Blue Eagles brace for UAAP five-peat
On top of the world after their storybook UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball triumph, the Ateneo Blue Eagles are hungry for more.
“This season’s been a hell of a ride for this band of brothers. From last year to Year 2 and now winning it all, we feel now that we’ve accomplished something but we’re not yet satisfied with that,” big man Isaac Go said during yesterday’s presscon preceding the Ateneo’s bonfire celebration for its champion squads.
“We want another one next year…and hopefully start or top the five-peat,” Go added, drawing a stern look from coach Tab Baldwin, who was beside him at the presidential table.
The Eagles steamrolled all comers in their first 13 games but were tested more as the tournament went deeper. They recovered mightily after backto-back losses to rival La Salle at the end of elims and Far Eastern in the opener of the Final Four to reach the Finals then outlasted the Green Archers in three grueling games to cop the crown.
“We managed to climb the mountain. As I said, we stand on the plateau but for a lot of these guys, except for three (graduates Chibueze Ikeh, Vince Tolentino, and Kris Porter), when we look up, we see another peak and that’s where we’re headed,” said Baldwin.
If the road to the 2017 crown was rough, the Eagles expect it to be filled with landmines and serious threats on every bend next year.
“That target on our backs will be clear, it will be bigger. La Salle had to carry that through this year and I thought they did it incredibly well. There’s no fooling ourselves that we will be everybody’s big game, as La Salle was this year and we’ll get everybody’s best and that should really serve as motivation for us to make sure we can answer that call,” said Baldwin.
While harder work lies ahead, the Eagles first afforded themselves the luxury of enjoying the fruits of their labor.
Last night the basketball kings shared the stage with fellow champions from the men’s and women’s swimming teams and the men’s judo squad, as well as podium finishers in other first-semester sports during the celebratory bonfire on campus.
“It’s a great occasion for us… we’re thankful for the bonfire and the opportunity to share the championship with the other champion teams of Ateneo,” said Baldwin, whose team also signed autograph for supporters before attending the bonfire.