INQUIRER Sports

THIS ONE SIMPLY NEVER fades. Reigning UAAP champion La Salle and preseason favorite Ateneo debut in the UAAP cage wars today anticipating another epic encounter.

“It’s always going to be tough,” said Blue Eagles coach Norman Black.

“Before I started coaching Ateneo, I used to watch the Ateneo-La Salle games. And one thing I noticed was it never really mattered who had the most talent or who’s favored to win. The only thing that mattered was what happened in that particular game.”

“I think it will be the usual Ateneo-La Salle classic game; it’s going to be fun to watch,” said La Salle’s 10-year mentor Franz Pumaren.

The Green Archers kick off their title defense against the Blue Eagles at 4 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum, right after host UP and NU tangle at 2 p.m.

Expected to grace the typically star-studded gallery are newly crowned lightweight champion Manny Pacquiao and NBA star Gilbert Arenas, who arrived in the country Saturday for his four-day Philippine Agent Zero Tour.

“Our rotation right now is not what you will call a battle-scarred rotation,” said Pumaren as the Archers deal with the departure of key cogs TY Tang and Cholo Villanueva.

Sweet-shooting guard JV Casio, who’s coming off a hand injury, and veteran Rico Maierhofer will lead the Archers, who halted the University of the East Warriors’ unbeaten run to capture the 2007 men’s basketball crown.

The Eagles, who settled for third place last year, will be powered by senior shooter Chris Tiu and big man Nonoy Baclao. Former NCAA junior MVP Ryan Buenafe leads their elite freshman class.

“I think we have a better team this year,” said Black.

Last season, the two powerhouse squads clashed in a rare five-game duel that saw an average winning margin of just 2.4 points.

Despite winning only twice, the Archers triumphed when it counted the most to clinch the twice-to-beat advantage and the last championship berth.