Defending champion Ateneo de Manila University is treating its elimination round rematch against University of the Philippines with a sense of urgency.
The Fighting Maroons, on the other hand, want payback for their lone loss.
So, expect nothing but another brawl when the two teams march back into the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 86 men’s basketball tournament action today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Game time is at 6 p.m. following the 2 p.m. clash between Adamson University and Far Eastern University.
The Blue Eagles bested the Fighting Maroons, 99-89, in overtime last week in their first meeting since last year’s finals.
But Ateneo failed to sustain the momentum of their two-game winning streak last Wednesday after absorbing a 59-62 loss to the Tamaraws for a 4-4 win-loss record at solo fourth.
“It’s just another game, and it’s a game that we gotta play to win. We’re sitting at 4-4 now. We can’t afford to be dropping games, not if we want to be in the top four at the end of the season,” Blue Eagles coach Tab Baldwin said.
The Kiwi-American mentor braces for a tougher challenge from UP, that is sure to go all-out to get back at Ateneo.
“Nobody needs to hype this game either for UP or Ateneo, it stands on its own merits. It’s gonna be a big crowd. It’s gonna be a tough game. And we hope we show up and play our role,” Baldwin said.
Baldwin will pin his hopes on Mason Amos, Chris Koon, Joseph Obasa and Kai Ballungay to replicate the same performance they had in the win over the Fighting Maroons.
UP, meanwhile, shoots for a second straight win and a firm hold of the lead.
The Fighting Maroons rebounded mightily from its end of first round loss with a 77-51 drubbing of the Falcons.
UP, which carries a 7-1 slate, also knows that Ateneo will come in smoking on all cylinders.
“It’s gonna be a tough game for sure. We want to clean up a lot of things we should’ve done better when we first played them specifically on defense,” Fighting Maroons assistant coach Christian Luanzon said.
“Should be a good one as long as players come to play.”
Reigning Most Valuable Player Malick Diouf, CJ Cansino, who dropped 22 points in a lost cause against Ateneo, Reyland Torres, JD Cagulangan and Francis Lopez will lead the Fighting Maroons’ charge.
In the other pairing, Adamson and FEU square off to break a two-way logjam at fifth to sixth with identical 3-5 slates.
