How the Ateneo Blue Eaglets losing was the best thing to happen to them

It was a struggle for Shaun Ildefonso and the Blue Eaglets
against the Junior Archers. (Photo Credit: Joji Lapuz, Fabilioh)

The Ateneo Blue Eaglets this year were hyped up to be one of the deepest and most talented in recent memory. Heck, some idiotic "sportswriter" *looks at mirror* even claimed that the Season 78 Ateneo Blue Eaglets are better than the San Beda Red Cubs. The freakin' San Beda Red Cubs. What is this guy smoking?! Yesterday, the hype train was put to a stop thanks to Aljun Melecio's 42 point explosion against the Blue Eaglets.

After that loss, Ateneans (inevitably) panicked.

"Kala ko ba magaling 'tong Eaglets? Anyare?" 

"BAKIT KAYO NATALO SA LA SALLE"

"The boys should be boxing out and looking for the open man! Clearly the coach is doing something wrong!"

Aaaaaaaand more. The once supposedly superior Eaglets were then surrounded with worry and doubt. They lost. This team's supposed to be some kind of super team right? 6 national team members, a bunch of solid players with experience. What happened? But if anything, this loss was the best thing to happen to the Blue Eaglets.

"The game kanina taught us a lesson. Kung di kami dedepensa, di kami magchachampion," Shaun Ildefonso shared. If you didn't know, Ateneo's huddles (almost) always end with the shout of "DEFENSE!" by the team. In that case, giving up a whopping 84 points (and 42 points FROM ONE PLAYER ALONE) against the Junior Archers is UNACCEPTABLE for the Blue Eaglets. Also, at the Moro Lorenzo Sports Complex (the area where the Eaglets practice), a tarpaulin that says "DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS" hangs below the scoreboard. In that case, giving up 84 points against one team won't be giving the Eaglets a back to back. There's more to the loss than defense, however.

"Dami nag paka "hero" kanina," Shaun lamented. In fact, Shaun himself admitted that he was one of the players who played hero ball for the Blue Eaglets. Obviously, it didn't pan out. For a team with this much talented individuals, there can't be separate heroes trying to save the team. It has to be one team that is saving each other. "We need to play as the Blue Eaglets where everybody plays together and where everybody is on one page," said Ildefonso. "Sa Eaglets kasi, walang sisihan. Kung mali ng isa, mali naming lahat." 

The Blue Eaglets learned two important things with their loss against the Junior Archers. One, they have to play defense if they want to win the championship. Second, they have to play as a team, not as individuals. These lessons are bound to turn into blessings for the Blue Eagles, but if anything, they received one very important blessing immediately when they lost.

"Now, the pressure of sweeping the league is gone. Now we play." - Coach Joe Silva 

Now they play. Now the Blue Eaglets will stop playing for themselves. Instead, they will be playing for the team. For each other. The Blue Eaglets will play Blue Eaglets basketball. Fast-paced, high-octane offense that is paired with a defense that will choke you down.

The Ateneo Blue Eaglets losing was the best thing to happen to them. When everything is said and done, we'll say that this loss was the best thing to happen to them this whole season. That loss made them better. That loss lessened the pressure for them. That loss made them even deadlier. For a team this talented, that's a very scary thought. Very scary.