By JEROME LAGUNZAD
Games Today
(Mall of Asia Arena)
2 p.m. – Adamson vs UE
4 p.m. – NU vs Ateneo
More than their rivals, the Ateneo Blue Eagles are well aware that they have no other bigger foes than themselves.
That explains why Ateneo is leaving nothing to chance when it tries to sustain its unbeaten start against unpredictable National University today in the resumption of the UAAP Season 80 basketball action at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Tip off is at 4 p.m., with the Blue Eagles out to repeat a 96-83 victory over the Bulldogs last Sept. 30, extend their winning start to nine games and continue to boost their stock as a legitimate force to be reckoned with after finishing as bridesmaid to defending champion La Salle Green Archers last year.
But Sandy Arespacochaga, Ateneo’s designated head coach, – at least on paper – is urging the Blue Eagles to keep their focus on the task at hand and not to look that far ahead, knowing the Bulldogs – and their next rivals – are plotting an ambush.
“We’re not really looking at our record right now. That’s what we keep on emphasizing,” he said. “Coach Tab (Baldwin) wants us to focus on the next game, the current game that’s in front of us and not our record, not our standing. That is what’s more important.”
Squaring off in the 2 p.m. opener are Adamson and University of the East, with the Soaring Falcons out to get back on track and the Red Warriors determined to sustain their resurgence.
“It (race to the Final Four) will be tighter and tighter and there’s no third round. We have to make a move right now if we want to stay in contention,” said UE coach Derrick Pumaren, eager to use the Red Warriors’ two-game win-run as a momentum in their bid to avenge a 79-60 loss to the Soaring Falcons early this month.
Much of the focus, however, will be on the Blue Eagles, who have been playing on a different level so far behind their fluid cohesion and sustained defensive intensity.
But top wingman Thirdy Ravena believes nothing will come easy for Ateneo from hereon. “It’s a new round. Hindi pwedeng same lang ‘yung preparation namin du’n sa ginawa namin nu’ng first round. Kasi lahat naman ng teams na yan, first round, nag-a-adjust ‘yan. We still have to work hard, we can’t be complacent,” he said.
The Blue Eagles should not be especially against a Bulldogs side raring to turn things around after losing four of their last five matches that left first-year coach Jamike Jarin frustrated no end.
“When you think about the standing na as it is, 8-0 ka, wala kang makukuha sa 8-0 kasi next game, it’s either 8-1 or 9-0. So you have to have that next game mentality, that you have to prepare, you can’t be complacent. Just because you won the game, that doesn’t mean you can slack off. We have another game on Wednesday, we have to refocus,” added Ravena.
