UAAP: LA SALLE UULIT SA ATENEO

Standings W L
DLSU 9 1
UP 7 1
UE 5 3
UST 4 6
Ateneo 3 6
AdU 3 6
FEU 3 6
NU 2 7

Mga laro ngayon:
(Mall of Asia Arena)
8 a.m. – NUNS vs UPIS (JHS)
10 a.m. – UE vs NU (Women)
12 noon – DLSU vs Ateneo (Women)
2 p.m. – UE vs NU (Men)
6:30 p.m. – DLSU vs Ateneo (Men)

MAKAKASAGUPA ng Ateneo ang defending champion La Salle sa isang kapana-panabik na rivalry game sa pagpapatuloy ng UAAP men’s basketball tournament ngayong Sabado sa Mall of Asia Arena.

Nagwagi ang Green Archers sa unang nilang paghaharap ng Blue Eagles, 74-61, noong nakaraang Sept. 15.

Sa pagpapaliban sa Ateneo-Adamson match noong Miyerkoles dahil kay Severe Tropical Storm Kristine, walang magagawa si coach Tab Baldwin kundi ang agad ilipat ang kanyang pokus sa Final Four-bound La Salle.

Umaasa ang Blue Eagles na mapanatili ang momentum ng kanilang two-game winning streak sa kanilang 6:30 p.m. showdown sa Green Archers.

May 3-6 record, ang Ateneo ay naghahabol na lamang ng kalahating laro sa University of Santo Tomas (4-6) sa karera para sa huling Final Four slot.

“Because we had such a tough start, it allows us, I guess, to be a little bit more laser focused on how these guys are growing and developing as players. And we all know that the philosophy of the Blue Eagle program is that process yields results,” sabi ni Baldwin.

“It’s really consistent with what we’ve always taught. It’s just that there’s more pressure on the process externally because people want results. But we will maintain, you know, our same, I guess, integrity to the purpose that we always try to maintain,” dagdag pa niya. added.

Makaraang makopo ang isang puwesto sa Final Four na may league-best 9-1 record, ang susunod na target ng La Salle ay ang makasiguro sa twice-to-beat advantage.

Batid ni coach Topex Robinson na ibang Ateneo team ang sasalang sa kanilang ikalawang rivalry game ngayong taon.

Ang Green Archers ay galing sa seven-day break matapos maglaro ng tatlong beses isang linggo sa first at second rounds, ang parehong dami ng araw ng pahinga ng Blue Eagles dahil sa pagpapaliban sa kanilang duelo ng Falcons.

“It will never change, you know. Whether where you are now right now, you standing, you just forget everything because it’s gonna be Ateneo. So we know that they are coming off a good run. Their guys are really picking up the system, the staff are doing there, with coach Tab’s. So there’s always gonna be excitement. You play one of the best programs and there is so much history in this,” ani Robinson.

“We are so grateful to be a part of it. We keep on reminding our players that we watched those rivalries when we were growing up and dream of being part of that rivalry and being a part of this historic match-up. So I guess more than anything else, we are so excited to play our worthy rivals,” dagdag pa niya.

Sina rookies Jared Bahay at Kristian Porter ay sensational sa huling dalawang laro ng Blue Eagles.

Muli namang sasandal ang La Salle kay reigning MVP Kevin Quiambao, gayundin kay Joshua David.