Eagles' big frontline up vs Archers' strong backcourt

MANILA, Philippines - Although enjoying the obvious edge in height, Ateneo All-Star selection will not be that disadvantaged in terms of speed when it takes on La Salle in the “Blue vs Green: Dream Game 2012” exhibition game on Feb. 5 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, coach Norman Black said yesterday.

“Based from what I have read in the newspaper, our advantage is size,” said Black, who will have at his disposal an awesome frontline composed of Enrico Villanueva, Japeth Aguilar, Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Noy Baclao, Doug Kramer, Paolo Bugia, and Rich Alvarez.

“But remember, we also have speed with L.A. out there.” 

He’s referring to L.A. Tenorio, the cat-quick point guard who is expected to quicken the pace at times, along with the other speedsters on the backcourt, JC Intal, Eric Salamat, Larry Fonacier, Wesley Gonzales and Magnum Membrere.

Ateneo’s big men are also capable of running the floor and complementing the team’s speedy guards on transition, Black pointed out.

However, Black expressed doubts Al-Husseini will already be 100 percent for the charity event jointly presented by the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and Mastermind Entertainment for the benefit of young cancer patients of the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) .

“I’m not sure though if Rabeh can play,” said Black of the former UAAP Most Valuable Player (MVP) and last year’s PBA Rookie of the Year, who’s still recuperating from an ACL injury.

Their archrivals are loaded at the 1-2 positions, with JV Casio, Mike Cortez, Joseph Yeo, Mac Cardona, RenRen Ritualo, TY Tang and Ryan Arana forming a deadly combo for coach Franz Pumaren.

Supplying the muscle underneath for the green squad in the first AdMU-DLSU exhibition match in four years are Don Allado, Rico Maierhoffer, Carlo Sharma, Jerwin Gaco, Willie Wilson and Brian Ilad.