Defending champion Ateneo de Manila University is keeping its hopes high despite opening the second round of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 86 men's basketball tournament with back-to-back losses.

Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin commended his wards for a gallant stand against a strong and determined University of the Philippines side in their eliminations rematch last Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

But the Kiwi-American mentor also knows that the Blue Eales have to grow and learn from the challenges they face heading into the crucial stretch of the race for Final Four slots.

"They all learn and we certainly talked about that. But more importantly, we talked about how proud I am of the effort they put out there," Baldwin said following their 60-65 loss to UP, the same squad they beat in the first round in overtime a week before.

"They stood toe to toe with a really, really good basketball team. We had a chance, so, this season has had a lot of that for us,"

"We've come out on the short end too many times. How many times can I say growth? But you know, it's what this team is learning."

Ateneo slid to a tie at fourth to fifth spots alongside Adamson University sporting a 4-5 win-loss record.

It is the first time for the Blue Eagles to lose five games in the eliminations since Baldwin took over the coaching reins in 2016.

Ateneo, which lost a chunk of its veteran championship core, has been struggling to string victories this season, blowing hot and cold.

In the rematch against a UP side they beat in overtime, 99-89, to end the first round, the Blue Eagles had a hard time getting their game going.

Save for a telling run that erased the Fighting Maroons' 12-point lead late in the fourth quarter, Ateneo lacked the finishing kick and composure to complete a comeback.

Down three, 63-60, with 42.9 seconds left, the Blue Eagles had a chance to tie the game after UP came empty in its possession.

But Jared Brown, instead of shooting a three to tie the game with time winding down, opted to pass the ball to Joseph Obasa, who then missed his layup at point-blank range as Fighting Maroons guard Gerry Abadiano grabbed the defensive board and was taken to the line for the coup de grace.

"Well, I don't have to say anything. We all know he should have isolated Malick (Diouf) and tried to shoot a three. He was the first one to say that after that scenario. And if you guys ever played in front of 20,000 people in a must win situation and you're gonna make a smart decision in the last possession, it's not easy. It's freaking difficult," Baldwin said.