By Jerome Lagunzad
Games Today
(The Arena, San Juan City)
9 a.m. — La Salle vs UST
11 a.m. — NU vs Ateneo
1 p.m. — UP vs FEU
3 p.m. — Adamson vs UE
Action in the UAAP juniors basketball tournament resumes today at The Arena in San Juan City with unbeaten teams National University and Ateneo disputing the solo leadership in what promises to be an explosive showdown.
Both squads should come in with similar momentum and confidence in the 11 a.m. match after the Bullpups and the Blue Eaglets hurdled their first five games underscoring their readiness to go all the way this time.
Over the weekend, Miguel Oczon waxed hot from beyond the arc with six triples and finished with 21 points as NU earned some measure of revenge over defending champion Far Eastern University-Diliman, 80-68, in a rematch of last year’s finals.
Not to be outdone was Ateneo, which proved too much for University of Santo Tomas, 94-63, thanks mainly to towering center Kai Sotto’s dominant showing of 20 points on an efficient 10-of-14 shooting clip on top of 13 rebounds and seven blocks.
“I expect both teams to give it their all,” said Blue Eaglets coach Joe Silva in an SMS message on the eve of their anticipated encounter with the formidable Bullpups whom he feels will come in as the slight favorites.
“I expect NU to play their best. This is going to be a good game where both teams will do everything to win. But I feel that the Bullpups have the advantage since they went to the finals last season.”