There won’t be any element of surprise this time for Ateneo and Adamson when they square off on Saturday as the UAAP opens its Season 80 basketball tournament at Mall of Asia Arena.
Having turned heads last season with rookie-laden rosters, the Eagles and Falcons start their campaigns as among the favorites to reach the postseason as they parade almost the same teams from last year.
Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin insists his team hasn’t lost the identity it established last season, where the Eagles reached the finals before losing to La Salle.
“This is going to be a team that relishes the defensive end of the floor,” said Baldwin.
Adamson coach Franz Pumaren challenged the Falcons to live up to their billing.
“What’s important for us is we should start manning up, start accepting the pressure,” said Pumaren.
National U tests University of the East at 2 p.m.
Meanwhile, the UAAP Board of Trustees upheld appeals from University of the Philippines and University of Santo Tomas, allowing foreign players Ibrahim Ouattara and Steve Akomo to suit up this season.
Akomo of UST and Ouattarra of UP were earlier deemed ineligible for failure to meet the two-year residency requirement for foreign players.
“We thank the UAAP BOT for its kindness and generosity,” said UP coach Bo Perasol. “It is heartwarming to know that it has the best interests of the student athletes in mind.”