by Waylon Galvez
Games Today (Ynares Sports Center, Antipolo City)
2 p.m. – UE vs FEU
4 p.m. – Ateneo vs Adamson
Adamson hopes to prove that its first win against Ateneo was no fluke as the Falcons go for an encore against Blue Eagles in the 81st UAAP men’s basketball today at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo City.
It was during the opening weekend of the tournament when Adamson stunned Ateneo, 74-70, that led the school to its best start at 5-0.
Adamson head coach Franz Pumaren expects a close game similar to their first round encounter.
“It’s going to be a tight game, that’s for sure,” said Pumaren. “Like when we met them in the first round, it’s going to be a close game because both teams are playing well at the moment.”
The game pitting the current top two teams in the league – with Ateneo at No. 1 sporting a 9-2 card and Adamson at No. 2 carrying an 8-2 record – is set at 4 p.m., right after the 2 p.m. encounter of Far Eastern University (5-6) and also-ran University of the East (1-10).
Ateneo has already clinched the first semifinal berth following its 79-64 win against National University last week, but the team of coach Tab Baldwin is determined to secure one of two twice-to-beat spots.
Adamson, on the other hand, is a win away from formally joining Ateneo in the semifinal round, and Pumaren said they are focused on that than repeating against the Blue Eagles.
“That’s our goal, to make it to the Final Four. We have a chance to do it in this game,” said Pumaren, whose team has advanced to the semifinals since he started coaching the school in 2016.
Adamson is fully motivated from an 80-72 win against University of the Philippines last Sunday, a game that saw Jerrick Ahanmisi drop 24 points, while Sean Manganti add 10 points.
