WHAT once brought excitement and optimism to Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) Blue Eagles fans at the opening of UAAP Season 88 has now turned into a nightmare as the tournament enters its second round.
Just as the momentum was steadily building up, a sudden and unexpected slump halted it, with Ateneo’s blazing four-game winning streak shockingly flipping into a frustrating four-game skid.
On Wednesday, the Blue Eagles endured yet another painful setback — this time falling to a lower-ranked and desperate squad — the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws, 75-68, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
After sitting comfortably atop the standings midway through the first round, the Katipunan-based squad now finds itself tangled in the middle of a crowded race, holding a 4-4 record and the fifth spot in the league.
Still Breathing
It’s evident that Kymani Ladi’s ongoing struggles have played a major role in the team’s recent slide. Fortunately, 6-foot-5 all-around forward Dominic Escobar has stepped up to shoulder much of the burden.
Against FEU, Escobar gave it his all, tallying 15 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and four steals. Ladi, on the other hand, who previously exploded for 26 points versus the same team in the first round, was limited to just four.
Despite the team’s turbulent run, the Filipino-American standout remains confident that Ateneo can still regain its rhythm and prove to everyone that their hot start was no accident.
“We’re good enough to turn around this losing streak of ours, we just have to recognize who we are because we can still finish within the top four, even top two,” Escobar told ABS-CBN News.
“Our confidence is still fine. We’re disappointed right now, but the good thing about basketball, there is always a next game so we just need to get better,” he went on to say.
Bounce Back
This reflects the earlier remarks of Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin, who remains confident that although his team is young, they understand how to compete with UAAP powerhouses and find a way to end this losing skid.
“I feel good about the quality for our team and the ability to compete against top-level teams. There’s better to come,” Baldwin said in the aftermath of their 71-66 overtime loss to the NU Bulldogs.
Putting that aside, the Ateneo Blue Eagles have another chance to return to the winning column on Sunday, when they take on the top-seeded NU Bulldogs at 1:30 p.m., at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
However, it will be a much tougher challenge since the Bulldogs also started the second round with a loss to the UP Fighting Maroons, 78-74, despite several valiant comeback attempts throughout the game.
The stakes are clear: win, and Ateneo regains control of their destiny; lose, and the road to the Final Four becomes significantly more difficult. This matchup carries weight far beyond just redemption — it could very well decide the fate of their entire season.
