A surprise visit from former Ateneo de Manila University players provided a much-needed boost that sparked the current team to fight as if their lives were on the line.

Words of encouragement from the likes of the Nieto brothers – Mike and Matt – and Will Navarro lifted the spirits of the Blue Eagles heading into Game 2 of their University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 85 men's basketball finals series against reigning champion University of the Philippines.

It worked wonders as the pep talk fueled the Blue Eagles to a 65-55 victory that knotted their best-of-three series late Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin said they were surprised when former leaders of the team took time off their busy schedules to visit and fire up the Blue Eagles two days before the crucial Game 2.

"They organized it," Baldwin, whose wards are on the verge of regaining the title they lost seven months ago when they clash in sudden-death Game 3 on Monday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

"It was a surprise to me when they came in. Of course, it was a very welcome surprise. We have precious few chances to see all of them together, and, I mean, even Will Navarro was there, and the news was that he has an ACL injury. So sad news for Will, but he was there as well. So, they organized it, I'm not sure, usually it's the Nieto brothers, you know how they are."

Baldwin said talking to the older batch his Blue Eagles squeezed out the best from his team.

"I think that the impact was extraordinary," he said.

"Each one of them spoke. And you know, I said to the team the next day, I think, these guys aren't speakers. There were several captains there. Of course, Mike Nieto, it's hard to shut him up."

"But the rest of them, even the captains, and even on our coaching staff, G-Boy Babilonia, a former captain in my first season. They were all there, they all spoke."