Rivalry games are fun, but maybe not so much for the Ateneo Blue Eagles of UAAP Season 87. 

Winless in two games, the Blue Eagles were hoping to get their campaign back on track against the DLSU Green Archers, their archivals and the defending champions. Some have said that there used to be an air of inevitability when it came to ADMU Men’s Basketball, but the only thing that’s inevitable these days for them has been L after L after L. 

Ateneo actually had a decent start as they stayed close with the Green Archers for much of the first half and even tied the game at 40 with 32 seconds left in the first half. What doomed the Blue Eagles, however, was a four-point third quarter that allowed La Salle to pull away for good. The likes of reigning UAAP regular season and Finals MVP Kevin Quiambao, Mike Phillips, Joshua David, and EJ Gollena imposed their will inside and punished ADMU’s frontline. 

An 0-3 start is dismal for Ateneo’s lofty standards, especially since the last time they achieved that feat was back in UAAP Season 76 under Bo Perasol, who eventually won a title with the UP Fighting Maroons and now serves as the director for UP’s Office of Athletics and Sports Development. Yes, the Blue Eagles are technically rebuilding/undergoing a youth movement following the exodus of veterans and Public Enemy no. 1 Mason Amos, but all is not lost in the long run. 

The expectation is that many of the players within ADMU’s roster will be with the team for at least the next two seasons, guaranteeing the continuity that has been the hallmark for Ateneo’s champion teams as of late. The likes of Shawn Tuano, Josh Lazaro, and Kristian Porter may not have the same opportunities once the Blue Eagles reload, but they are working towards becoming much better when more will be expected from them later on. 

Jared Bahay will play a significant role for ADMU regardless of where the team is at and now is the opportunity for him to make all the mistakes while the stakes are low. Bahay led Ateneo with six assists and just had one turnover in the loss to DLSU, so his playmaking ability will get better later on. 

An interesting development with the Blue Eagles was how they can still play solid team defense. Their defensive pressure during the fourth quarter may not have changed the game’s outcome, but ADMU did make the Green Archers think twice about their passes and forced some turnovers. 

These being said, while Ateneo remains a work in progress, Ateneans must be patient. 

For a school that screams “win or lose, it’s the school we choose”, it was quite unfortunate that some were already heading for the exits with a couple of minutes left in the game. Ateneans should still root for the Blue Eagles who stayed and those that are clearly trying, even if the results may seem otherwise.