MANILA, Philippines - Foiled by archrival La Salle last time, Ateneo tries to get back the groove and retake the solo lead today against University of the East in the UAAP Season 77 men’s basketball tournament at the MOA Arena.
The Blue Eagles, who dropped an 86-88 setback to the Archers last Sunday, eye their seventh win and first spot in the 4 p.m. main game against the Red Warriors, who have won their last two games for a 4-4 slate.
Fourth-running National U (5-3), meanwhile, aims to snap a two-game skid at 2 p.m. against an Adamson (0-8) squad that showed grit in a close 59-61 loss to Santo Tomas last Saturday. NU-AdU is a rematch of the July 30 tussle where the Bulldogs choked the Falcons to a record-low 25 tally in a 37-point blowout.
Ateneo and UE face off 10 days since battling for 45 minutes in a match that saw the Eagles wipe out a 21-point deficit to prevail, 93-91. Kiefer Ravena waxed hot with 38 points against Roi Sumang’s 30 in the hottest scoring duel this season.
“We had a bad start against UE. We have to review (tapes) and find ways to have a good start against UE and how to sustain it,” said AdMU coach Bo Perasol.
Last Sunday, the Eagles also found themselves playing catch-up to La Salle, trailing by 13 early on, but unlike their previous outings, failed to steal the triumph.
“We just can’t go on to the game and win it in the last seconds most of the time, which happened mostly in the first round,” Perasol said. “So looking forward, what we need to do, if we want to win more, we have to set up ourselves na hindi kami laging sa end mananalo kasi it could always go either way (start strong and sustain it until the end). I know it will take a lot more effort from my players but I think that’s what we need to do.”
Ravena will be a marked man.
“I have to find ways to work against the defense that is thrown at me. So it’s all on me to find a way,” said Ravena, who was stymied in the endgame of their loss to La Salle.
UE has snapped four-game slide with victories over Santo Tomas and University of the Philippines and moved one game behind the No. 4 squad.
“We know we’re still right behind the upper half but as I’ve told the guys, we’re trying to catch up so every game will be very important. We have to take games quarter by quarter,” said UE coach Derrick Pumaren.
“We’ve gone over the hump against UST and took the first step in the second round against UP. We’re facing Ateneo next and we can’t afford to make mistakes. Everytime we make mistakes, it’s like digging our own grave,” he added.
With its pressing defense, the Warriors have been forcing opponents to turn the ball over.
“Problem is, we’re also committing a lot of turnover and we’re not capitalizing on that. Just like in the game against UP, we had 29 turnovers, even in the game against UST we had more turnovers. And that’s not good for us,” Pumaren said.
The Bulldogs have lost back-to-back games to Far Eastern to fall to fourth.
“We just have to remain focused. There will be a lot of games in the second round and we’re still within our target, within our goal. Important we remain focus, forget about this loss and move forward going to our next games,” said NU’s Eric Altamirano.
Winless Adamson nearly scored a breakthrough against the Tigers last Saturday, even leading at 59-58 going to the last five minutes.
“We didn’t win but our guys gave their best! In that respect, I couldn’t ask for more! I’m proud of you Falcons ,” said assistant Vince Hizon, who will fill in for the third straight game for coach Kenneth Duremdes, who’s abroad attending to family matters.
Notes: Commissioner Andy Jao suspended UST Tigresses Kim Reyes and Bettina Penaflor for one game for their actions during UST’s game against National U last Saturday. The two were ejected from that match with Reyes banished for “punching” an opponent and Penaflor DQ’d for “elbowing.” Jao also summoned UST coach Cris Cantonjos for his “collision” with referee Karl Mercines and an unidentified Tigress for a post-game “slapping” incident to explain their side today.