ATENEO shoots for a third straight victory when it tackles struggling University of the East (UE) in Season 81 University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball action on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Blue Eagles are currently tied with the Adamson University Soaring Falcons at the top of the standings with identical 7-2 won-lost records.
Despite an obvious edge, Ateneo Assistant Coach Sandy Arespacochaga knows that complacency has no room in the team which tackles cellar-dwelling UE (1-8) at 2 p.m.
“It gives us good separation but it’s still a long way to go and, as you’ve seen throughout the league, any other team can win against any other team on any given night,” Arespacochaga said. “We just have to make sure that we keep our eyes focused on the next game,” he added.
Minus its key player Thirdy Ravena, who served a one-game suspension for a closed-fist on University of the Philippines’s (UP) Paul Desiderio on October 14, and twins Matt and Mike Nieto who are both recovering from dengue, Ateneo still posted a huge 82-62 win over Far Eastern University (FEU) last Saturday.
Six-foot-10 center Angelo Koaume of Ivory Coast led the surge along with Anton Asistio, Tyler Tio and Adrian Wong on that occasion against the Tamaraws.
The Red Warriors, on the other hand, kneeled to the Maroons, 81-94, last Sunday.
Alvin Pasaol couldn’t carry his team alone as his 30-point explosion was not enough to save UE from absorbing its eighth loss in nine games.
In the second game, UP (4-5) hopes to stay in the Final Four race when it battles FEU (5-4) at 4 p.m.