UAAP Season 74: Ateneo, La Salle collide July 16

Photo by Jan Dizon

MANILA—La Salle downed Ateneo twice last summer but the real battle is set on July 16 when the country’s fiercest varsity rivals clash in their first UAAP showdown.

The Blue Eagles, who are bidding for a fourth straight championship, and the Green Archers will square off just a week after Season 74 unfolds with an Olympic-style opening ceremony at 4 p.m. on July 9 at the Marikina Sports Complex.

Basketball action gets going on July 10 with a rematch of last year’s Final Four as Far Eastern University takes on La Salle at 1 p.m. and host Ateneo collides with Adamson at 3 p.m.

Although Ateneo bagged the FilOil-Flying V Hanes Preseason Cup title, the Archers prevailed over the Eagles in their lone elimination meeting, 66-61.

The Archers, who beefed up their frontline with towering rookies Arnold Van Opstal and Norbert Torres, also pulled off a thrilling 63-59 triumph over the Eagles in a summer exhibition match in Dubai.

With the Archers expected to have improved on their rebuilding phase the past year, the Eagles are bracing for a tough UAAP fight.

Unlike in regular playdates, tickets for the blockbuster match will be sold separately at 11 a.m. from the other seniors match between Adamson and FEU also at the Big Dome.

“We have the same type of preparation and mindset heading into the UAAP compared to the previous years,” said Ateneo team manager Paolo Trillo. “Our main focus is to continue getting better each day in practice and throughout the tournament.”

It will also be an early Ateneo-La Salle clash in the juniors division when the two squads meet on July 12 at the Blue Eagle Gym.

The Eaglets, who are also vying for a fourth straight title, and the Junior Archers will cap a four-game bill at 3 p.m.

In women’s action, defending champion Adamson kicks off its back-to-back bid against University of Santo Tomas at 1 p.m. on July 13 at the Blue Eagle Gym.

“It’s a tough league, any team can beat any team,” said Trillo. “But if you ask me to choose who will be our toughest opponents, we think of FEU and Adamson since they still have their core intact. And both NU and La Salle have also gotten stronger.”

The Eagles and the Archers also trained for one month in the United States.