Ateneo readies for ‘brave’ Far Eastern; La Salle guns for second straight victory

Pushed to the limit by University of Santo Tomas the last time out, Ateneo faces another tough test as it takes on Far Eastern U on Saturday, even as La Salle targets a second straight victory in UAAP Season 82 at Mall of Asia Arena.

As the only unbeaten team in the tournament, the Blue Eagles are looking to solidify their hold of top spot against an FEU team that had a week to prepare for their duel with the two-time defending champions, who slipped past the Growling Tigers, 71-70, on Wednesday.

The Green Archers, who barged into the win column on Wednesday after an 83-82 triumph over National U, squares off with University of the East in the first game at 2 p.m.

La Salle coach Gian Nazario insists his team need to take on the mentality of an underdog as they try to compensate for the absence of a foreign reinforcement who can be a force inside the paint.

“We approach every game understanding the fact that we don’t have any import and that we have to double our efforts when it comes to rebounding,” Nazario said.

“I was just looking at the stats. I’m glad we won the rebounding [against NU]. It’s really one of our concerns as of this moment especially with UE.”

Nazario could have one less problem if Alex Diakhite, who did not play against Adamson on Wednesday, doesn’t suit up again due to an illness. Diakhite was still confined at University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center on Wednesday when they suffered a 91-80 defeat.

“We’re a work in progress, but rest assured we’re giving it our best shot and our best effort,” said UE active consultant Lawrence Chongson. “We’re holding no punches and we’re still trying to go for wins, not moral victories. With or without imports, with whoever’s playing or who’s not, we’re really aiming to win. Hopefully soon.”

More than picking up their second straight victory, Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin said the win over the Tigers gave his Eagles a glimpse of the “patchwork” that they need to do for them to be successful this season.

“This is going to make us, I believe, a lot better basketball team because [UST coach] Aldin Ayo’s team has a way of doing that—they have a way of finding you know, your weaknesses and, and I’ve coached against him enough to know that after you play him there’s a lot of patchworks to be done on the things that he exposes with his team,” Baldwin said.

Far Eastern U coach Olsen Racela will lean on his guard-heavy rotation as it goes for an upset against the Eagles.

“That has been our tradition and this season is no different,” said Racela, who has been relying on sophomore LJ Gonzales and Wendell Comboy. “We’re going up against the defending champions and it’s a good thing we had one week to prepare. As long as we have that ‘be brave’ spirit, I think we’re going to give them a good fight.”