For the first time in more than a decade, the Ateneo Blue Eagles won’t make it to the Final Four.

A 65-54 loss to the FEU Tamaraws pretty much ended the Blue Eagles’ UAAP Season 87 campaign and some quarters within Ateneo would be the first to say that they’re happy that the end is near. With only Ian Espinosa (game-high 14 points) in double figures, it clearly wasn’t the Blue Eagles’ night (and season).

Season 87 exposed the lack of talent and inconsistencies within Ateneo’s roster, partly because of an exodus in players, but also because the talent development took some time. One of the Blue Eagle’s bigger weaknesses was their frontcourt disadvantage and teams like the Tamaraws, the DLSU Green Archers, and the UP Fighting Maroons pounced on. 

Younger players such as rookie Jared Bahay and Shawn Tuano had to take on more than they would have usually had and it certainly affected their games. The silver lining, though, is that these are all learning experiences for the bigger games in the coming years.

Seniors like Chris Koon and Sean Quietevis may not have pictured this as the ending to their careers, but it is what it is. They can only do their best in hoping they leave Ateneo in good shape to erase the bitter parts of Season 87.

Given the Blue Eagles’ standards this is the lowest point in the Tab Baldwin era, one that saw four UAAP Championships and six straight UAAP Finals appearances. Despite their current situation, Baldwin has not been one to make excuses and has only focused on helping this current crop of players succeed now and in the long run. He has taken the higher road and it serves as an example for him and the rest of the league.

There has been some uncertainty surrounding Baldwin’s future in Ateneo and the way Season 87 has turned out has only added fuel to the fire. Some are clearly looking for change, especially with the way their rivals are leaving them by the dust. Change could start at the top, but is it really Baldwin that needs to go?

For a coach of Baldwin’s stature and accomplishments, this would be a brutal way to go out. Baldwin’s presence made the rest of the UAAP adjust, and while his comments on Philippine basketball struck a nerve with some, the teams in league paid attention and adjusted.

With two games left to play in UAAP Season 87, the Ateneo Blue Eagles will be looking to not only close out the campaign on a good note, but also avoid the 10-loss mark, a fate not even their archrivals, the defending champions DLSU Green Archers, suffered during their dark ages. And, for what it’s worth, they could even relegate the Adamson Soaring Falcons and the UE Red Warriors to the same postseason-less fate.

To some, they could brush playing hard until the end of the season as pride lang, but when it comes to UAAP basketball, pride matters quite a lot.