Games on Wednesday
(Mall of Asia Arena)
7:30 a.m. – NUNS vs AdU (16U)
9:30 a.m. – Ateneo vs UPIS (16U)
12:30 p.m. – NU vs AdU (Women)
2 p.m. – NU vs AdU (Men)
5 p.m. – Ateneo vs UP (Men)
7 p.m. – Ateneo vs UP (Women)
UNBEATEN Ateneo de Manila University faces its biggest test just yet, clashing with reigning champion University of the Philippines (UP) in a pivotal Battle of Katipunan while National University eyes to rebound against the struggling Adamson University in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Game time is at 5 p.m. with the Blue Eagles staking their perfect slate to protect the pole position against the heating up Fighting Maroons in a two-game run from a flat start after the Bulldogs-Falcons duel at 2 p.m.
Ateneo will march into the battle pit with an 81-74 win against another rival De La Salle University for its fourth straight win, leading by as many as 33 points for a statement win to the rest of the league after missing the Final Four last season for the first time under master tactician Tab Baldwin, who has guided them to four titles including a three-peat before the pandemic.
The Blue Eagles, who bled for just a 4-10 slate in Season 87, sport a chance to surpass that tally in the first round alone but it will be a tough nut to crack against the Fighting Maroons who have regained their groove after a listless start, warned Mr. Baldwin.
University of Santo Tomas is up next for Ateneo after that, ending a dreaded three-game swing against top contenders that could make or break their bid for reemergence as the league’s creme of the crop.
“It’s going to be a battle between two teams playing for a lot. There’s UP fighting to get back into where they belong and us trying to hold to a really outstanding start to the season. That’s always pretty much the case early in the season,” said Mr. Baldwin after needing one last stand to fend off La Salle’s torrid comeback attempt marked by a 22-0 rally before more than 17,000 fans.
UP, indeed, is back in fine form after bowing to Santo Tomas and Adamson in the first two games, taking care of its business against University of the East and just last week against National University with a stellar comeback from 22 points down, 66-59.
The Fighting Maroons are hopeful for that momentum to serve enough in trying to topple the Blue Eagles, made up of string of one-and-done players with a goal of completing a turnaround from last season’s playoff miss.
“It’s the same approach, regardless of who we’re playing. Ateneo is also the only remaining team unbeaten. But for us, it does not matter if it’s Ateneo or another team, we’re going to give them a fight,” said UP deputy coach Christian Luanzon. — John Bryan Ulanday