Eagles eye title sweep over Tigers

GAMES TODAY

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)

9 a.m.—La Salle vs FEU (Women)

11 a.m.—NU vs FEU (Jrs)

2 p.m.—Awarding ceremony

3:30 p.m.—UST vs Ateneo (Srs)

(Game 2, best-of-three Finals)

Even if the past days’ off-court drama only got Ateneo all pumped up, the Blue Eagles know it will take more than just their drive to bag a fifth straight UAAP men’s basketball championship today.

On the threshold of a spot in league history, the Blue Eagles go for a sweep of the University of Santo Tomas Tigers who promised not to back down in Game 2 of the best-of-three title series at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“Call us what they want, all we know is that we want to win,” said Ateneo star Kiefer Ravena.

“They’re fired up, but we’re fired up as well,” added Ateneo coach Norman Black. “We have no problem in motivating the players. But the game is decided on the court. It will be decided by the performance of the players and the preparation of the coaching staff.”

No team has won five straight titles since University  of the East set the record of seven straight crowns in the ’60s.

The blockbuster showdown—which drew a crowd of over 20,000 in Game 1—is slated at 3:30 p.m. after the league honors the season’s top individual performers, led by National University’s Ray Parks, who will receive his back-to-back Most Valuable Player trophy in an awarding ceremony beginning at 2 p.m.

Far Eastern University earlier aims for a double cage crown as the Lady Tamaraws gun for a sweep of La Salle in the women’s title game at 9 a.m. while the Baby Tams also hope to do the same against defending champion NU at 11 a.m.

Leaving the word-war episode behind, the Blue Eagles hope to get the job done and earn the distinction as the longest reigning team in the league in the last 40 years.

“I just have to give everything and we just have to focus,” said Nico Salva, the star forward who exploded for a career-high 30 points in the Blue Eagles’ thrilling Game 1 triumph over the Tigers, 83-78, last Saturday.

“Now that it’s here, I don’t want to let it slip away,” added Salva, who figured in Ateneo’s title romp the last four years. “Who are the only players here who have five championships? It’s a rare opportunity, so I have to take it.”

But UST coach Pido Jarencio—who had traded barbs with Black after the series opener—thinks his Tigers have a strong shot at leveling the series.

“Our players are in the championship for the first time, but they gave Ateneo a good fight,” said Jarencio. “Now that our players know what it’s like, I’m sure they’ll settle down. The pressure won’t be there and I think they’ll show more composure.”

Jeric Teng paced the Tigers in Game 1 with 25 points and Aljon Mariano also shot 22 as Cameroonian center Karim Abdul was held to just nine markers.

“I think personally I have to do a better job defending Mariano,” said Salva. “He scored a bunch of points so we’ve got to work on that. We’re both versatile for our position. We both play perimeter and post, so it’s a good matchup.”

Also expected to lead the Ateneo charge are Greg Slaughter, Ryan Buenafe and Ravena, whom Black said also deserves credit for his clutch performance.

“I think lost in all this was Kiefer Ravena. He really stepped up and made that shot that separated us and put us up by five points,” Black said of Ravena, who buried a crucial jumper with just 8.8 seconds left.

“We have a chance to make history,” said Ravena. “The team is here already. We have to grab it because UST definitely won’t give it to us.”