MANILA, Philippines—The UAAP slapped a one-game suspension on Ateneo’s backup center Jumbo Escueta yesterday, thus compounding the defending champion’s concern on Far Eastern University’s formidable frontline at the start of the men’s basketball Finals this Saturday.
“It’s going to hurt us as far as our size is concerned because we need big bodies to match up with the big men of FEU,” said Ateneo coach Norman Black.
“He does not really help us much in production and scoring, but we need his size. We’ll do the best we can without him.”
League commissioner Ato Badolato said Escueta will sit out in the title opener after incurring two unsportsmanlike fouls this season, the last for hitting Adamson’s Jan Colina during the Final Four match won by Ateneo, 68-55, last Sunday.
Game 1 of the best-of-three championship series is at 4:20 p.m. this Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum.
But more than the absence of the 6-foot-4 Escueta—who averaged 2.9 points 2.9 rebounds in the eliminations—Black said the focus will be on the Blue Eagles’ defensive game plan.
“Unlike some of the other teams we’ve played in the UAAP where we can focus our defense either on the guards or the big guys, in the case of FEU, you have to concentrate on everybody,” Black said during the PSA Forum yesterday at Shakey’s UN Avenue.
“They’re well balanced as far as their offense is concerned. It’s going to be a difficult task for us.”
FEU coach Glenn Capacio, though, brushed off the favorite tag even if his Tamaraws, powered by MVP RR Garcia and top rookie Terrence Romeo, lorded it over right in the season opener.
“We’re the underdogs here,” said Capacio. “They’re the defending champions. They’re motivated to get that three-peat. But the positive side for us is we’re hungrier.”
“I know I’m the marked man and the defense will be focused on me,” said Garcia, who’s averaging a league-best 16.8 points. “I’ll just help my teammates whatever way I can.” Photo by Celest Flores
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