La Salle-Ateneo showdown: Eagles have revenge in their eyes

MANILA, Philippines - Ateneo is out for revenge while La Salle goes for a repeat of their initial encounter when the two rivals slug it out for the second time in the UAAP Season 73 men’s basketball tourney today before another sea of blue and green crowd at the Big Dome.

 Round 1 went to the Green Archers, who obliterated a 60-51 Ateneo lead with a 15-3 windup sparked by Samuel Joseph Marata’s two booming triples en route to a 66-63 verdict last July 24.

“Our mindset is on getting back at La Salle because the last time around, we blew what should have been a won ballgame against them,” said Ryan Buenafe, who was limited to only seven in that loss.

“And we really have to win this one to boost our bid for the twice-to-beat (in the Final Four),” added Buenafe.

The three-peat-seeking Eagles, on a five-game streak, enter the game with a 7-2 card while the Archers, unbeaten in their last two outings, are close behind at 6-3.

“Both teams have been flying under the radar so far; neither one of us have been the focus of the UAAP as FEU and Adamson have been getting the attention. But I think La Salle has been playing good basketball and we have been also. So it’s gonna be a good match,” said Ateneo coach Norman Black.

For his part, La Salle mentor Dindo Pumaren said the fourth-running Green Archers will look at this huge game as a step in their overall goal of reaching the next round.

Pumaren said he expects everybody from the DLSU crew to step up against the Blue Eagles, including Marata, hero of their win last month. Marata sat out DLSU’s last assignment last Thursday but Pumaren said he’ll definitely suit up for the green shirts today.

Tickets to the 4 p.m. AdMU-DLSU tussle, which drew over 16,000 spectators the last time, will be sold separately from the 12 noon curtain-raiser between National U (3-6) and University of the Philippines (0-9).