FILE- Ateneo vs UP in the UAAP season 82 men’s basketball tournament. INQUIRER PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Ateneo opens its bid for a fourth straight title against a revamped University of the Philippines in the opening day of UAAP Season 84 men’s basketball tournament on March 26 at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The UAAP on Thursday released its first round schedule with the Ateneo-UP clash, set at 4 pm, highlighting the quadruple header of UAAP’s comeback season amid the pandemic.
The Tab Baldwin-coached Blue Eagles will begin their title retention bid against the new Fighting Maroons head coach Goldwin Monteverde, who will bank on newcomers Carl Tamayo and Zavier Lucero as well as mainstay Ricci Rivero and transferee CJ Cansino.
LOOK: The UAAP Season 84 men’s basketball tournament schedule. | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/IqjILwCXoW
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) March 17, 2022
Baldwin will be leaning on an intact core led by Ange Kouame, SJ Belangel, Raffy Verano, Jolo Mendoza, Tyler Tio, and Gian Mamuyac and transferee Dave Ildefonso.
University of Santo Tomas, bannered by Joshua Fontanilla and Bryan Santos, takes on Far Eastern University at 10 am, which will mark as the first UAAP men’s basketball game in three years.
Adamson and National University clash at 1 pm, while La Salle and University of the East will cap the opening day at 7 pm.
The first round will run until April 9 and scheduled every Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
The UAAP will be played behind closed doors at MOA Arena with the schools coming from their respective bubbles and following the health and safety protocols set by the league officials, Inter Agency Task Force and Commission on Higher Education.