Ateneo's culture key to continued college dominance after PCCL title retention

The culture at Ateneo de Manila University showed in full force last Sunday in San Juan, which is why they are the country's best in college basketball.

For the Blue Eagles, their title win over San Beda have confirmed their ultimate status, an unbeaten season where they have won 21 straight games from the UAAP to the Philippine Collegiate Champions League. Add three from their last season's conquest, and they have extended the longest active streak at 24 games.

"It is a reflection of how we work. The consistency of the work of the boys, the coaching staff and the management, " said assistant Gabby Severino who filled in for Tab Baldwin minutes after their 57-46 win over their old rivals from Mendiola.

Being in sync with what Baldwin have envisioned for Ateneo speaks volumes about being a cohesive unit, despite the graduation of their key cogs such as Thirdy Ravena, the Nieto twins and Isaac Go.

"Because if there's one element there that's not there and is not performing well then it won't happen," he added.

Severino stressed that for them that even they are expected to win, they are only as good as their most recent game, and it is in themselves that will push each other for their title aspirations come to fruition.

"We have to perform every single time we step on the court."

With the graduation of the Core Four, MVP SJ Belangel might have locked in his status as the undisputed leader, but his fourth-quarter explosion was a product of the trust the working minds of Baldwin and co. that gave not just to him, but also to his band of brothers.

"Not for me lang, but for the team, lahat kami, malaki kompiyansa sa isa-isa," said the former Blue Eaglet, whose winning tradition continued after his graduation from high school.

For Severino, that same trust and confidence has enabled both the players and the coaches to give their best in either way possible, and at the same time helping each other in more ways than one.

"If there's a day that they're not there in effort, we have to push them. If there's a day that we don't have effort, then they push us. That's how we get the momentum. That's how we stay consistent by helping each other."

Photo by Kevin Estrada