‘Disappointed’ Ateneo coach Alas demands maturity from Blue Eagles

REGROUP. Kieffer Alas (center) and the Blue Eagles huddle on court during UAAP action.

UAAP

‘I’m super disappointed, but I will not give up on these guys,’ says Ateneo coach Louie Alas after the Blue Eagles’ dismal first-round run

AT A GLANCE

• Ateneo started the UAAP Season 89 men's basketball tournament strong with a 3-1 record but has since lost three consecutive games, leaving them at 3-4 and seventh in the standings.
• Head coach Louie Alas expressed disappointment in the team's performance, attributing their struggles to immaturity and a lack of consistency, particularly in the second half of games.
• Despite recent losses, Ateneo remains competitive in the league, with the potential to improve in the second round, starting with a home game against FEU.

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MANILA, Philippines – Ateneo showed flashes of a contender early in the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball tournament. Now, head coach Louie Alas wants his Blue Eagles to grow up before their season slips further away.

Ateneo opened the first round with a promising 3-1 record, putting itself among the league’s top teams. 

Given the difficult months the program endured following the deaths of student-athletes Divine Adili and Rene Baterbonia, that start was already a significant achievement.

But the Blue Eagles have since lost three straight games, falling to La Salle, FEU and UST, with two of those defeats coming by double-digit margins.

At 3-4 and seventh in the standings, Ateneo finished the first round well below its coach’s expectations.

“I’m disappointed, super disappointed,” Alas said after the Blue Eagles’ 80-68 loss to UST. “My expectations about our record were higher than this.”

Alas pointed to the team’s immaturity, particularly in the second half, when Ateneo has struggled to keep games competitive late in the round.

“Immaturity. It’s immaturity. That’s it,” Alas said. “That’s one thing I really have to improve. We have to become more mature because we are not kids. We have veterans. We are all adults.”

The numbers back up his frustration as Ateneo surrendered at least 80 points in each of its final three games of the first round, while holding opponents below that mark in all three of its wins.

The Blue Eagles allowed the second-most points per game in the league at 81.14, trailing only the winless UE Red Warriors, who gave up 91.71 per contest.

Kieffer Alas, Louie’s 19-year-old son, has led the Blue Eagles with averages of 14.43 points, 4.57 rebounds, 2.43 assists, and 1.57 steals per game. However, he has shot just 34.55% from the field and 20.57% from three-point range.

Jared Bahay has also had difficulty finding his rhythm, averaging 13.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 4.29 assists while shooting below 40% from the field in the opening round.

His 1-of-13 shooting performance against UST was his worst outing of the first seven games.

Shawn Tuano, Andrew Bongo, Travis Roberts, and Ian Espinosa have likewise struggled to find consistent form, leaving Ateneo searching for more reliable contributions across the roster.

Alas plans to intensify the Blue Eagles’ preparations and practice on top of making the adjustments needed to get them back on track.

“I’m super disappointed, but I will not give up on these guys,” Alas said. “I know they can do a lot better. Maybe we just have to adjust a bit to our practices.”

“I know they can get it right.”

Despite their three-game skid, Ateneo remains within reach of the teams ahead of it in the standings, as a couple of wins to start the second round could quickly change the Blue Eagles’ position.

The Blue Eagles will have home-court advantage to begin the second round when they host the FEU Tamaraws on Saturday, October 24, at the Blue Eagle Gym. – Rappler.com