Ateneo seeks repeat vs UE

KIEFER Ravena (right) tries to drive past La Salle’s Julian Sargent in Sunday’s game won by the Archers at Smart Araneta Coliseum. The amazing King Eagle fired 38 points in Ateneo’s come-from-behind overtime win over UE in the first round. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

MANILA, Philippines — Hoping to find its rhythm early in the game, Ateneo tries to reclaim the solo lead Wednesday against University of the East in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament at Mall of Asia Arena.

Ateneo coach Bo Perasol said the Blue Eagles should no longer play catchup in the 4 p.m. match where they also aim to break free from a three-way jam on top at 6-2 with La Salle and Far Eastern U.

“We’ve been having slow starts,” said Perasol. “We started really bad in the last few games and we’re trying to address that. I hope we can address that as soon as possible against UE.”

National University, which fell to fourth at 5-3, hopes to snap a two-game skid against winless Adamson in the first game at 2 p.m.

While the Eagles pulled off huge comebacks in past wins, they didn’t get as lucky against fierce rival La Salle Green Archers as they absorbed an 86-88 setback last Sunday.

“We can’t go on and win it in the last seconds most of the time,” said Perasol. “That’s what happened in our first round. If we want to win more, we have to make sure we step up.”

One of the Eagles’ big rallies came against the Warriors in the first round, where they rose from a 21-point deficit for a 93-91 escape in extra time.

In that game, Ateneo star Kiefer Ravena torched the Warriors with a season-high 38 points.

But coach Derrick Pumaren thinks his Warriors have learned from the experience as they’ve won back-to-back games since their Ateneo debacle.

“We cannot be intimidated by them (Eagles),” said Pumaren. “They’re the top team and were No. 5, so we should be the aggressor.”

The Warriors, tied with University of Santo Tomas at 4-4, expect Roi Sumang to be back in action after the top UE guard sat out last game due to a sprained ankle.

Meanwhile, league commissioner Andy Jao Tuesday slapped a one-game suspension on UST players Betinna Peñaflor and Kim Reyes for figuring in a physical altercation versus NU in women’s basketball.

But Jao let Ateneo to investigate Reyes’ alleged smashing of a CCTV camera at the Blue Eagle gym following her ejection in the game.

Jao also summoned UST women’s coach Chris Cantojos to explain an incident involving him and a referee as welll as the alleged slapping of two NU players by one of his players during the post-game handshake.