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UAAP: Nieto twins left lasting impression on Baldwin

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/sports/11/22/ateneo-mike-nieto.jpg"/><figcaption>Ateneo&#x27;s Mike Nieto goes for a layup against UST in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 82 Finals. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines – Twins Matt and Mike Nieto left a legacy of winning in the Ateneo de Manila University men&#x27;s basketball program, but they also left a lasting impression on head coach Tab Baldwin.The Nieto brothers were the backbone of the Blue Eagles, both on and off the court, for the past four years. Matt was the floor general who kept the team together and made the right decisions virtually every time, while Mike was the locker room leader whose voice everyone respected.Baldwin spoke highly of the twins on Wednesday, as the team was taking in the aftermath of their triumph in the UAAP Season 82 men&#x27;s basketball tournament.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/11/21/19/uaap-nieto-twins-surpass-dads-achievement-leaves-challenge-for-younger-brother">READ: Nieto twins surpass dad&#x27;s achievement, leaves challenge for younger brother</a></li></ul>&quot;Mike is probably a natural leader. Mike is a communicator. Mike is a thinker,&quot; said Baldwin of their team captain.In his final season for Ateneo, Mike only averaged 4.43 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, while averaging just over 15 minutes per contest. But his value to the Blue Eagles had never been limited to his production inside the court.For Baldwin, it is what Mike does off the court and how he holds the team together that makes him so special. So exceptional is Mike&#x27;s leadership qualities that Baldwin had no qualms in predicting that his player will &quot;make a mark on the world.&quot;<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/news/2019/11/21/uaap-82-by-numbers-perfection-63589">UAAP 82 By the Numbers: Perfection</a></li></ul>&quot;Look at all of us up here, and think about where we&#x27;re gonna be in 10 or 15 years,&quot; said Baldwin. &quot;You&#x27;ll forget most of us but you won’t forget Mike Nieto.&quot;&quot;He will make a mark on this world that the rest of us may try to do in sport,&quot; he said. &quot;In terms of touching people, making lives better, giving of himself, and making sure that everybody around him has a better chance than what he has, that’s our captain.&quot;&quot;He makes our coaching staff better,&quot; Baldwin added.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/12/11/16/uaap-finals-loss-fires-up-ateneos-nieto-twins-ahead-of-next-season">FROM SEASON 79: Finals loss fires up Ateneo&#x27;s Nieto twins ahead of next season</a></li></ul>Matt, meanwhile, is someone that Baldwin considers &quot;between a brother and a son.&quot; &quot;Certainly, a friend,&quot; the coach said of the point guard.<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/sports/11/22/ateneo-matt-nieto.jpg"/><figcaption>Ateneo point guard Matt Nieto makes a play against UST. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>Matt emerged as the Blue Eagles&#x27; court general in Season 79, after the departure of heavily hyped recruits Jerie Pingoy and Hubert Cani. He proved himself worthy of Baldwin&#x27;s trust, and became Ateneo&#x27;s go-to operator in crunch time.While Matt never put up big numbers – he averaged just 7 points and 2.71 assists per game in his final season – there was no doubt as to his status as one of the best point guards in college basketball. For Baldwin, what made Matt so special was his competitive fire.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/10/02/15/ateneos-matt-nieto-goes-work-and-earns-his-place">FROM SEASON 78: Ateneo&#x27;s Matt Nieto goes to work and earns his place</a></li></ul>&quot;You can just put a &#x27;W&#x27; on his head. He&#x27;s a winner. He wins all the time,&quot; said Baldwin of Matt.&quot;And losing hurts him more than anybody else,&quot; he added. &quot;He takes it personal and he carries it onto the next event so he doesn’t lose that one.&quot;Baldwin went on to pay Matt the ultimate compliment. &quot;I think all of these guys give us a lot of character but a lot of times, as Matt goes, we go,&quot; he said.&quot;The rest, he knows,&quot; the coach added. &quot;I&#x27;ve told him. He&#x27;s a special human being.&quot;<div>For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/" target="_blank">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.</div>

Twins Matt and Mike Nieto left a legacy of winning in the Ateneo men's basketball program, but they also left a lasting impression on head coach Tab Baldwin.

Twins Matt and Mike Nieto left a legacy of winning in the Ateneo men's basketball program, but they also left a lasting impression on head coach Tab Baldwin.

UAAP: Nieto twins left lasting impression on Baldwin

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UAAP: Nieto twins left lasting impression on Baldwin

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published November 22, 2019 06:46 AM PHT

Read More:

UAAP

UAAP Season 82

Ateneo Blue Eagles

Tab Baldwin

Mike Nieto

Matt Nieto

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