Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin Urges Players to Grow Up Fast to Defend Season 86 Title
Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin is clear about what he wants from his players: complete players who are tough but not a liability. As the defending champions, Baldwin has urged his players to mature quickly if they want to defend their title in Season 86.
After four games, Ateneo has managed a split 2-2 record, including an unfortunate opening loss that was not the best start to the season. With the departure of key players such as former MVP Ange Kouame, Dave Ildefonso, and BJ Andrade, Baldwin is facing the challenge of filling the void left by these players.
“We ultimately want complete players. We want players who are not a liability at one end of the court. I think every player has at a minimum been a guy who’s tough at one end and doesn’t hurt us at the end of the floor and then grows from there,” said Baldwin.
However, Baldwin acknowledges that some of his expectations can only be met through experiences and growing pains, which the Blue Eagles have already faced this season. While he has praised certain players like Jared Brown and Joshua Lazaro, especially in their 76-69 victory against the University of the East, Baldwin wants players he can consistently rely on throughout the season.
“You’re gonna get sick and tired of me saying development, growth, maturity, all these things, but that’s our life right now. We need to do it faster if we expect to be at the end of the season,” he concluded.
