The Top 10 Ateneo Blue Eagles Basketball Players Who Dominated the 2018 Season
I still remember the 2018 UAAP season like it was yesterday - the electric atmosphere at the Araneta Coliseum, the sea of blue in the stands, and most importantly, the incredible display of basketball artistry from the Ateneo Blue Eagles. What made that championship run so special wasn't just the perfect 14-0 sweep, but how Coach Tab Baldwin masterfully managed his roster. Watching from the press box game after game, I noticed his genius in knowing exactly when to push his players to their limits and when to pull back - that delicate balance between intensity and recovery that separates good teams from legendary ones.
Let me start with Thirdy Ravena, who in my opinion was the heart and soul of that dominant squad. The numbers speak for themselves - he averaged 14.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, but statistics can't capture the sheer force of will he brought to crucial moments. I recall specifically the second round matchup against FEU where he scored 12 points in the final quarter while playing through what we later learned was a sprained ankle. That's the kind of gas-stepping leadership that defined his season. What impressed me most was how Baldwin would strategically rest him during less critical stretches, preserving his energy for when the game was on the line.
Then there was Isaac Go, the big man with ice in his veins. People remember his clutch three-pointers, particularly the one that sent the first round game against UP to overtime, but what many don't realize is how Baldwin managed his minutes perfectly. Go averaged only about 18 minutes per game, yet he consistently delivered in high-pressure situations. I've always believed this strategic rest is what allowed him to maintain his remarkable composure during crunch time. His field goal percentage of 48% from beyond the arc in the final two minutes of close games wasn't accidental - it was the product of smart workload management.
Matt Nieto's transformation that season was something I found particularly fascinating. As the starting point guard, he embodied Baldwin's philosophy of controlled aggression. His assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.1 was among the league's best, but what the stats sheets don't show is how he would alternate between pushing the pace and settling the offense based on Baldwin's subtle sideline cues. I remember chatting with him after their victory over La Salle, and he mentioned how Baldwin's trust in giving him breathers at just the right moments kept him fresh for defensive assignments against opposing teams' primary scorers.
The Lopez twins, Mike and Matt, provided what I consider the x-factor that completed the roster. Mike's shooting percentage of 42% from three-point territory was crucial for spacing, while Matt's defensive versatility allowed Baldwin to experiment with different lineups. What made them so effective was how Baldwin would deploy them in bursts - often playing them together for short, intense stretches that would overwhelm opponents before substituting them out to recover. This strategic rotation kept both players fresh throughout the season while maximizing their complementary skills.
Anton Asistio's role as the designated shooter off the bench demonstrated Baldwin's understanding of specialist deployment. Though he averaged just under 20 minutes per game, he made every second count, shooting an incredible 46% from three-point range. I particularly remember his performance against UST where he scored 15 points in just 14 minutes of play. Baldwin would insert him precisely when the defense needed stretching, then pull him out before opponents could adjust. This "surgical substitution" approach, as I like to call it, showcased perfect timing between pushing advantages and managing player energy.
Raffy Verano's development throughout the season was another testament to Baldwin's player management. Starting the season with limited minutes, Verano gradually earned more playing time as his defensive reliability improved. By the finals, he was playing crucial fourth-quarter minutes, grabbing key rebounds and making smart defensive plays. This gradual increase in responsibility showed Baldwin's understanding of when a player is ready for more gas and when they need to coast.
Gian Mamuyac's defensive prowess provided what I believe was the team's secret weapon. While his offensive numbers were modest at 5.2 points per game, his defensive rating of 89.3 was among the league's best. Baldwin would use him in defensive stopper roles for specific stretches, often matching him up against opposing teams' top scorers for intense 3-4 minute bursts before giving him a breather. This targeted deployment preserved his energy for maximum defensive impact.
Will Navarro's athletic contributions, though sometimes overlooked in box scores, provided crucial energy bursts throughout the season. I recall his performance against Adamson where he had three consecutive defensive stops in a two-minute stretch that completely shifted the game's momentum. Baldwin's timing in inserting him for these energy bursts, then substituting him out before fatigue set in, demonstrated that perfect balance between intensity and recovery.
Tyler Tio's development as a backup point guard showed Baldwin's understanding of gradual acceleration. Starting the season with limited minutes, Tio saw increased playing time as the season progressed, culminating in his 12-point performance against UE where he played a season-high 22 minutes. This careful management of his development curve allowed him to contribute meaningfully while building confidence.
Finally, Jolo Mendoza's clutch shooting provided the perfect complement to the starting lineup's consistency. His ability to score quickly off the bench - I remember him once scoring 8 points in just 90 seconds against NU - gave Baldwin the flexibility to rest starters without sacrificing offensive production. This "microwave scorer" role, as we used to call it in the press box, exemplified the strategic breather concept that made the 2018 Blue Eagles so dominant.
Looking back, what made that team truly special was how each player understood and embraced their role within Baldwin's system of strategic intensity management. The perfect season wasn't just about talent - it was about timing, about knowing when to push and when to recover, about understanding that dominance isn't sustainable without strategic restraint. As I reflect on that championship run, I'm convinced that Baldwin's masterful player management created the blueprint for modern college basketball success - a lesson in balance that transcends sports and speaks to the fundamental rhythm of sustainable excellence.
We are shifting fundamentally from historically being a take, make and dispose organisation to an avoid, reduce, reuse, and recycle organisation whilst regenerating to reduce our environmental impact. We see significant potential in this space for our operations and for our industry, not only to reduce waste and improve resource use efficiency, but to transform our view of the finite resources in our care.
Looking to the Future
By 2022, we will establish a pilot for circularity at our Goonoo feedlot that builds on our current initiatives in water, manure and local sourcing. We will extend these initiatives to reach our full circularity potential at Goonoo feedlot and then draw on this pilot to light a pathway to integrating circularity across our supply chain.
The quality of our product and ongoing health of our business is intrinsically linked to healthy and functioning ecosystems. We recognise our potential to play our part in reversing the decline in biodiversity, building soil health and protecting key ecosystems in our care. This theme extends on the core initiatives and practices already embedded in our business including our sustainable stocking strategy and our long-standing best practice Rangelands Management program, to a more a holistic approach to our landscape.
We are the custodians of a significant natural asset that extends across 6.4 million hectares in some of the most remote parts of Australia. Building a strong foundation of condition assessment will be fundamental to mapping out a successful pathway to improving the health of the landscape and to drive growth in the value of our Natural Capital.
Our Commitment
We will work with Accounting for Nature to develop a scientifically robust and certifiable framework to measure and report on the condition of natural capital, including biodiversity, across AACo’s assets by 2023. We will apply that framework to baseline priority assets by 2024.
Looking to the Future
By 2030 we will improve landscape and soil health by increasing the percentage of our estate achieving greater than 50% persistent groundcover with regional targets of:
– Savannah and Tropics – 90% of land achieving >50% cover
– Sub-tropics – 80% of land achieving >50% perennial cover
– Grasslands – 80% of land achieving >50% cover
– Desert country – 60% of land achieving >50% cover
