With sweep gone, Ateneo eyes season’s biggest prize

Games Saturday

4 p.m. – La Salle vs Adamson

MANILA, Philippines — Sweep or no sweep, Ateneo keeps its eyes firmly fixed on the ultimate prize.

The Blue Eagles missed their chance for a rare 14-0 record and outright finals entry after dropping a 76-79 heartbreaker to rival La Salle last Sunday but maintained they’re still well on track for their main objective in the UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball tourney.

“We need to put that in perspective. It (sweep) would have been nice to have but that’s it. Things like sweeps and undefeated seasons are things you dream about but you gotta leave it behind pretty quick,” said ADMU coach Tab Baldwin.

“Even if we won (against La Salle) we gotta leave it behind because that goal is still in front  of us. So what matters is the next game, right?” he added.

Instead of waiting in the finals, the top-seeded Eagles now have to go through the Final Four phase where they’re facing No. 4 Far Eastern U.

“We still have to win the title; now we just have a different route to try and do what we really want to do,” said Baldwin.

The moving on part applies heavily on center Isaac George Go, whose flubbed short stab against the rushing Ben Mbala could have won it for the Eagles.

Rivero plucked the rebound from Go’s miss and drew a foul. Go buried his face on his hands apparently out of frustration and embarrassment and assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga quickly approached the big guy for some words of encouragement.

“Coach Sandy told me to keep your head up, the game’s not over yet,” he recalled.

Later, Go said he has come to terms with what happened and has no regret whatsoever.

“Coach trusted my judgment there that I would make the best possible play and right now, I’m not really regretting the shot. It would have been nice if I made it but that’s the best basketball play I could have done at that moment,” he said.

Baldwin himself is not blaming Go, saying he made the right play and only missed.

“So what (if he missed)? We missed a lot of shots. They executed the play, that’s all I can ask,” he said.