Baldwin: Ateneo’s success lies on its program

Ateneo de Manila University men’s basketball team head coach Tab Baldwin said the foundation of the Blue Eagles’ success would always be its program.

He made the comment as the Blue Eagles welcomed its new recruit guard-forward Christopher Koon, noting that the addition of Koon would not be a “game changer.”

“It is not up to Chris and it’s not up to [the] one we recruited. Chris has just become part of the program and the whole program is responsible for our success or not. It is not up to any individual,” Baldwin, winner of three consecutive men’s basketball crowns in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), told The Manila Times in a phone interview on Sunday.

The decorated coach emphasized that basketball is a team sport.

“I don’t think we use the term game changer. We just tell the players to do their job and be professional. I am one probably of the tenths of the thousand people who believe that,” he added.

Baldwin, though, believes that the 6-foot-4-inch Koon, who can play multiple positions, will help Ateneo improve more, noting that the new recruit has a high basketball IQ.

“Chris is a very good recruit for us. We believe we are going to help our program but obviously every other team in the UAAP wants to get better and come to be the best team in the UAAP. We believe Chris will help us improve,” he said

Koon registered an average of 16 points, 6.6 rebounds and four assists in his fourth year with Rolling Hills Prep. He was a two-time John R. Wooden High School Player of the Year awardee.

Koon and two other recruits Gabriel Gomez and Forthsky Padrigao will be eligible to play in UAAP Season 84, not in the upcoming Season 83.