This writer purposely chose not to say anything after the Ateneo Blue Eagles’ tough win over Our Lady of Fatima (OLFU), 71-60, in the Pinoyliga Cup as it was one game.
I thought I would wait for the second before sharing my thoughts, and here it is following that gritty come-from-behind win over the College of Saint Benilde, 81-78.
In both matches, I was looking for the hallmarks of Louie Alas teams – tough and physical, with a mania for full-court pressure, and well, gritty.
Let me jump back two weeks prior to that OLFU game. I went to the Blue Eagles’ practice for the first time since 2017. I went up to assistant coach RJ Jazul, who I was with during the first iteration of Gilas, ‘So, will we be a physical team?’ I asked.
‘Tignan natin kung kaya nila,’ Jazul answered me.
I didn’t see the physicality. Maybe in one or three players – Alden Cainglet, Jared Bahay, and to an extent, Ian Espinosa.
Because of the short amount of preparation, I don’t think they are fully fit yet, but I am sure the coaching staff is working on that.
And because they aren’t yet and it takes time to master that full court pressure, these Blue Eagles do it in spurts. I kinda like it because I thought in key moments, it caught the opposing team by surprise. With a full complement of players, Louie will be able to rotate properly as each one will be expected to give their all in those five minutes before sitting then having another go at it again.
Now for grit.
Ah, it’s there all right.
Against OLFU, they struggled – expectedly – to run their offense in the first half. They were taking a lot of shots late in the shot clock.
Against Benilde, they were getting the ball across the half court line a lot faster.
CSB was shooting the daylights out of Blue Eagle Gym in the first half, while Ateneo was getting their shots off but were just missing.
What I like is that this time, instead of jacking up way too many triples like it’s going out of style, this time, they were pounding the ball inside.
Yeah, old school hoops, baby!
Now, for both wins against OLFU and CSB, this team exhibited something that those old title teams of Ateneo had – that second-half adjustment that led them to victory.
Against Benilde, they began to rotate and cover the shooters better. They played tougher defense and this time, it was CSB that struggled to get their shots off.
And speaking of shots, it looks like that 1-2 punch of Ateneo is going to be Kieffer Alas (19.0 points per game) and Travis Roberts (16.5 points per game). Obviously, that isn’t sufficient. Grayson Rogers, EJ Kapihe, Waki Espina and Jared Bahay can put up those points too.
The more Sultan Baruwa learns the game, he will be more effective. And he was in this game. So was JM Leal.
As part of this grit factor, I love how in this endgame, they clamped down on defense after an ill-advised shot, a not so good offensive foul, and a turnover. Espinosa played great defense on Jhomel Ancheta that led to a fast-break play, and it reminded me of that tipped Scottie Pippen ball that led to a fast-break dunk by Toni Kukoc. Except this time, it was Alas who skied in for the lay-up that pegged the count at 81-78. And there was that game-saving block, also on Torres by Alas as time expired.
That was grit on display, and it led to an exhilarating win.