WHAT a way to usher the Pinoyliga Alumni Cup ‘Rivalry Day’ than having Philippine basketball’s greatest rivalry in action.
It’s Ateneo vs. La Salle on Sunday at the Playtime Filoil Arena in San Juan featuring familiar faces who engaged in fierce battles between the two teams in the past.
Chris Tiu leads the Blue Eagles’ side along with his brother Charles Tiu, Eric Salamat, Noy Baclao, and Nico Salva, while the Green Archers will be bannered by Mac Cardona, Rico Maierhofer, and Jerwin Gaco.
The match is set at 6 p.m. to be preceded by the 3:30 p.m. encounter between the Letran Knights and Mapua Cardinals.
The Eagles and Archers sports similar 1-2 cards, making their clash a significant one as they aim to boost their respective playoff hopes.
The last time Ateneo and La Salle met in the UAAP finals was in 2017 when the Archers swept the Eagles, 2-0
The two teams also clashed in the UAAP finals in 1988, 2001, 2002 and 2007, with the Blue Eagles hold a 3-2 advantage.
Counting their finals duels during their time when they were still part of the NCAA, the two rival schools have met on eight different occasions and are 4-4 overall.
The Knights feature two-time PBA Most Valuable Player Willie ‘The Thriller’ Miller, and will be gunning for their fourth straight win in as many games.
The Cardinals carry a 1-2 slate.
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