Games today (MOA Arena)
2 p.m. – AdU vs AdMU
4 p.m. – UE vs NU
MANILA, Philippines - Reeling from their 63-67 setback to La Salle on opening weekend, the defending champion National U Bulldogs try to get on track when they take on the University of the East Warirors today in the UAAP Season 78 men’s basketball tourney at the MOA Arena.
NU coach Eric Altamirano rued their bad start last Sunday against the Archers and expects his wards to make amends in the 4 p.m. encounter with the Red Warriors, a side that similarly fell flat in their Day One appearance.
“UE is a dangerous team so we have to be ready for them. I was telling the boys that all the teams will be hungry to beat us so we have to be prepared mentally as well. We can’t overlook any team, we have to respect our opponent,” said Altamirano.
He added that there was “no fluidity in the offense” in their debut game but expressed satisfaction with how his wards rallied and fought hard in the fourth before bowing.
“Unfortunately we fell short. We just have to move forward and focus on our next games,” said the NU mentor.
Alfred Aroga, who was stymied by foul trouble, is expected to bounce back against the all-Filipino Warriors, who won’t have veteran big man Chris Javier at the paint. Javier was slapped a disqualifying foul in UE’s 55-62 loss to current co-leader UP Maroons, an infraction that resulted in an automatic one-game suspension.
Two other teams that dropped their openers – Ateneo and Adamson – also seek to rebound and get into the win column in the 2 p.m. curtain-raiser.
The Blue Eagles suffered a 64-88 blowout to the Far Eastern U Tams last Sunday, a stinging experience that coach Bo Perasol likened to being slapped in the face.