant early in Game Two of the finals, taking a 42-32 lead against University of Santo Tomas at halftime.
Rhenz Abando caught fire in the third quarter, and the Growling Tigers came roaring back. Rookie of the Year Mark Nonoy converted on a three-point play to come within a basket, 62-60, with a minute left in the period. SJ Belanguel scored on a three-pointer to give Ateneo a bit more breathing room heading into the final quarter.
UST inched further closer, 67-66, on an acrobatic drive by CJ Cansino with less than eight minutes remaining in the game.
But Belanguel, Ravena, and Ange Kouame took charge in a blistering 16-5 run that put Ateneo up, 83-71 with less than three minutes left in the game.
"Masarap. Masarap na nanalo kami. Masarap na we won it in a way na we were playing for one another. Wala, it's incredible 'yung feeling, di ko ma-describe," said Ravena, who won Most Valuable Player honors for the third straight year.
"Ibang klaseng feeling 'to," he added, thanking the entire Ateneo community.
For Belanguel, who finished with a career-best 15 points, dedicated the victory to the graduating seniors of the team: Ravena, Matt and Mike Nieto, Adrian Wong, and Isaac Go.
"I won't let Kuya Matt down, 'yung mga sinasabi n'ya sakin and rine-remind nya ko lagi na galing off na bench na keep the energy, so ayun, siguro mindset ko lang is, this is for my seniors," Belanguel said.
Ravena said it was fitting that their ultimate victory was a total team effort.
"Our strength doesn't lie with one person, one player or one coach, it lies in all of us. It lies because we play for one another," he said.
Tab Baldwin has coached all over the world, but his accomplishments in Katipunan is going to stay with him for the rest of his days.
"This made me a better person," he says, shortly after leading the Ateneo Blue Eagles to a perfect 16-0 sweep of the UAAP Season 82 men's basketball tournament. "Working with these guys everyday makes me a better person because of their quality, character, and work rate — that humbles me."
He paid tribute to the character of his players, who won their third straight title in the league. "It's very humbling when these men sacrifice their ego, they sacrifice their time. What they don't sacrifice is their love of the game and this is the result of that," he said.
Was a season sweep one of their goals from the start?
"16-0 season is really something we dreamed about," Baldwin said. "We didn't talk a lot about it because we never wanted to set that as a goal, but I know the players particularly dreamed about it."
Despite the perfect record, Baldwin looks at each of those 16 steps as a challenge.
"Each one of those sixteen days, no team was better than us," he said. "You have to guard against arrogance, you have to guard against overstating what is something that is pretty exceptional."
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