Eagles, Falcons seek tie for second today

MANILA, Philippines–Ateneo tries to avoid a repeat of last year’s biggest elimination upset when the Blue Eagles tackle the winless University of the Philippines Maroons in the 73rd UAAP men’s basketball tournament Thursday at the  Araneta Coliseum.   Although Ateneo coach Norman Black places little emphasis on that hiccup last year, he expects the Eagles to live up to their lofty billing as they bid for a share of second place in the 4 p.m. match   “We’re just going to go out there and win the game,” said Black. “If you look at our schedule, we played the seemingly tougher teams early, the ones on top of the standings right now. Now, we’re playing some of the teams that are below us, so this is an opportunity for us to take advantage of that.”   Adamson, tied for third with Ateneo at 3-2, shoots for the same goal against the hardluck University of the East Warriors at 2 p.m.   Victories by Ateneo and Adamson will push them into a share of second with idle La Salle at 4-2, behind Far Eastern University’s perfect 6-0 record.   Last year, the back-to-back champion Eagles absorbed their lone elimination loss against the erstwhile winless Maroons.   Now under acting coach Boyet Fernandez, the Maroons head into their first meeting with the Eagles winless anew in five outings.   The Warriors, meanwhile, snapped their own four-game losing skid by nipping the Maroons, 59-54, last Saturday.   “We made a commitment to play defense,” said UE coach Lawrence Chongson. “After four games, our team was last in points allowed, last in rebounds, last in defense, so we made the necessary adjustments.”   UE’s top guard Paul Lee took charge in the end game by hitting clutch triples even if the Maroons nearly pulled off a victory behind the hot shooting of Fil-Am rookie Mike Silungan.   “I’m still adjusting because we lost [to graduation] a solid lineup,” Lee, who remains bothered by a foot injury, said of the Warriors’ poor start just a year after reaching the finals.   “I have a lot of new teammates  and most of them lack exposure,” added Lee. “We just have to accept what we have. I’m also trying to help them.”   Ateneo guard Eric Salamat, also saddled by a knee injury in his earlier games, finally regained his form and drilled 20 points to lead the Eagles in Saturday’s 82-65 rout of the National U Bulldogs.   Kirk Long also came up big by nailing 12 of his 19 points from three-point range while Nico Salva added 14 markers for the Eagles.