Ateneo de Manila University coach Louie Alas took responsibility for his team’s loss to De La Salle University, admitting he failed to account for a player’s condition heading into their UAAP Season 89 rivalry game.
Alas said he felt guilty after realizing that one of his players had been dealing with an illness throughout the week leading up to the highly anticipated matchup.
“Sabi ko nga sa kanila, it’s on me… hindi ko itinake into consideration na you’re under the weather for the last week, the whole week. Pero that’s not an alibi,” Alas said.
The Ateneo mentor refused to use the player’s condition as an excuse for the Blue Eagles’ loss, instead pointing to his own decision-making in preparing the team for the game.
He said the experience would influence how he manages the team in similar situations moving forward.
“Nag-guilty lang ako para sa bata kasi sabi ko nga sa kanila, next time kapag ganyan, siguro i-minimal ko lang iyung gamit,” Alas added.
Despite the setback against their archrivals, Alas credited La Salle for coming prepared and emphasized that Ateneo must quickly move forward.
The Blue Eagles and the Green Archers are now tied with a 3-2 win-loss card.
For Alas, the priority now is to make the necessary adjustments and ensure the team responds in its next outing.
“We have to bounce back,” he said. (Adrian Co)
