ATENEO de Manila clashes with fellow season-opening winner University of the Philippines (UP) at the resumption today of the Season 80 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Blue Eagles and Fighting Maroons take the floor at 4 p.m.
Far Eastern University and University of the East (UE), meanwhile, hope to recover from their weekend setbacks when they take the floor in the first game at 2 p.m.
Paul Desiderio buried a game-winning triple to lift UP to a thrilling 74-73 escape over University of Santo Tomas on Sunday, while Ateneo made its intentions felt by denying Adamson University a potential start with an 85-65 victory on opening day Saturday.
“Ikeh’s been working extra hard with coaches Gene Afable and Ford Arao so we weren’t really surprised with the way that he played,” Ateneo Assistant Coach Sandy Arespacohaga said.
FEU started cold against reigning champion De La Salle and saw its fourth-quarter rally go to naught to absorb a 90-95 loss. UE, on the other hand, showed it has a lot of work to do after yielding to National University, 69-86, also over the weekend.