Despite the sidelining of top gun Larry Fonacier, the Eagles scored three straight wins, including a couple of come-from-behind victories courtesy of LA Tenorio, the last a 67-64 triumph over defending champion Far Eastern U Sunday that completed the team’s seven-game first round romp.
But the Warriors are raring to get back at the Eagles, who ran away with a 74-50 rout of the Recto-based cagers in the first round. UE is tied with Santo Tomas and La Salle at third spot on 4-3 (win-loss) records.
It was the Eagles’ best start since the Fritz Gaston-mentored Loyola dribblers opened the 1988 season with six straight wins on their way to the crown, the second of the three titles Jesuit school won in the UAAP.
The team also aims to match a school record in longest winning streak at eight games set by the Joel Banal-steered Eagles that won it all two years ago.
But Ateneo coach Sandy Arespacochaga was quick to caution his players not to play complacent against Dindo Pumaren and the Warriors.
"UE is a dangerous team. We need to prepare well against them. We know they’re not the same team we played in the first round. They are really playing better now," said Arespacochaga.
This means, the Eagles must continue to play with the same intensity it showed in the first round minus Fonacier, who will be sitting at the bench the whole of the season due to an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury he sustained a few days after beating the Warriors.
Like the Warriors, the Tigers are the other team to watch out for.
UST clashes with the State U Maroons, at No. 7 with a 1-7 card, at 1:30 p.m. eyeing a win that will move it out of the three-way logjam at No. 3 and enhance its Final Four bid.
"We’re really surprised we’re here," said UST mentor Nel Parado. "We’re happy with our performance but there is still work to be done and we need to step up a notch higher in each game because we are expecting other teams to play us more seriously."