MANILA, Philippines -- Even with veteran point guard Matt Nieto missing time due to an injury, the Ateneo Blue Eagles have barely missed a beat in the second round of the UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball tournament.

Nieto injured his finger in Ateneo’s last game of the first round, a slim 63-60 loss to Far Eastern University. He has since missed the Blue Eagles’ next three games, but the defending champions have recovered and put together a three-game winning streak.

Plenty of credit has gone to second-year guard Tyler Tio, who has taken Nieto’s place in the starting line-up and filled in admirably for the veteran guard. Tio had 12 points and 5 assists as Ateneo crushed University of the Philippines, 83-66, then put up 8 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists in an 82-62 rout of FEU in their next game.

And on Wednesday, the former Xavier standout put up a career-high 16 points on 5-of-8 shooting, while dishing out a couple of dimes as Ateneo rolled past University of the East, 90-70, for their third straight win.

“I guess I'm just trying my best to just do my part. I'm not really trying to step out of my comfort zone and do extra. I'm just trying to do what coach says -- run the plays, take care of the ball, and if the shot's there then I'm gonna take it,” Tio said after Wednesday’s game, which gave Ateneo an 8-2 win-loss record.

Taking Nieto’s place in the starting line-up is no easy task; Tio acknowledged that the senior has already established himself as “one of the best college point guards right now.”

“It’s really a tough job to replace him,” he admitted. “I don’t think I can replace him, so I’m just doing my job -- I’m not trying to be him.”

Rather than dwell on the challenge of trying to step into Nieto’s shoes, Tio simply stays focused on the task at hand -- even as he counts on his teammates to also have his back in case he falters.

“I’m confident, kasi if I don’t do my job, I know someone else on the bench is gonna step up. At the same time, that motivates me to do my job also,” he explained.

That Tio has this kind of mindset is of no surprise to his coaches, who hail the guard for seamlessly fulfilling the new role thrust upon him midway to the season.

“He's doing his role, I think. That's the role given to him, and the role that's expected of him. Think about it, that's a big responsibility, stepping in for a player like Matt. But that's what the team needs him to do, and we trust in him also. He's stepping up and doing his job,” said Ateneo assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga.

Tio, for his part, is just grateful to be given a chance and vows to keep on stepping up as Nieto continues to recover.

“I like to say thanks to them (my coaches),” he said. “It starts with them, because they gave me their trust. I have to perform for them.”

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