Ateneo's UAAP record blowout a 'reflection' of 40-minute performance says Tab Baldwin

Tab Baldwin finally saw "a 40-minute performance" from the Blue Eagles. UAAP Media Bureau

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA—At least since the league began using computers to compile the stats in 2003, the UAAP had never seen a blowout this big prior to what Ateneo did on Thursday.

The Blue Eagles set a new UAAP men's basketball record with a 50-point blowout of the UST Growling Tigers at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

[Related Story: Ateneo shatters UST, sets UAAP record with 50-point blast]

While Ateneo is now 10-0 for Season 84, Coach Tab Baldwin believes he and the rest of the coaching staff finally got what they wanted from the team this "conference".

"I think the difference in the scoreline is a reflection that our coaching staff asked for a 40 minute-performance from our players, and that's something that's plagued us a bit this year as we haven't given that 40-minute performance," Baldwin said.

He added that the Blue Eagles, now winners of 36 straight games dating back to Season 81, "came pretty close" to a perfect full-game performance.

They shot 57.6 percent from the field while holding the Growling Tigers to only 28.6 percent shooting including a dismal 2-for-25 from the three-point area.

UST only got to make its threes late in the contest, way after the outcome has already been settled.

Ateneo also outrebounded UST, 49-32, had more assists, 27-9, and went into a block party with eight rejections against UST's zero.

The only not-so-pleasing stats for Ateneo were a dismal 14-of-24 shooting from the free throw line and 19 turnovers.

Raffy Verano even admitted that the team had some errors in the third quarter which was only overshadowed by its 34-15 outscoring of UST.

"We had a couple of lapses in the third quarter defensively and mentality-wise," Verano said.

Despite those mistakes, Baldwin was pleased with how his Blue Eagles played.

"Apart from being a little bit loose with the ball with 19 turnovers, I think it was a pretty comprehensive performance on both ends of the floor, and it feels good to everybody when you walk off the floor feeling like you've played 40 minutes of basketball as a team, and that's really our job," Baldwin further said.

Verano agreed and said, "Everyone kept up to what the coaches wanted us to do, and I think our guys did well."

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