RIVALS Ateneo and La Salle square off in another chapter of their storied rivalry, both reeling from numbing losses the last time out.
The Eagles and Green Archers try to rediscover their winning ways when they collide tomorrow in the 85th UAAP basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The match is set at 6:30 p.m., with Ateneo aching to redeem itself from a 74-78 defeat to National University two days ago — the Eagles’ first setback at the hands of the Bulldogs in six years.
Even more hard-pressed to pull off a win is La Salle, which has dropped three straight games, counting a 53-57 defeat to surging Far Eastern University last Wednesday.
Defending champion University of the Philippines seeks to stretch its winning run to six when it takes on University of the East in the curtain-raiser at 11 a.m. before Adamson University faces University of Santo Tomas two hours later.
The Tams battle the Bulldogs at 4:30 o’clock.
“Since the first round, UE has been playing very well. Sa season na ito lahat ng teams kumbaga hindi mo puwedeng pabayaan,” Fighting Maroons coach Goldwin Monteverde said after his wards ripped the Soaring Falcons 91-70 two days ago that hiked their mark to 8-1.
“As much as we prepare for other teams every game, ganoon din sa UE, dapat maayos.
Iyong vision is towards our goal and in the next game, we have to work hard as a team to beat them,” he added.
The likes of Carl Tamayo, Terrence Fortea, 6-foot-11 Senegalese import Malick Diouf, James Spencer, Zavier Lucero, and JD Cagulangan will be counted upon by UP.
The Red Warriors, coming off an 81-51 thrashing of the Growling Tigers also last Wednesday that improved their card to 4-5 in a tie with FEU for fourth, will rely on CJ Payawal, Luis Villegas, Kyle and Nikko Paranada, Gani Stevens, and Harvey Pagsanjan.
The Maroons held off UE 84-77 in their first-round tiff last Oct. 19.
Naturalized Filipino center and reigning MVP Ange Kouame, Dave Ildefonso, BJ Andrade, and Forthsky Padrigao are expected to spearhead Ateneo’s bid to improve its 5-3 record.
Holding a 3-5 slate, La Salle will pin its hopes on Kevin Quiambao, CJ Austria, Evan Nelle, and Mark Nonoy.
Gunner Schonny Winston (strained calf), Michael Phillips (rested after recovering from diarrhea), Raven Cortez (sprained ankle), Ice Blanco (under the weather), and Nelle (one-game suspension) sat out the Archers’ tussle with FEU.
La Salle trounced the Eagles 83-78 when they first met last Oct. 9.
