Babilonia expects Ateneo to fight hard anew next season

GBoy Babilonia proud of how his teammates fought despite loss in Finals. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

It wasn’t how Gboy Babilonia wanted his collegiate career to end, but it was something that he is surely proud of seeing how Ateneo fought until the end.

The 6-foot-5 senior wrapped up his UAAP career Wednesday and he was showered with cheers in the final 10 seconds of the Blue Eagles’ 79-72 Game 2 loss to the Green Archers.

La Salle may have swept Ateneo in their best-of-3 UAAP Season 79 Finals, but Babilonia knows how hard his squad performed, not just in the last two games but the entire season.

“I’m very happy for our season. We may not get the championship, but I couldn’t ask anything more from my guys, for all their hardwork, for what they sacrificed all year. I just want to thank them for giving a fight every game until earlier,” he said.

Babilonia didn’t make much waves in his final year, averaging only 2.1 points and 4.7 rebounds in 19.0 minutes, but overall, he was happy to be the elder at the sidelines as he watched his younger teammates
grow.

“The growth of this team was unmeasurable for this season,” he said. “Before the season, from everybody there were no expectations for this team. We were not touted to enter the Final Four, but we had a winning streak in the second round, we had momentum coming into the semifinals, and we got the second-seed. We just fell short of the championship.”

And though he’s bidding Katipunan goodbye, Babilonia is confident that he’s leaving the squad in good hands.

“I hope that we set the foundation for something greater from what we achieved this season. Let’s see next year. No expectations again, but we’ll be coming. We’ll be coming hard,” he said.