Ateneo de Manila University head coach and three-time NCAA champion mentor with Colegio de San Juan de Letran Louie Alas. UAAP Media.MANILA — Thrice a champion with Colegio de San Juan de Letran, veteran mentor Louie Alas is urging Ateneo de Manila University to build on the defensive principles that fueled his success as the Blue Eagles continue to find their identity under his system.
Through two games in UAAP Season 89 under Alas, Ateneo dominated University of the East, 101-74, before getting brought back down to earth by University of the Philippines, 94-75.
READ: Ateneo dismantles UE to honor Bobet, Divine 100 days after Aurora tragedy
READ: Payosing, UP pull away in second half to overwhelm Ateneo
For the veteran mentor, the loss to UP showed that the Blue Eagles had become too confident after dismantling UE in their season debut, and he shouldered the blame for failing to keep his players grounded.
“‘Wag tayong masyadong mataas yung tuwa,” said Alas after his first week of UAAP men’s action. “Pero yung ganong attitude, hindi ko na-arrest. May mga practices kami na 40 minutes lang, kasi baka pagod, pero hindi ko pala pwedeng gawin yun.”
But while the loss served as a personal lesson for Alas, it also opened his eyes to the need to revisit an approach that had worked wonders during his time in Muralla Street.
“Let’s change the mentality that we will come back through offense. That’s not in my system,” he emphasized.
Ateneo went toe-to-toe with UP in the first half, with Kieffer Alas and Jared Bahay leading the charge, but eventually succumbed to the Fighting Maroons’ depth in the final two quarters and fell by as many as 25 points.
The way the Blue Eagles responded, however, was not what Alas wanted to see.
“That’s the thing that I was surprised about. We’re only down by 10, but gusto niyo sa isang shoot okay na agad,” he said. “Walang ganyan, home run? Hindi baseball ‘to.”
Instead, Alas wants to see the same defensive effort Ateneo showed against UE and in the first half against UP, saying it was reminiscent of how his Knights once wreaked havoc in the NCAA for more than a decade.
“The reason nagcha-champion kami before is because of defense and resilience,” he said. “Siguro, [sa Ateneo] we’re still not used to it. Pero sinabi ko sa kanila, if we do not buy in to that, walang mangyayari sa atin.”
Another factor, Alas said, is how much collegiate basketball has changed since his first coaching stint at Letran in 1998 and his return from 2002 to 2012.
“Iba na rin kasi personality ng mga bata, konting masakit, humihinto,” he said. “When I was coaching Letran, dumudugo na yung tonsils sa pagod, tuloy-tuloy pa rin kami. Ngayon, hindi ko na pwedeng gawin yun. I’m not blaming their personality, pero ganon yata lahat eh.”
“Tinanong ko rin yung coaches: Ganun ba talaga? Konting sakit, humihinto? Konting sakit, gustong magpahinga? Hindi ako sanay na ganon eh,” he added.
Still, Alas acknowledged that the two sides can meet halfway, which is why he is also open to adjusting his approach as long as Ateneo buys into his system.
“Ngayon, pinipilit kong sanayin,” he said. “Gumagawa ako ng ibang paraan. Dati noon, seven days practice. Para kaming 7/11, 24/7 yung opisina, ngayon hindi na pwedeng gawin yun, so I try kung paano ia-adjust.”
Sense of urgency
Ateneo de Manila University against University of the Philippines in UAAP Season 89. UAAP Media.With Ateneo having had to cram its preparations for UAAP Season 89 following the Aurora tragedy that affected the entire institution, Alas is urging his squad to show an even greater sense of urgency as they look to accelerate their progress.
“We need to arrest that as soon as possible,” he said. “These kinds of losses, primary ingredients ‘to para magbigat-bitak na. I’m hoping that we’re matured enough to face that. Kasi lahat dito, ang gagaling ng coaches. Sa PBA magagaling, pero parang PBA rin dito.”
But just as they have faced the challenges brought by the unfortunate June 8 tragedy, which claimed the lives of Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili, Alas said the Blue Eagles will tackle the task together.
READ: Adili family expresses support for Blue Eagles ahead of return to Nigeria
“Blame it on me. Siguro, hindi masyadong klaro yung sinabi ko,” he said. “Tatrabahuhin ko yun, tatrabahuhin namin yun.”
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