Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin pointed out the lack of playing chemistry as the reason for the Blue Eagles' up-and-down campaign in the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball tournament.
The defending champions managed to hand University of the Philippines its first loss of the season with a 99-89 drubbing in the finale of the first round, but couldn’t carry over the momentum in their second-round meeting which ended in a 65-60 defeat on their end on Sunday, Oct. 29.
Even though it is a far cry from their elimination-round campaign last year, the 65-year-old mentor is always the first to insist that the group is a work in progress. Although Ateneo trailed for most of the game, the team managed to close the gap on UP in the fourth period before eventually falling short in the endgame and absorbing two losses in a row.
With much urgency, Baldwin couldn’t wait for the Blue Eagles to grow as quickly as possible as the tournament is expected to become more competitive heading into the Final Four.
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