If you talk to National University head coach Jamike Jarin and his University of the Philippines counterpart Bo Perasol, they sound basically the same.
The colorful coaches want one thing for their respective squads as they continue to participate in the Filoil Flying V Preseason basketball tournament: Whip the Bulldogs and the Maroons into Final Four contenders in the UAAP.
Jarin has a youthful team at National University, with its inexperience coming to fore in two games that they lost in the stretch because of several bad decisions.
For Perasol, this year is his third at Diliman and he knows he has built a team seen as UP’s best chance in a long while to not only barge into the Final Four, but even compete for a title.
However, chemistry is still an issue.
They are on a collision course at 6:30 p.m. on Friday at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan, with both coaches hoping to see improvements while at the same time notch their first victory in the tournament.
And while National U and UP search for breakthrough wins, Ateneo hopes to sustain a hot start and go 4-0 when the Eagles clash with University of the East.
An interesting sidelight in this game is Joe Silva watching the game closely behind the Red Warriors’ bench.
Silva was on the Blue Eagles’ coaching staff for several years and mentored the Blue Eaglets to a pair of UAAP Juniors crowns, including the last season.
He has also worn the blue and white during his playing days back in the 1990s.
Shortly after he tendered his resignation to concentrate on putting up his own business, UE came calling.
It will be a test for the Blue Eagles who have twice lost to UE in the last two seasons here.
Ateneo, the Group A pace setter, will battle a veteran UE side led by Alvin Pasaol and Philip Manalang immediately after the 10 a.m. juniors opener between the FEU-FERN Baby Tamaraws and the National University Bullpups.
UE won its Filoil opener on Wednesday, May 2, via 73-59, rout of Emilio Aguinaldo College.