by Kevin Estrada

QUEZON CITY — In a major test of character, Ateneo De Manila pulled off a grand comeback to knock NCAA’s St. Benilde out in the marquee match-up in the Round of 16 of The Big Dance in the Pinoyliga Collegiate Cup.

With the tragedy in Aurora still fresh in their minds two months ago, the Blue Eagles eked out a defensive masterclass to claw their way back from thirteen down to advance to the Elite Eight, where they will host either Adamson or Mapua in a battle of the birds on Saturday high noon.

Here is what we learned from this thrilling encounter.

1. The sixth man
Realizing the pull the Ateneans have when the Blue Eagles play, especially at their own nest, the good men and women behind Pinoyliga did something right by putting them at the main event of the quadruple-header.

As a result, the Sixth Man turned up in droves, as shown by the long queue outside when the game was already underway, and eventually filled the lower box of the baseline sections, making for an intimidating atmosphere for the visiting Blazers all game long.

For coach Louie Alas, seeing the community showing their solidarity to the team still in mourning was something that they could not measure at all.

“Ang hirap sabihin,” said the fiery mentor when he met the press after the game. “Immeasurable. Sobrang importante.”

2. Coach Louie’s aces
It took 14 years for the fabled mentor to win game in a college setting, after his legendary Letran tenure ended on a whimper under the bright lights of the Big Dome.

With him in charge of the Blue Eagles, he was given the task to steady the ship. He did more than that right by steering twos in a row now, both knockout games at that.

Some say that his hire “Letranized” the entire squad with the physicality brought by his 40 Minutes of Hell that meshed with their predecessor’s sophisticated basketball. On the other end, Louie Alas just made a nod to the Ateneo teams of the 2000s which had the game and the swag to match.

3. As iron sharpens iron…
One man sharpens another. It looks and sounds cliche but this new generation of Blue Eagles know that they can rely only on each other on and off the court.

With the uncertainty of not playing at all after the tragedy, the team meshed more than ever. As a result, a pair of wins in their own nest gives their season a shot in the arm after being cleared to play in the UAAP.

“They are very persevering,” said Blue Eagle legend Nico Salva, who serves as the team manager. “Their perseverance each and every day is reflected in the endgame.”

Chemistry molded by adversity was one thing Salva pointed out. The observation comes from a big from a man who was part of an exclusive club that won UAAP championships during an entire five-year career.

“I’ve never seen a team this bonded,” said Salva. “They are really close and I think the closeness will continue to grow throughout the season.”

4. The meaning of team
It’s just the preseason, but Kieffer Alas brought his game higher against elite competition.

Twenty-six points on an efficient 9/17 from the field prove he is one of the freshmen to watch when the 89th season rolls around. Pundits already predict he will be a Rookie of the Year favorite. That shot from afar to give them a 4-point buffer was a highlight.

Kieffer was not alone in this, as one-and-done Travis Roberts provided the D1 discipline by adding 16, with Jared Bahay and Ian Espinosa matching quarterbacking excellence with stingy defense.

Sultan Baruwa provided the impactful seven points as he learned through the ropes in filling the void left by the departed Divine Adili.

5. The past catches up
In a fitting tribute to football’s Jamie Vardy, this should be the biggest lesson in the realm of social media.

Jhomel Ancheta should have known better not to add fuel to the fire made by Fatima’s Edward Labayen by typing those three words on Facebook.

The spitfire guard completely forgot, that while Ateneo was silent, the netizens kept receipts.

The guy who typed “Ipasa mo pre” shot 2/10 from the field for only eight points.

Not only did he pass the ball to a man in blue leading to Kieffer’s dagger lay-up, phenom Alas capped it off by rejecting his desperation heave at the horn.

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(Photo from Pinoyliga Facebook page)