Eagles, Archers Clash Anew

Manila, Philippines – More than pride is at stake when arch-rivals Ateneo Blue Eagles and De La Salle Green Archers meet for the second time this season at 4 p.m. this Sunday before another huge crowd expected to show up at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Eagles are looking for revenge and solidify their hold of no. 2 spot while the Archers aim for a repeat of their Houdini act in their first round meeting and get a share of the third spot going into the homestretch of the elimination round.

“We have to be aggressive from start to finish especially at the defensive end. In our last game, it was just good that recovered in the closing minutes but we want to be more consistent,” said La Salle coach Dindo Pumaren, who was referring to their 66-63 win last July 24.

In that game, the Archers overcame 51-60 deficit in the closing minutes on the heroics of Samuel Joseph Marata, who fired two key triples during the Archers’ 15-3 closing run.

Marata, however, has just recovered from flu and missed the Archers’ last two games. Pumaren though assured that the sophomore swingman would play against the Eagles. He said that he opted to give Marata more time to rest in their 84-63 rout of the University of the Philippines last Thursday.

But the Eagles have prepared for this match racking up five straight wins after that first round loss to the Archers.

“We’re now picking up defensively. If you look back at our history, we don’t usually start well. We get better as the season progress. In our first meeting, we just didn’t finish strong. We have to be more consistent from start to finish,” Ateneo coach Norman Black said.

One thing going for the Eagles is the renaissance of Ryan Buenafe’s game. The former Rookie of the Year has picked up the offensive slack in Ateneo’s past two wins.

Buenafe averaged 13 points, 4 rebounds and 4.5 assists in the team’s recent wins against UP and National University.

In the curtain-raiser at 12 noon, the NU Bulldogs will try to keep their flickering Final Four hopes’ alive with a win against hungry UP Fighting Maroons.

With 3-6 slate, the Bulldogs could not afford to lose this game as they are lagging far behind the fourth running Archers.

“Our backs are against the wall. We will do everything we need to do to win [against UP],” NU coach Eric Gonzales said.

UP, meanwhile, remains winless after 9 games.

“More than the X’s and O’s, it’s the attitude that we need to change. Kapag naunahan kami, bumibitaw kaagad ang mga bata. Kapag nakalamang naman at hinabol kami, bumibitaw pa rin. The boys just have to stay focus and regain their confidence,” UP acting coach Boyet Fernandez said.

The Maroons will likely get a boost with the return of sophomore guard Alvin Padilla from a one-game suspension due to two unsportsmanlike fouls he incurred in the season.

Just like the last three Ateneo-La Salle playdates, tickets for both games are sold separately.

Alder Almo, UAAP Sports