Eagles, Lions clash in showdown of best

Manila, Philippines - This is the Clash of the Titans: Powerhouse Ateneo versus talent-laden San Beda. The UAAP champion the last three years against the winner of the NCAA crown who pulled off an amazing 18-game sweep of the previous season mano a mano.

Two of today’s most dominant teams in the local varsity scene, the Blue Eagles and the Red Lions mix it for the 2011 Filoil Flying V Hanes Preseason Premier Cup’s seniors crown before an expected capacity crowd at the Flying V Arena in San Juan.

“Should be a very competitive game,” Ateneo coach Norman Black said of the 3:30 p.m. you-or-me duel for the ultimate prize.

They actually squared off back at the start of the summer league, which went Ateneo’s way, 90-87. But this is winning time, and history and statistics will hardly matter now.

“We’re playing a very, very tough team. They’re just as good defensively as we are and they have the size to match us so we won’t really have any advantage as far as size is concerned,” Black said. “It’s gonna be a very good match-up, for sure.”

Ateneo’s Greg Slaughter versus San Beda’s Nigerian slotman Ola Adeogun should be one big match-up to look out for. Slaughter and Adeogun hacked out identical double-double outputs in practically lifting their respective teams past semifinal rivals Far Eastern University (82-74) and Adamson (82-78), respectively.

San Beda coach Frankie Lim preferred to assume the underdog tag in this “Battle of Champs.”

“I think they are stronger than our team,” he said despite SBC’s current unbeaten streak dating back to the eliminations.

Lim is far from satisfied with how his wards are playing, ruing their erratic ways in escaping with that semifinal victory over Adamson.

“I had mixed feelings (after that game). I’m torn between getting mad and being happy. Happy because the guys won the game but I’m mad because of the way we played. I felt that we could have done a lot, lot, lot better,” he said.

The SBC coach said they have to take better care of the leather. “I’m worried about our turnovers. Jake (Pascual), (Dave) Marcelo, and (Garvo) Lanete had 10 turnovers out of our 18 (total),” he said.

“(From here on), we have to regroup and put everything on the right perspective. All our defensive rules, all our offensive sets should be more precise,” Lim added.

But the Lions may enjoy one advantage against the Eagles: They go into the finale with fresher legs. A day before their faceoff, Ateneo played a game against tough customer National University in the Fr. Martin Cup tourney.

“Hopefully, we’ll have our legs on Sunday,” said Black, who’s out to complete a grandslam of sorts by snaring their first Filoil crown while concurrently holding the UAAP and Philippine Collegiate Champions League diadems.

San Beda is actually gunning for a double-celebration as its Red Cubs quintet is up for a title shot in the juniors division, too. The Red Cubs seek this objective at 1:30 p.m. against the Energen Phl Youth Under-16 squad.

The tournament is sponsored by Hanes and corporate sponsors TMS Ship Agencies, Inc., Cobra Energy Drink and San Marino Tuna.