DEFENDING three-time champion Ateneo passed its initial test with flying colors.
How the Blue Eagles will fare against a dangerous Far Eastern University will be known today as the 84th UAAP basketball tournament resumes behind closed doors at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The match is set at 1 o’clock after University of the East battles Adamson University in the curtain-raiser at 10 a.m.
La Salle and National University collide at 4 p.m. before University of the Philippines battles University of Santo Tomas at 7 p.m.
Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin said his wards are bracing for FEU, which he described as having “midseason form.”
“That whole team can really shoot the ball, they look comfortable playing the game together, they look at ease and if there’s anybody that I’ve seen so far, it kinda looks almost midseason form, it’s FEU, you know, really looks that way, they had a great preseason,” Baldwin said.
“They have won a lot of games and I think they’re hitting on all cylinders. Certainly, they want to get LJ (Gonzales) back as quick as they can and when they do, they’re gonna be a really top prospect,” he added.
The Eagles came off a 90-81 victory against the Fighting Maroons in their opener last Saturday.
Ateneo will count on the likes of Dave Ildefonso, 6-foot-10 naturalized Filipino center Ange Kouame, Raffy Verano, and SJ Belangel.
FEU coach Olsen Racela said his team will certainly bring their A-Game against the Eagles.
“Lahat naman naglalaro three times a week, iyon nga Ateneo kaagad ang kalaban namin, defending champion so we will prepare hard against them,” Racela said.
“For them actually, I haven’t really thought of our game plan namin now we’re really focusing on UST lang muna like I said earlier pagbalik namin sa dorm coaches meeting kaagad and then prepare for the defending champions.”
RJ Abarrientos, Bryan Sajonia, and Nigerian import Emman Ojuola will be counted upon by FEU, which drubbed the Growling Tigers 76-51 also last Saturday.
The Green Archers downed the Red Warriors 71-66 three days ago and will rely on Deschon Winston, Justine Baltazar, and Evan Nelle.
The Bulldogs go for their second straight win after a close 71-69 decision over the Soaring Falcons.
Janjan Felicilda, John Llyod Clementa, and Issa Gaye will carry the fight for NU.
UP will bank on Carl Tamayo, Terrence Fortea, Gerry Abadiano, Ricci Rivero and Maodo Malick Diouf.
UST will lean on Joshua Fontanilla and Nic Cabañero.
