BALDWIN READIES INTENSIVE TRAINING FOR BLUE EAGLES

ARMED with valuable experience from the recently concluded 40th R. William Jones Cup in Taiwan, the Ateneo De Manila University Blue Eagles are gearing up for a championship repeat bid in the upcoming Season 81 University Athletic Association of the Philippines ( UAAP) men’s basketball tournament.

Head coach Tab Baldwin led the Blue Eagles to a surprising fourth place finish (5-3 win-loss record) in the annual international hoops tournament.

“We are not really ready to represent the country. It’s a bit premature for us to be given this burden. But it’s the testimony of the character of the team that makes them sportsmen,” said the 60-year old Baldwin.

The veteran hoops tactician is now focusing on Ateneo’s UAAP title defense.

“We are going to close the doors and sequester the team for our preparations. It will be really intensive. We don’t want anybody interfering us in the next five weeks,” said the American-Kiwi mentor.

“We want our UAAP games to be softer than what our practices are,” he added.

Meanwhile, Thirdy Ravena and Matt Nieto, who, together with Ivorian rookie center Ange Kouame, led the defending UAAP champion’s campaign in the Jones Cup are relishing their experience in the tourney.

“We are grateful for the chance to play in the Jones Cup. We did our best to represent the country,” said Ravena.

“I’m really proud of this team. We are very thankful for the opportunity and of course for the support of the Filipinos,” said Nieto.

Team veterans Ravena and Nieto shared the Sportsmanship Award with a cash bonus of P100,000 from Ateneo’s chief backer Chooks To Go.

Two Gilas Pilipinas Cadets displayed a class act as they helped a Korean cager who was accidentally hit in the stomach by Kouame get to the bench.

“They showed a lot of respect to the players, to themselves, and to the sport of basketball,” said Bounty Agro Ventures president Ronald Mascariñas.