Though the Tams have lost their first three games in the tournament they won last year, the Eagles remain wary of the defending champions as they gun for win No. 4 in the keenly awaited encounter set at 4 p.m.
"Despite what’s happening with FEU, they’re still a dangerous team," said Ateneo coach Norman Black after the Eagles edged the Adamson Falcons, 73-72, to stretch their win run to three last week.
But that would depend on how FEU would fight back from three successive setbacks that sent the Tams reeling to the bottom of the seven-team field, even behind the perennial cellar dweller National U Bulldogs, who beat them, 73-64, last week.
"I keep telling the team to remain positive, work harder and focus on our goal of ending our slump," said FEU coach Bert Flores in Filipino. "We’re the defending champions, we should always play with pride and heart."
The Tams, who have made it to the Final Four the last seven seasons, winning two titles, bowed to the University of the East Warriors, 84-92, in overtime, succumbed to University of Santo Tomas Tigers, 87-90, before getting stunned by the Bulldogs.
"I never lost a game to NU when I was still a player and an assistant coach so when we lost to the Bulldogs last week, it really hurt," said Flores, who saw action for FEU from 1988-1992, including with the back-to-back champion teams from 1991-1992 that included pros Johnny Abarrientos and Vic Pablo.
"We had a heart-to-heart talk with the players on what’s been happening to us and we all agreed to keep the faith," said Flores.
The Bulldogs, meanwhile, hope to ride the momentum of their king-sized upset win over the Tams as they take on the Warriors at 2 p.m.
The Wariors are also coming off a shock loss to the Tigers, 77-91, their first setback after back-to-back wins.
"This is just a victory, the tournament is still far from over," said NU mentor Manny Dandan, whose wards’ win over the Tams sparked hopes of a better campaign this season.