Black wants streakin' Eagles to keep focus

MANILA, Philippines - Reigning titlist Ateneo de Manila U left the rest of the field biting its dust in the first round of action in UAAP Season 74 men’s basketball.

Today when the second half of hostilities commence at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, it’s not only the champion-wannabes and upset-seekers that could throw a wrench to the smooth-running Ateneo machine.

Coach Norman Black said complacency and overconfidence can also undo the Eagles in their drive for a four-peat.

“My worries? Being overconfident and complacent,” he said after the Eagles clipped Far Eastern last Saturday, 69-49, to go 7-0.

“I told the players that once you’ve established a formula for winning, you have to stick to it, you don’t vary. I don’t want the guys to relax. I want them to continue to focus to work hard in practice, to improve individually so we’ll improve as a team,” he added.

For sweeping the first round, the Eagles drew the third-running FEU Tams (4-3) for their maiden outing in the second phase at 3 p.m. today.

“We have to be prepared. I’m sure they (Tams) want to bounce back from that loss,” Black said.

Rookie Kiefer Ravena, who torched the Tams with 19 points and nine rebounds the first time around, expects a tougher challenge from the 2010 runners-up.

“They’ll play a lot more physical and come into the game more prepared,” he said.

Meanwhile, the retooled National U Bulldogs, who have a rather disappointing 2-5 card, look to show more teeth in the second round.

The No. 6 Bulldogs battle No. 8 University of the East (1-6) at 1 p.m. The Warriors took their lone win so far, a 72-71 verdict, at the expense of the NU cagers.