A CROWD that was much smaller than usual showed up for the second La Salle-Ateneo showdown in UAAP Season 79 seniors basketball on Saturday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
The Green Archers-Blue Eagles match saw many empty seats at the Big Dome, unlike in the past when matches between the two longtime rivals never failed to attract a full house.
While the patron and lower box seats are filled with fans, there are a large number of seats and spaces left unoccupied from the upper box to gallery sections.
Just last October 2, a crowd of 16,212 spectators witnessed La Salle trounce Ateneo, 97-81, in a match held at the Mall of Asia Arena.
As of posting time, no official attendance on Saturday’s game has been released, but it is safe to say that league officials won't like it.
Observers felt the leaner-than-usual crowd was due to the perceived predictability of the game where La Salle is seen as an overwhelming favorite to win its second round match and sweep its season series against Ateneo.
The Green Archers are looking to sweep the elimination round, a feat that will automatically give the Taft-based cagers a berth in the best-of-three finals.
But the Blue Eagles are seeking for an upset, eyeing to further improve their chances of clinching a Final Four berth.
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