CONSISTENCY over big wins.
Coach Tab Baldwin of defending champion Ateneo insisted the Blue Eagles’ stunning 99-89 overtime victory over erstwhile unbeaten University of the Philippines last Sunday would be in vain if they fail to sustain it.
“I’m happy that we’re the first ones to knock them off, and they’ve done an awesome job getting to 6-0 with the league as tough as it is this year,” Baldwin said. “But you gotta keep things in the context of the entire season. It becomes meaningless if we don’t play good basketball to follow this up and keep improving as a team.
“This is a great sign for the development of our team, but until we start showing consistency over more than just a couple of games, nobody should rest,” he added.
Whether Baldwin’s charges heed his call would be known when they tackle the Far Eastern University Tamaraws as second round play gets going today in the 86th UAAP basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Game time is set at 4 p.m. after National University clashes with University of the East at 2 o’clock.
The Fighting Maroons try to get back on track when they face the Adamson University Soaring Falcons in the nightcap at 6.
Buoyed by a breakthrough 68-62 triumph over the Tamaraws three days back, University of Santo Tomas battles La Salle in the curtain-raiser at 11 a.m.
Ateneo will pin its hopes on Mason Amos, Chris Koon, Kai Ballungay, 6-foot-10 Ghanaian big man Joseph Obasa, and Jared Brown in its bid to improve its 4-3 mark and break a tie with the Green Archers.
With a 2-5 slate like the Red Warriors, FEU will rely on L-Jay Gonzalez, Xyus Torrers, and Jorick Bautista.
“We’re No. 1, but for me we’re just halfway through the season. It’s not relevant. My concern is how to play consistently. After the game against Ateneo, we’re going to learn a lot,” UP tactician Goldwin Monteverde said. “Our concern right now is how to play consistently. We just have to gather ourselves together and be ready for the games.”
The Maroons, carrying a 6-1 card in a tie with the Bulldogs, will bank on reigning MVP Malick Diouf, CJ Cansino, Gerry Abadiano, JD Cagulangan, and Francis Lopez.
NU strategist Jeff Napa is pushing his team to focus on its duel, out to remain in the top two, as the race for the Final Four slots intensifies.
“Iyong gusto ko makita sa kanila, iyong manonood na lang ako sa kanila, hahayaan ko sila maglaro, iyon na ang hinihintay ko sa kanila kasi alam ko naman anong capabilities nila,” Napa, whose troops edge Adamson 69-66 last Saturday, said. “Iyon ang gusto ko na makita nila, iyong bigger picture.
“Iba pa rin kapag nandoon ka sa top, iba pa rin ang tingin sa iyo. Still, it’s up to them pa rin, pero sana natuto na kami sa mga obstacles na nangyari.”
The likes of Kean Baclaan, Jake Figueroa, Steve Nash Enriquez, and Reinhard Jumamoy will be counted upon by the Bulldogs to deliver.
