MANILA, Philippines - Ateneo and Far Eastern U collide today in sudden death for the Philippine Collegiate Champions League title with the Eagles tipped to add the title to their back-to-back UAAP crowns at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
With their defense holding and Nico Salva on the firing end, the Eagles bounced back from a 70-75 defeat in Game One with an emphatic 90-63 rout last Thursday, forcing a winner-take-all match set at 3:30 p.m.
“I really didn’t notice the score because we’re just focused on our defense,” said Ateneo coach Normans Black after the Game Two win that reinstalled the Eagles as the favorites to win the crown.
Salva, expected to lead Ateneo in the next season UAAP following the graduation of its key players, came away with a 26-point effort, including 13 in the first half when the Eagles started to blow the game apart.
So impressive were the Eagles’ win that they did it without Rabeh Al-Hussaini, the UAAP finals MVP who had begged off to play in the best-of-three title series to concentrate on his studies.
In fact, he even skipped Smart Gilas Pilipinas’ game against Red Bull Friday in a PBA exhibition game.
“I really don’t know the real story about it but I guess he’s not going to play since he hasn’t practiced with us since the UAAP,” said Black of his prized center.
Another thing going for Ateneo is that Nonoy Baclao was allowed to play for the Eagles by the Philippine Patriots, his team in the Asean Basketball League, who also set to play the Brunei Barracudas this weekend.
“Baclao will play, Rabeh will not,” said Ateneo board representative Ricky Palou.
A victory will also cap Ateneo’s celebration of its 150th anniversary yesterday.
Still, the Tams are going and out to spoil the Eagles’ party in their own quest for the championship although coach Glen Capacio needs to draw the best from rookie RR Garcia and the veteran pair of JR Cawaling and Aldrech Ramos to clinch the crown.
After starring with 22 points in the Tams’ Game One win, Garcia was held to just two points in Game Two.