Blue Eagles bent on regaining UAAP crown

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ALTHOUGH not one to be impressed easily given his track record, veteran and multi-titled mentor Louie Alas can’t help but stop raving about revered Ateneo Blue Eagle head coach Tab Baldwin.

“Genius ‘yan (si Baldwin), genius ‘yan. Magaling kausap ‘yun pagdating sa basketball. He is the complete package,” stressed Alas, who became one of Baldwin’s deputies in early 2024.

Aware of Alas’ sterling coaching credentials, Baldwin approached the three-time NCAA champion Letran Knights tactician in February last year to join his coaching staff.

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“I told him that I was very, very interested so he referred it to Ateneo team manager Epok Quimpo, and in February last year I signed up with them,” he recalled.

The mentor of the national squad that bagged the men’s basketball gold medal in the 1999 Brunei Southeast Asian Games added that “not only is Tab very good skills-wise, even his personality is tops.

“Ang galing. Wala kang itatanong sa basketball na hindi niya alam. Magaling pang mag-articulate; nanggaling sa puso. Sincere siya talaga at iba sa mga coaches I have earlier worked it,” Alas said.

Alas said he was tapped by Baldwin, who has steered Ateneo to four UAAP men’s basketball championships, to instill better mental toughness into the Blue Eagles, who exited the UAAP Season 87 cage intramurals earlier than expected.

“Nakilala ako ni Tab for my defense so he instructed me to work on that. He constantly reminds me to toughen the boys mentally.”

While the Blue Eagles have a couple of assistant coaches under Baldwin, Alas said the American mentor plays no favorites and treats them all equally.

“Lahat kami equal footing kay Tab. He asks for input from all coaches regardless of age or experience. He gives us all a chance to air our observations and comments for the good of the team,” he said.

After being sidelined early the previous season ruled by the UP Maroons, Alas said the Blue Eagles are settling for nothing less than emerging on top since their last championship in 2022.

“Of course, championship ang goal namin this year. Na maibalik sa Blue Eagles ang korona. From the players to the coaches led by Baldwin, we want the UAAP men’s basketball crown back,” he said.

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