THE Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) Blue Eagles are set for a memorable afternoon as they light up their newly-renovated Blue Eagle Gym in Katipunan, taking on the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers.
All eyes turn to the nest, as the UAAP finally returns to the Katipunan campus, hosting a much-anticipated collegiate men’s basketball doubleheader for the first time in over two decades.
The last time the league staged a men’s basketball doubleheader at the Katipunan venue was back on September 8, 2005, when a Norman Black-led Ateneo edged NU, 70-65, while Arwind Santos and the FEU slipped past UST, 64-63, in the second round.
Putting the nostalgia aside, Ateneo is now focused on bouncing back after a tough 83-69 loss to the UP Fighting Maroons in the latest edition of the “Battle of Katipunan” at the Mall of Asia Arena last Wednesday.
Battle for the Top
The Blue Eagles currently share the league’s best record with the NU Bulldogs at 4-1, while the Growling Tigers trail closely behind in third at 3-1. A win over Ateneo would create a crowded race for the No. 1 spot.
UST absorbed its first loss of the season against NU — right on their home floor at the Quadricentennial Pavilion in España — but quickly rebounded with an explosive 111-99 victory over the UE Red Warriors.
“We always take it one game at a time. I think ang difference ay ine-empower talaga kami ni Coach Pido (Jarencio), kaming mga coaches pati mga players, and the level of preparation we do, we take pride in that effort,” UST assistant coach Juben Ledesma said.
After dealing with UP’s Francis Nnoruka and his 28-point eruption, the Blue Eagles now turn their attention to UST’s Collins Akowe, who has been outstanding in his debut season, averaging 22.3 points and 17.6 rebounds in their three victories.
“We’re talking about offense palagi kasi we’re a very fluid team na last year pa lang, and with the addition of Collins, mas nakakaangat lang talaga ng confidence. It really helps us big time and yung kumpiyansa ni coach Pido sa mga boys lang talaga,” Ledesma added.
However, after a stretch of games on their home floor, the Growling Tigers now face a tough challenge as they step into unfamiliar territory, entering Katipunan as the visiting team.
Not an Advantage
The Blue Eagles may have home court on their side, but for Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin, that doesn’t automatically translate to an edge — especially against a UST squad hungry to start a new winning streak.
“Well, since we’ve had zero trainings in that, I’m not even sure it’s a home court yet. It’s home in the sense that it’s the campus that we go to every day,” Baldwin said.
“But I think if there’s any chance that it will be a home court, it’s if the crowd really turns out, if the student body really comes and, you know, turns that place into, you know, a special event for the day for the team,” he added.
In his nine years with Ateneo, Baldwin will be coaching at the historic Katipunan venue for the first time — and he hopes the moment won’t be wasted or turn into a distraction for the team.
“But again, you know, is it going to be a distraction? We don’t want that. So, I mean, I spent 35 years coaching in leagues where every game was a home or away game,” Baldwin explained.
“So I don’t really believe in that so much unless you’ve got a rabid, like you know, Cameron Indoor Stadium at Duke, unless they’re intimidating, which I don’t really think is the case here.”
“I don’t really put too much stock in the home court thing. I mean, we were undefeated at UST, so, you know, maybe that’s our home court,” he went on to say.
With everything set, the Ateneo Blue Eagles will defend their home floor against the UST Growling Tigers at 4:30 p.m., following the 2:00 p.m. bout between the winless UE Red Warriors and the slumping Adamson Soaring Falcons.
