Despite coming up with an impressive performance in the 40th William Jones Cup, Ateneo de Manila University remains focussed on its main goal – the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (uaap).

Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin admitted that they marched unprepared in the prestigious invitational tournament that serves as a buildup of various club teams for their respective leagues.

They finished with a 5-3 in-loss card while making a lot of heads turn after posting impressive wins over Japan and host Chinese Taipei.

Ateneo emerge fourth and could have made it to the podium if not to a close 63-70 setback to Iran.

“We were really not ready to represent the country or represent Ateneo. We just wanted to begin representing ourselves to be ready for September 8, which is the opening of UAAP,” Baldwin said.

“It was bit premature to put this team with such a heavy burden. But I think, that’s the testimony of the character of the team.”

Baldwin said the fourth-place finish is already an over-achievement and serves as a strong testament to Ateneo’s collegiate basketball program.

That’s why in the upcoming UAAP, they should draw motivation from that impressive performance and turn it into victories against other squads like the vastly improved University of the Philippines, University of Santo Tomas, National University and rival De La Salle University.

“This tournament was a bridge too far from our team, these are very strong teams and basketball programs. So to pit ourselves against this level of competition and be standing in the end, speaks positively about this team,” Baldwin said.

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