IS Ateneo indeed for real?
That's the question that the Blue Eagles would like to answer once and for all on Wednesday in the UAAP Season 88 men's basketball tournament.
Surprise leaders after going undefeated through the first four games, Ateneo seeks to further assert its contender status when it takes on defending champion University of the Philippines at SM Mall of Asia Arena.
As if the Katipunan side hasn't put the league on notice yet, they earned their biggest win last Sunday with an 81-74 victory over fancied La Salle with a slew of players stepping up for coach Tab Baldwin.
But the decorated mentor remains wary, knowing the caliber of the squad mentored by Goldwin Monteverde.
"It's going to be a battle between two teams playing for a lot. There's UP fighting to get back into where they belong and us trying to hold to a really outstanding start to the season. That's always pretty much the case early in the season," said Baldwin.
UP is also on the ascent after its 0-2 start, victorious in its last two outings, including a masterful 66-59 triumph over National U last Saturday where it showed how fierce of a defensive team it was when the Iskos clamped down on the Bulldogs in the second half.
Bulldogs bark back?
Game time is at 4:30 p.m., following the 2 p.m. joust between NU (3-1) and Adamson (1-3).
Jake Figueroa and co. would want nothing but to bounce back after letting that win slip away against State U, and he's pressured to perform better after his forgettable showing the last time out.
The Soaring Falcons, on the other hand, are hungry to rebound after tasting a stunning 64-58 defeat to Far Eastern University, placing leaders like Cedrick Manzano and Mathew Montebon under the microscope to perform better midway through the first round.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
