Eagles, Tigers in KO duel

Newly-crowned UAAP Ateneo’s Blue Eagles will likely go through the same tough and fiery stance put up by Santo Tomas Glowing Tigers in their confrontations in the varsity league when they clash anew for a spot in the Challenge Cup 2002 Final Four at the Makati Coliseum today.

Gametime is 2 p.m.

The Blue Eagles who have yet to taper off from the post-UAAP media blitz following their conquest of the La Salle Green Archers, are expected to have their hands full against the Tigers without Enrico Villanueva and Rich Alvarez. Villanueva is to leave for the United States while Alvarez had begged off to rest.

And at 4 p.m. the multi-titled top seed St. Francis of Assisi Doves, aching to match up against the illustrious teams from the UAAP and the NCAA, get a crack at one of them when they go up against the Far Eastern Tamaraws.

FEU got an invitation to the Champions League after De La Salle backed off at the last minute following the death of one its reserve players during an exhibition game at the school gym.

The Tamaraws blew away the Cardinals of University of Baguio and advanced to the quarterfinals against a talented and powerful opponent looking for recognition.

Tomorrow at 2 p.m. the NCAA champion San Sebastian Stags battle the UE Red Warriors, who dispatched off the University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars.

In the other game, Las Piñas College takes on the University of the Visayas Green Lancers, who counted among their heavy Visayan supporters two days ago Sen. John Osmeña, who arrived halfway through the UV-JRU game and watched from the bleacher section with Champions League Commissioner Ramon ‘El Presidente’ Fernandez.

The Green Lancers, coached by two of the deadliest shooters in Philippine basketball — Elmer ‘Boy’ Cabahug and Alfonso ‘Alo’ Solis — stunned JRU Sunday to join early qualifiers Ateneo, San Sebastian, St. Francis of Assisi, Far Eastern, Las Piñas College, UST and UE in the round of eight of the tournament sponsored by Petron, San Miguel, PLDT, Adidas, Wilson, Hapee and Pagcor.