Following a 101‑74 statement win over the UE Red Warriors to kick off their UAAP Season 89 Men’s Basketball Tournament campaign, the Ateneo Blue Eagles remain steady as they continue to buy into the system of newly appointed head coach Louie Alas.
Veteran forward Shawn Tuano, who sparked Ateneo in limited minutes off the bench, credited Alas’s defense‑first system as a key factor in the Katipunan‑based squad’s blowout victory.
“His defense—when everyone buys in… It’s probably the best in college basketball. His pedigree, who ‘Coach Louie’ is, it’s all about defense, and he tries to instill that into us every day,” Tuano told Rebanse.
The 6‑foot‑3 wing led the Blue Eagles’ second unit with 6 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals en route to the win.
Tuano Remains a Reliable Piece
From riding the bench in his rookie year to meshing with the starting unit in Seasons 87 and 88, Tuano remains committed to being an integral piece of Ateneo’s core entering his fourth season with the team.
“I think I’m more reliable than I’ve ever been. I put in a lot of work to expand my game, and to do more things on the court. Hopefully, it’s gonna show up in more games this season,” he said.
Now playing for his second coach in his college career, Tuano aspires to remain a reliable option in his return to the bench role and hopes that the new coach continues to maximize his two‑way abilities.
“You need some points, you can put me in. You need defense, you can put me in,” Tuano explained. “[I’m] just a plug‑and‑play type of person, someone who’s always trying to do the right thing, and do what’s right for the team.”
Tuano and the Blue Eagles return to the hardwood on Saturday, Sept. 19, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena for the infamous “Battle of Katipunan” against the UP Fighting Maroons.
