Although the spotlight is expected to fall on Ateneo’s freshman star Kiefer Ravena, the towering new recruits of the Blue Eagles and the Green Archers will steal attention in the 4 p.m. blockbuster battle at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan.
The Archers have beefed up with Arnold Van Opstal, a 6-foot-8 former Junior Archer; 6-6 Fil-Canadian Norbert Torres, a former national youth team ace; and 6-4 Ponso Gotladera, an ex-San Beda Red Cub.
Greg Slaughter, the 6-11 Smart Gilas mainstay, has also boosted Ateneo’s frontline that includes veterans JP Erram and Justin Chua.
Tickets to the game are sold separately from the 12:30 p.m. clash between San Beda and Santo Tomas.
The Eagles, bannered by Kirk Long and Nico Salva, aim to wrap up their elimination run with a victory even after securing a quarterfinal berth in Group A with a 5-1 record.
But the game remains crucial for the Archers, who are running sixth with a 2-3 card.
With only two quarterfinal berths left in Group A, the Archers hope to prop up their bid versus the Eagles and also against the winless Lyceum at 2:15 p.m. today in San Juan.
Powerhouse San Beda (3-2), also fighting for a Final Eight slot in Group A, tangles with San Sebastian (5-1) at 12:30 p.m. in a rematch of last year’s NCAA Finals.
Mapua (4-3) tries to nail Group B’s last quarterfinal berth against the University of the Philippines (5-2).