If Ateneo couldn’t smoothen the kinks in its composure, then the Blue Eagles can kiss its title-reclamation bid good-bye.

That is how exactly coach Tab Baldwin put it on the heels of an 83-78 loss to archrival La Salle last Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

 “I think we had issues with let’s just call it self-imposed composure,” the seasoned mentor said shortly after the contest which ended Ateneo’s mastery over the Taft-based nemesis which spanned five years.

“I think we did things as a basketball team and as individuals that are going to be extremely detrimental to our capability of vying for a championship,” Baldwin added.

“If we don’t fix that this moment, then we can start looking at Season 86.”

Reigning Most Valuable Player Ange Kouame had 22 points and 12 rebounds, but wasn’t able to get enough help to keep the Blue Eagles from sliding to 2-1 in the race.

“Has to be fixed immediately. It’s not a process. It’s their (players) job. They damn well better,” Baldwin said before turning to the silver linings in the contest—which weren’t as much, really.

“When you put up rebounding numbers that I’ve never seen in my life—36 offensive rebounds … well, that’s extraordinary,” he said.

With those numbers, I believe rightfully expect the scoreline to look a lot different. But it didn’t.”