‘No malice’: Ateneo’s Baldwin fine with UP’s physical style of play

MANILA, Philippines — Despite heated instances in their battle with the University of the Philippines Wednesday evening, Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin stressed that the Fighting Maroons are not malicious, but just “tough and physical”.

Ateneo absorbed an 83-69 loss to UP Wednesday, the Blue Eagles’ first setback in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament.

With UP holding a 79-62 advantage over their Katipunan rivals, Kymani Ladi and Migs Yniguez were called for double technical fouls after getting tangled up in the rebound play.

And with the game all but over with mere seconds remaining, Maroons star guard Rey Remogat was called for an unsportsmanlike foul on Ian Espinosa. The foul saw the former getting thrown out of the game.

After the contest, Baldwin underscored that physicality is part of sports.

“Look, UP is tough. UP is physical. They have been since [UP head coach] Goldwin [Monteverde] has been there. Nobody in our dugout is crying about that,” he said.

Baldwin said that he did not see the replay, but he believes Remogat’s explanation that he was merely trying to stop the fast break.

“I think that it was a hard foul. I think it was a foul with purpose, you know, to stop the fast break. But I seriously doubt whether there was any malice in it,” the coach stated.

“UP guys are tough. Like, they're really tough guys. But I don't see them as malicious and I don't see their coaching staff that way at all. I just think they're highly competitive and I applaud that. I applaud toughness,” he added.

The game was tight through the half, with Ateneo trailing by just two, 38-40. But the Fighting Maroons clamped down on defense in the third quarter, outscoring their rivals 24-11 to break the game wide open.

UP’s lead grew to as high as 19 points, 79-60, after a 3-pointer by Remogat.

“You know, I ask our guys to be dogs all the time. And I think the UP coaching staff probably doesn't have to ask for that very much because that's what those guys are and I admire that about them,” Baldwin said.

“And I think we live in a world today where people overreact to toughness. I mean, get the hell out of sports if you're not going to be tough, right? And if you're going to cry about things all the time, well, you're not going to be on the winning side very much.”

UP showcased its defensive prowess in the game as they forced Ateneo to shoot 25-of-65 from the floor compared to their 28-of-57 clip.

The Maroons have now won three straight games and rose to 3-2 this season, while the Blue Eagles dropped to 4-1.