STILL perfect in 10 outings and having clinched a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four battle, the Blue Eagles still can’t afford to take their feet off the pedal, according to coach Tab Baldwin.
“We gave up 39 points in the second half (against La Salle). We can’t do that, especially in big games, especially in critical situations. So there, you know, as I said earlier, this is the second time teams see us, this is the second time they feel the defensive schemes that we’re using. They’re making adjustments and their offenses are tuned into that. We have defensive adjustments that we have to do,” said Baldwin.
“Also, we’re toying around with some, you know, some offensive changes that you’ll see pop up over the next few weeks, which we have to continue to work on. We want to create variety. We don’t think we’re a great basketball team. So, there’s always things to work on,” he added,
The Blue Eagles eye their 11th straight win when they tackle the Far Eastern University Tamaraws today in the 82nd UAAP basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The match is set at 12:30 o’clock after La Salle and University of East try to get back on track when they collide in the curtain-raiser at 10:30 a.m.
University of the Philippines, with coach Bo Perasol returning from a two-game suspension after his three-game ban was lifted last Oct. 14, battles University of Santo Tomas at 4 p.m.
Ateneo whipped FEU 63-46 when the two squads first met last Sept. 14.
The Eagles are coming off a 77-69 victory over the Green Archers last Oct. 13 that stretched their unbeaten run to 10-0.
Six-foot-10 Angelo Kouame of Ivory Coast, do-it-all forward Thirdy Ravena, twins Matt and Mike Nieto, William Navarro, and Isaac Go are expected to lead Ateneo’s charge anew.
The Tams will go into the game on a high, having scored a 72-58 triumph over the Growling Tigers also last Oct. 13.
With a 5-5 card in a tie with UST for third, FEU will pin its hopes on Kenneth Tuffin, L-Jay Gonzales, Alec Stockton, 6-foot-10 Cameroonian import Patrick Tcuente, Xyrus Torres, Royce Alforque, and Wendell Comboy.
The Maroons are raring to atone for their 69-85 loss to the Tigers in their initial duel last Sept. 7.