INQUIRER Sports

GAMES TODAY (Araneta Coliseum)
12 noon?Adamson vs UE
5 p.m.?Ateneo vs La Salle

STILL fresh from their conquest of bitter rival La Salle, the Ateneo Blue Eagles expect the Green Archers to come out ready for a fight back today in the UAAP men?s basketball tournament.

?It?s going to be tough because La Salle lost [back-to-back], so they?ll be trying to bounce back,? said Ateneo coach Norman Black. ?We just played them, so emotionally it?s difficult. We just have to find a way to get back up again.?

The Eagles, still lording it over at 7-1, aim to complete an elimination sweep of the Archers in their 5 p.m. showdown at the Araneta Coliseum.

?At this point of the season, it?s all about winning because we?re still trying to reach our goal, which is to make it to the top two,? said Black.

University of the East and Adamson battle earlier at 12 noon also at the Big Dome.

Tickets for each game are sold separately.

Coach Franz Pumaren said the Archers, still smarting from consecutive losses against the Eagles and the Falcons, would need to toughen up mentally.

?It?s a component of a young team, players tend to lose track and lose focus,? said Pumaren after the Archers dropped to 4-4. ?Physically, we?re well conditioned. But what?s important in the middle part of the UAAP is mental toughness.?

Rabeh Al-Hussaini, the reigning Most Valuable Player, snapped out of a slump for a season-high 30 points and 12 rebounds in the Eagles? 80-75 triumph over the Warriors at the start of the second round last Thursday.

The victory came four days after the Eagles tripped the Archers in a thrilling 76-72 overtime decision.