For the fourth time this off-season, Katipunan neighbors Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles and the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons are facing off. This time around, however, the stakes will be high.
On Saturday, June 9, the Blue Eagles and the Fighting Maroons will vie for the last ticket to the SMART City Hoops 25-Under Summer Classic. Tip-off is set at 2:30pm inside the Greenhills West Gym in San Juan City. The winner will face the Far Eastern University Tamaraws in the one-game finale.
And this tournament – presented by Chooks-to-Go, Mighty Sports, Rain or Shine Elasto Paint, Cignal TV, and Wilson Basketball – has been important for the growth for the rejigged Fighting Maroons.
“This off-season, we have been showing that we have a chance against the top collegiate teams,” said third-year UP head coach Bo Perasol. “I’ve been telling the guys that we need to figure out how to beat the best teams.”
However, the Blue Eagles have had the number of the Fighting Maroons so far.
After UP took a 71-66 thriller over the defending UAAP Champions last April 29 during the elimination round of City Hoops, the Blue Eagles vented their ire on them the next day, slamming the Fighting Maroons, 100-72, in the Filoil Flying V Preseason Cup.
Then last Wednesday, the two squads squared off once again, this time in the SMART Breakdown Basketball Invitationals. Ateneo continued their mastery over UP, taking a 77-67 victory.
For Ateneo Blue Eagles assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga, the wins are just bonuses, as their main focus for the off-season is to develop their system.
“We’re trying to make sure that we work on our system on both ends,” shared Arespacochaga. “So it doesn’t matter who’s in. What we’re after is how well will the other guys execute given the situation. We’re going to depend on all of them in the UAAP.”
Earlier in the day, Batang Gilas standout Maclaude Guadana and the top-seeded Lyceum of the Philippines Univesity Junior Pirates will go up against the Jose Rizal University Light Bombers in the 19-Under Finals.
