Ateneo stakes its unbeaten record against Far Eastern University on Saturday in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Game is at 4 p.m. with the Eagles seeking their fourth straight victory against a team with former Ateneo star Olsen Racela as coach.
Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin said they need to work on a lot of things especially after a tough match with the University of Santo Tomas Tigers on Wednesday that saw them trail most of the time.
In fact, they needed the heroics of Ange Kouame to pull off a 71-70 win.
“Our roster is not, you know, clicking on all cylinders yet,” said Baldwin. “And that needs to happen if we want to go up another notch.”
Baldwin expects another challenging game against FEU, which is out to improve its 1-1 card following an 81-65 drubbing of University of the East last week.
“We have to get our minds focused next,” added Baldwin who hoping that his players will be more aggressive in the rebounding department.
Aside from Kouame, also expected to deliver for the Eagles are Third Ravena, brothers Matt and Mike Nieto, and Isaac Go.
Racela, on his part, will rely on his combo of guards to pull off an upset.
“We play every play, play every possession. That’s our goal and it’s going to be a collective effort,” said Racela who will bank heavily on the creative plays of Wendell Comboy and LJ Gonzales to steer his squad.
Meanwhile, La Salle aims a follow-up win over National University when it battles winless UE at 2 p.m.
Archers coach Gian Nazario wants his players to play with more confidence a scary 83-82 win over the Bulldogs four days ago.
The Warriors, for their part, aim to end their three-game losing run if they want to avoid being tagged as the new “whipping boys” of the league.
The Warriors are once the most feared squad in the league having won 18 titles, highlighted by a seven-year reign starting in 1965. (Kristel Satumbaga)
