UNSCATHED in its first four games and 30 overall for nearly four years, reigning three-time champion Ateneo is favored to hurdle National University, but coach Tab Baldwin disagreed, especially with the way their foes are playing.
The Eagles gun for their fifth straight win when they tangle with the Bulldogs today as the 84th UAAP basketball tournament opens its doors to fans at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
The match is set at 7 p.m. after Far Eastern University seeks to snap out of its funk when it battles winless University of the East at 4 o’clock.
University of the Philippines tries to stretch its win run to four when it takes on Adamson University at 1 p.m.
In the curtain-raiser, La Salle collides with University of Santo Tomas at 10 a.m.
Meanwhile, the UAAP has meted out a two-game suspension on University of the East coach Jack Santiago for “conduct unbecoming of a head coach.”
The suspension stemmed from UE’s game against University of the Philippines last Saturday where Santiago was heard instructing his student-athletes to deliberately harm UP’s Ricci Rivero in the second quarter.
Ateneo, coming off a 74-57 thrashing of archrival La Salle last Saturday, should not keep its feet off the pedal against NU, according to Baldwin.
“Now we look forward to NU,” Baldwin said. “I think you know they had a great win, so it doesn’t get any easier.”
The Bulldogs have notched two straight victories, counting a 73-68 upset of the Tamaraws also last Saturday.
NU tactician Jeff Napa, however, downplayed his wards’ “dark horse” label given by armchair pundits.
“We will not consider ourselves as dark horse. Laban lang kami nang laban. We just prepare kung sino man iyong makakatapat namin,” Napa said. “We just continue kung ano man ang gagawin namin.”
The likes of 6-foot-10 naturalized Filipino center Ange Kouame, Dave Ildefonso, Tyler Tio, SJ Belangel, Raffy Verano, and Gian Mamuyac are expected to lead the Eagles’ charge.
The Bulldogs will count on John Lloyd Clemente, Michael Malonzo, and Shaun Ildefonso to improve their 2-2 card.
RJ Abarrientos, Royce Alforque, L-Jay Gonzales, and Nigerian import Emmanuel Ojuola will carry the fight for the Tams in their attempt to halt a three-game losing slide.
After losing their first four matches, the Red Warriors are aching to crash the winner’s circle and rebound from a 66-81 defeat to the Fighting Maroons three days ago.
UE will rely on Clint Escamis, Kyle Paranada, Harvey Pagsanjan, Aurin Catacutan, and Migs Pascual.
