Lookahead: Blue Eagles, Green Archers mix it up anew

MANILA, Philippines–Fierce rivals Ateneo and La Salle have 11 more days to prepare fresh battle plans for their second blockbuster match this season in the UAAP men’s basketball eliminations. The Blue Eagles and the Green Archers, both starting strong, clash in the second round at 4 p.m. on Aug. 22 at the Araneta Coliseum. “We just have to continue to get better, that’s always the key in the UAAP,” said coach Norman Black, whose Eagles—stunned by the underdog Archers in the first round—are eyeing a third straight crown. “The team that gets better throughout the course of the season is the one that’s going to win the championship.” Ateneo wrapped up the first round sharing second with Adamson at 5-2, behind Far Eastern University’s perfect 7-0 record. Rookie-laden La Salle comes next in fourth spot with a 4-3 slate highlighted by its improbable 66-63 upset of Ateneo last July 24. “We have to continue playing aggressively, especially on defense,” said La Salle coach Dindo Pumaren. The Archers emerged the best defensive team at the end of the first round, holding their opponents to an average of 63.7 points per game, with Ateneo and Adamson tying for second with 64.4. The Tamaraws, fueled by leading MVP contender RR Garcia, ranked as the best scoring team after norming 78.3 ppg, followed by the Eagles (72.7) and the Archers (70.3). Based on official league statistics, the Archers were also tops in rebounds (46.4 rpg) and bench scoring (38.6 ppg). The Eagles led in assists (17.9 apg) while the Falcons ranked first in steals (7.7 spg) and blocks (4.6 bpg). Second-round action kicks off tomorrow with the Tamaraws staking their clean record against the Falcons at 4 p.m. at the Big Dome. University of Santo Tomas, fifth at 3-4, tangles with the skidding University of the East (1-6) in the first game at 2 p.m. Photo by Jan Dizon