Ateneo, La Salle dispute Filoil Group B top spot; UST nips EAC

MARK Belo of Far Eastern U and Nonoy Benavides of Jose Rizal U get entangled as they battle for possession in yesterday’s Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup match. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

FRESH from an overseas training, Ateneo hopes to showcase its gains from the trip as the Blue Eagles battle the La Salle Green Archers for the top spot in Group B in the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup today.

“They just came abroad, so we expect them to come out with confidence,” said La Salle coach Gee Abanilla. “So we have to be prepared. We must be able to play consistent and good basketball.”

The first summer showdown between the fierce rivals, who are tied at 6-1, is set at 4 p.m. at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

NCAA champion San Beda (5-2) and Adamson (5-2) dispute the third spot in the Group A duel at 2 p.m.

All four teams have secured quarterfinal slots along with Group A’s National U (8-0) and Arellano (6-2) and Group B’s University of the East (6-2) and University of Santo Tomas (4-3).

Veteran guards Kiefer Ravena and Juami Tiongson lead the Blue Eagles, who just arrived from training in the United States and Japan.

“Our camaraderie is the most important thing, apart from our system,” said Ravena.

The Green Archers, bannered by Jeron Teng and a stellar rookie cast, also look to work on their chemistry.

“We want to treat this like any other ball game, although we know it’s going to be different since it’s Ateneo-La Salle,” said Abanilla. “But in our minds, our objective is to improve ourselves.”

Meanwhile, UST wrapped up its elimination run at 5-3 after nipping Emilio Aguinaldo College, 76-75, yesterday.

Jeric Teng unloaded 27 points and Aljon Mariano added 16 markers, including two insurance free throws that gave the Tigers a 76-72 lead with 10.4 seconds left.

Eliminated squad Far Eastern University tripped Jose Rizal University, 73-70, while also-ran University of the Philippines downed Perpetual Help, 79-76.

Anthony Hargrove scored the marginal basket to finish with a team-high 16 points for the Tamaraws, who bowed out with a 4-4 record.