Ateneo’s Sean Quitevis during the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball Final Four. File Photo by Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News.

MANILA — Ateneo de Manila University's roster has faced adversity ahead of their UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball campaign.

The Blue Eagles, who won their last championship under head coach Tab Baldwin less than two years ago, still managed to reach the Final Four in Season 86 despite the exit of the likes of Ange Kouame, BJ Andrade, Forthsky Padrigao, and Dave Ildefonso.

READ: Ateneo's Kouame, 5 other Eagles receive college degrees

However, while they salvaged a semifinals appearance last season, what followed was the exodus of another set of players, with some of them still having years of eligibility left.

READ: Kai Ballungay to turn pro, bids Ateneo goodbye

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READ: ‘It was still a dream come true,’ says Gab Gomez as he exits Ateneo

Kai Ballungay, Geo Chiu, Jared Brown, Gab Gomez, Joe Obasa, and Jason Credo have all bid their goodbye to Loyola Heights — and while this contributed to them going winless in seven games in the 2024 FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup —  what proved to be most shocking was the decision of Mason Amos to transfer to De La Salle University.

Incoming De La Salle Green Archer Mason Amos. File Photo by Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News.

READ: Mason Amos bids Ateneo goodbye

READ: Mason Amos looks back on 'decent' rookie season with Ateneo

The 6-foot-7 sniper of Gilas Pilipinas has yet to reveal what was the reason behind his move to their lifelong rivals in Vito Cruz after only spending a year in Katipunan, but for Ildefonso, this move by Amos could have resulted in him burning a lot of bridges in his young career. 

"Wala naman akong problema doon sa move kasi as a player, ikaw pa rin magde-decide kung saan ka maglalaro and what you wanna do," said Ildefonso on Tuesday during Strong Group Athletics' media availability at the Gatorade Hoops Center in Mandaluyong. 

READ: Ravena, Ildefonso, Chiu give their take on Amos' transfer from Ateneo to La Salle

READ: Dave Ildefonso set to join 2024 PBA Rookie Draft

"My only problem lang talaga is kung totoo yung hindi siya nagpaalam. Kasi ang liit kasi ng world ng basketball eh. As a 19-year-old na nasa Gilas ngayon, it's a pretty early age to be burning bridges."

"Pero I think, he can try and fix it naman eh. It's not really irredeemable naman in a way. Mason's a good kid and he's a good player. Yung ceiling niya talaga is really high. He's in the Gilas team for a reason," added the son of PBA legend Danny Ildefonso, who also recently declared for the 2024 Rookie Draft.

Former Ateneo Blue Eagle and present Strong Group Athletics guard Dave Ildefonso. Photo by Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News.

Ildefonso remains optimistic that despite the deluge of players leaving Ateneo early, this is just a bump in the road for the squad of Tab Baldwin.

"For me, ang lagi ko lang iniisip whenever I hear na 'Oh, Ateneo mahina na, Ateneo wala ng player,' halos same lang din naman nung sinasabi nila nung first-year ni Coach Tab eh," he said of the former Gilas coach who entered the league in Season 79 in 2016.

"Na he didn't have players, he was a rookie coach and [was getting doubts] na baka hindi pa umabot ng top four. But then again, where were they? Finals," Ildefonso pointed out.

Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin. File photo by Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News.

"I think that's just a reflection of how good a coach he is. Kasi ako bilib talaga ako kay coach Tab and the Ateneo program, of course. They're proven champions, and their program has produced a lot of champions already."

The present ADMU squad still has prized recruits Jared Bahay, Ports Porter, and Femi Edu, as well as veterans Chris Koon, Ian Espinosa, and Sean Quitevis -- which is why Ildefonso is upbeat that the Blue Eagles will rise again.

READ: Femi Edu, Kristian Porter commit to Ateneo

READ: Jared Bahay's new home is Ateneo

"I think they are just in a rough patch right now, and I think they'll find their way soon naman," he said.