Carrying the Blue and White: Quitevis and Koon’s Leadership Through Adversity

Photo source: UAAP Media Team

Following the heartbreaking end of a challenging season, Ateneo Blue Eagles captain Sean Quitevis expressed gratitude for having co-captain Chris Koon by his side throughout the journey.

“I remember Coach Tab [Baldwin] told us in a meeting during the past weeks that it’s easy to lead during successful times and winning times, but it’s really hard to lead during the tough times,” Quitevis stated following their season-ending loss to Adamson.

This season tested the leadership of Quitevis and Koon, UAAP Season 85 champions, as they guided their team through adversity. Despite the struggles, they emerged with valuable lessons, memories, and highlights from their years as Ateneo student-athletes.

“That’s what put me and Chris to the test. We just take lessons from it moving forward with our careers. Since we’ve been through tough times now, it only builds character and does us well moving forward,” Quitevis reflected.

From locker room conversations after tough losses to celebrating small victories, the Blue Eagles built a brotherhood. These moments, although not always triumphant, are ones they’ll carry with them.

“When you can’t take so many positive memories, you can’t take trophies, you can’t take the highlight moments in bunches, it doesn’t mean you can’t take something,” said Coach Tab Baldwin.

A Journey of Perseverance

For Quitevis, his Ateneo journey was far from easy. There was a time when he wasn’t trusted with significant playing minutes.

“For a big chunk of my Ateneo journey, it was about really proving myself to [Coach Baldwin]. Even in Season 85, I wasn’t being used the whole regular season,” Quitevis admitted.

Everything changed during Game 2 of the Season 85 Finals. Despite limited opportunities, he seized his moment, earning respect and proving his worth as an athlete.

“Honestly, it broke my heart, and I thought basketball wasn’t for me. But in Game 2, with our backs against the wall, [Coach Baldwin] really took a chance on me. Just to reward that and win a championship with him – it’s really a dream come true. I couldn’t have written a better story for myself,” Quitevis said.

Leaving a Legacy

For Quitevis and Koon, their time with Ateneo isn’t just about winning games – it’s about leaving a lasting legacy for future Blue Eagles.

“For our teammates, we just want them to know how important it is to wear that uniform. Be committed to the program day in and day out. It’s going to be tough, but just understand the privilege of wearing it. That’s all you really need,” Koon told ALL-STAR.

Koon emphasized that being part of Ateneo is about more than basketball – it’s about embracing the values of the community and the pride that comes with representing the Blue Eagles.

“You know you’re going to get developed by great coaches. Just having that belief in understanding what it means to wear the Ateneo jersey is most important. We hope the guys in the future understand that and don’t take it for granted,” he added.

Lessons in Resilience

Looking ahead, Quitevis shared a piece of advice for his teammates and the Ateneo community.

“Regardless of the situation, just keep fighting. Success and failure, they come and go, but the fight never changes. Just keep that constant,” he said.

The Ateneo Blue Eagles may not have ended their season with a championship, but their journey was marked by growth, resilience, and lessons they’ll carry into their future careers – and pass on to the next generation of Eagles.