There will be sub-plots left and right when Ateneo and University of the Philippines renew their rivalry Sunday in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
And don’t forget the ending drama, too.
The match is at 4 p.m. with the two-time defending champion Blue Eagles out to reaffirm their mastery over the Maroons, whom they swept in last season’s best-of-three finals.
Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin, however, believes it’s going to be a different ball game this time.
“(They’re) Two different teams,” he said of the Maroons. “All of us are still trying to prove who we are at this point. I don’t have any different expectations of my team except to come out and play good basketball (on Sunday).”
The Eagles are gunning for a first-round sweep after winning their first six assignments including an 85-68 thumping of the University of the East Warriors last Wednesday, but Baldwin seeks more improvement particularly in their field goal percentage.
“It’s moving at a worm’s pace but in the right direction from game to game,” he said. “It’s kind of like, I’m a liar if I keep saying we’re good shooters and we don’t produce it. We have to produce it. We’re producing good shots; we’re just not hitting the shots.”
They will not be guarding each other but expect the limelight on UP’s Kobe Paras and Ateneo’s Thirdy Ravena.
Ravena has a strong supporting cast in Adrian Wong, Mike Nieto and Ange Kouame.
The Maroons have also a formidable cast in reigning MVP Bright Akhuetie and brothers Juan and Javi Gomez De Liaño.
Not be left out is Ricci Rivero who is yet to make his presence felt in a Maroon uniform.
Still, UP coach Bo Perasol wants nothing but consistency from his star-studded team which he likened to a chariot.
“My team is just like leading a chariot with wild stallions,” said Perasol following their 72-71 squeaker over the La Salle Archers four days ago that extended their winning streak to four games for a 5-1 card.
“One goes to the right, one to the left, one to the middle, but come winning time, they get their acts together. We get the win, what can I say?”
Meanwhile, National University and University of the East collide at 12 noon in a battle of cellar dwellers.
The Bulldogs seek to ride on their morale-boosting 61-39 victory over the Far Eastern University Tamaraws that snap their five-game losing skid for 1-5 while the Warriors are out to regain composure from back-to-back defeats against the Blue Eagles and the Maroons (62-56).
LA SALLE BEATS UST
Meanwhile, La Salle recovered from a heartbreaking loss to UP three days back with a 92-77 drubbing of University of Santo Tomas.
The Archers dictated the pace throughout, leading by as many as 17 points, 78-71, in the last five minutes en route to finishing the first-round eliminations with three wins and four losses.
Encho Serrano led with 29 points and five boards while Aljun Melecio finished with 26 points on a 10-of-15 shooting on top of five assists.
UST fell to 4-3 despite Brent Paraiso sizzling with 22 points and Soulemane Chabi Yo adding 16 points and 14 rebounds.
Rhenz Abando and Mark Nonoy were limited to nine points each.
In women’s play, UST and Far Eastern University bested their rivals to finish the first round at joint second with 5-2.
TIGRESSES TRIUMPH
The Tigresses leaned on a second-half barrage in repulsing the La Salle Lady Archers, 76-47, while the Lady Tamaraws downed the Adamson Lady Falcons, 73-67.
Grace Irebu exploded for 36 points and 20 rebounds for UST, which unleashed a 22-7 blast to pull away from a 33-30 halftime lead to a 55-37 en route to the win.
Lon Rivera added 10 points and Tacky Tacatas finished nine points and five boards.
La Salle fell to 3-4 despite Kent Pastrana and Bennette Revillosa scoring 13 points.
Clare Castro, meanwhile, spearheaded FEU with 28 points and 17 rebounds while Valerie Mamaril and Fatima Quiapo chipped in 15 and nine points.
Adamson skidded to 4-3. (Kristel Satumbaga)
