La Salle expects dogfight vs NU

La Salle encountered rough sailing in pulling off victories over FEU, Adamson and UP, but nothing was tougher than when the Green Archers faced an inspired and determined pack of NU Bulldogs.

“It was the most difficult game that we played,” said La Salle coach Aldin Ayo, referring to the 75-66 win opposite the Bulldogs in the first round.

“We were still guessing what to do against them in the third quarter.”

The Archers will stake their immaculate 9-0 slate versus the Bulldogs today in the UAAP Season 79 men’s basketball wars at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

One more victory and invincible La Salle gets to cement a Final Four seat and move four steps closer to a rare sweep of the elimination round and an outright Finals berth.

But all it takes is a look-back at the first-round duel with the Bulldogs to know that the Archers will have to kick their trademark mayhem basketball into high gear.

NU’s Alfred Aroga, a brawny 6-foot-7 inside operator, is just one of the few guys in the league who can put up a stiff challenge to Ben Mbala, the immovable force behind La Salle’s winning run.

If Aroga can keep Mbala out of his comfort zone, the 2014 champion Bulldogs could find a way to end their three-game losing skid and begin moving out of a shaky 4-5 record.

“Coming off consecutive defeats, it makes them (Bulldogs) even more dangerous,” said Ayo.

“When I first coached this team four years ago, we had to go through this process as well. We just have to be consistent in what we want to do,” said NU coach Eric Altamirano.

From an imposing win over the Adamson Falcons, the UE Warriors are also aiming to maintain some measure of consistency against the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the other game.