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UAAP: Baldwin embraces underdog status in semis faceoff against UP

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Kennedy Caacbay, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="The Ateneo Blue Eagles. UAAP Media." src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/11/22/ateneo.jpg"/><figcaption>The Ateneo Blue Eagles.<em> UAAP Media.</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA -- In facing the top-seed University of the Philippines, would it matter if you are the defending champions?</p><p>After booking a Final 4 ticket against the league-leading Fighting Maroons, Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin said that they will enter the showdown as &quot;underdogs.&quot;</p><p>The Fighting Maroons are on top of the UAAP Season 86 standings at 12-2 after two rounds of elimination matches. Ateneo de Manila University, which had a 7-7 slate, needed to survive a playoff against Adamson just to make it to the semifinals.</p><p>&quot;You&#x27;ve been telling us all year long we&#x27;re the defending champions, now we don&#x27;t get to be the defending champions?&quot; Baldwin jokingly said at first to reporters.</p><p>&quot;No, we&#x27;re definitely the underdog,&quot; he stressed.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2881001" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><p>Ateneo completed the Final Four cast after disposing of Adamson University, 70-48, on Wednesday in the Mall of Asia Arena in front of more than 7,000 fans.</p><p>Citing a good roster headed by a clever coach, Tab Baldwin said the Fighting Maroons will be ready to play against his team.</p><p>&quot;UP won&#x27;t take us lightly. They&#x27;re too professional, they&#x27;re too intelligent, and Gold (Monteverde) is a clever guy. And he&#x27;s got the most professional group of guards that you&#x27;d ever hope to have in the roster,&quot; Baldwin said. &quot;They&#x27;ll be ready to play.&quot;</p><p>But Baldwin spoke with confidence about his team. &quot;Our guys will come out with a lot of heart, and hopefully we&#x27;ll have a curve ball, could give us bucket here and there, and just fight and hang on.&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/11/22/23/uaap-ateneo-bulldozes-adamson-barges-into-final-4">UAAP: Ateneo bulldozes Adamson, barges into Final 4</a></li></ul><p>Ateneo and UP will play on Saturday, November 25 at the Araneta Coliseum. Tip-off is at 2:00 p.m. To follow is the other Final 4 showdown between No. 2 De La Salle University and No. 3 National University.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kbYssehTHi4?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

After booking a Final 4 ticket against UP, Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin said that they will enter the showdown as 'underdogs.'

UAAP: Baldwin embraces underdog status in semis faceoff against UP

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UAAP: Baldwin embraces underdog status in semis faceoff against UP

Kennedy Caacbay,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 22, 2023 08:32 PM PHT

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Updated Nov 22, 2023 08:37 PM PHT

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UAAP Season 86

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