Ateneo Eyes Redemption

If the Ateneo Blue Eagles will take to heart what their coach said after they lost their opening game, bouncing back will probably be easy.

The Eagles, seen as heavy favorites to score a three-peat in the UAAP, were handed an early wake-up call when they fell to the Far Eastern University Tamaraws last Sunday, 72-69, signalling that the road to glory will be long and difficult.

Ateneo coach Norman Black admitted his boys were not sharp and that they also bumped into a determined rival.

"We didn't play well although we played hard but we played a good team also," said Black. "But I think what's very important here is that we should stop talking about what Ateneo has lost. They're not coming back and we just have to focus on this team."

That team is Adamson which they play at 2 p.m. in the first game of a twinbill at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.

The second game will pit La Salle against National University with the Green Archers gunning for a second straight win after pummelling University of the Philippines, 80-62, during last Saturday’s opening.

Ateneo’s loss in an opening game was its first since absorbing a 78-60 drubbing from long-time rival La Salle five years ago.

The Eagles are expected to dominate the Falcons whom they have beaten 25 straight times.

The Falcons have yet to beat Eagles since scoring a 54-52 win on Sept. 18, 1997 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

And though the Ateneo lineup has been decimated by the departure of Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Nonoy Baclao and Jai Reyes to graduation, Adamson is not expected to stop the bleeding anytime soon.

Jonas Terrado, Manila Bulletin