After everything the Ateneo Blue Eagles have endured over the past two months, simply being together on the court has become a major part of their healing.
"Our healing process is to play," Ateneo head coach Louie Alas told a few reporters after the Blue Eagles' second game in the Pinoyliga Cup, where they defeated a formidable NCAA school College of St. Benilde Blazers, 81-78, at the Blue Eagle Gym on Sunday, Aug. 23.
It was only Ateneo's second game back since the deaths of student-athletes Divine Adili and Rene Baterbonia during a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora on June 8.
Alas said the coaching staff did not speak to the team after the game, just as they did following their first game against Our Lady of Fatima University last Sunday.
Instead, Alas, who works in an interim capacity after the resignation of former head coach Tab Baldwin, allowed the players to simply enjoy being together and playing basketball again after the tragedy.
"We are focusing more on our prayers for healing," Alas said. "As I told you last game, we praise God for the chance to play. Now, we praise [the players] and God for that."
Playing in front of a medium-packed home arena, Ateneo only fielded 11 players against Benilde.
Versatile forwards Andrew Bongo and Shawn Tuano remained with the Gilas Pilipinas 3x3, while Waki Espina, Logan Baltazer and Sam Reyes sat out. Michael Asoro also picked up an injury early in the game.
Still, the Blue Eagles found a way to escape the Blazers.
Kieffer Alas, Louie's son, led the comeback with 26 points on 9-of-17 shooting, along with three rebounds and three assists. One-and-done recruit Travis Roberts added 16 points, although he shot 5-of-13 from the field.
Ateneo trailed by as many as 13 points in the second quarter before taking control in the second half and eventually securing the win. Benilde cut the lead to one, 79-78, after John Mowell Morales drilled a 3-pointer with 43 seconds remaining. The Blazers then forced an Ateneo turnover, only for Jhomel Ancheta to give the ball away on the other end and allow Alas to finish a breakaway layup that effectively sealed thevictory.
Those final possessions in the tight game carried meaning for Ateneo.
The Blue Eagles have been using the Indian run in practice, a conditioning drill where players line up in single file and the player at the back sprints to the front before repeating the cycle.
Team captain Ian Espinosa pointed to the drill down the stretch as a reminder of the work they had put in together.
"Ian [Espinosa] is talking to them about the last two possessions. Those are our biggest defensive stops. And, I don't know if I heard it right, but Ian said, 'Guys, this is the best time to show your Indian run,'" Alas said.
"We do it in practice. That's a really difficult practice. Ian told the guys, 'This is it. This is the Indian runs in practice.'"
For Ateneo's staff, it was a show of resilience and staying together when the game, and perhaps life itself, became difficult.
"I guess their character is that they're very persevering," Ateneo team manager Nico Salva said.
"Their perseverance that they do each and every day reflected in the endgame today. I've never seen a team this bonded. They are really close, and I think that's going to continue to grow throughout the season."