By Jonas Terrado - Manila Bulletin - August 7, 2008
Five days after their first round duel, defending champion La Salle and University of the East collide once again as the second round of hostilities of the 71st UAAP men’s basketball tournament starts today at the Araneta Coliseum.
Last Saturday, the Red Warriors ended the five-game winning run of the Archers with a 68-62 victory, a feat that put them in fourth place after losing three of their previous four games.
They tangle at 4 p.m. with the Archers determined to get back at the Warriors, the very same team they swept in a best-of-three title series last year.
Host University of the Philippines and National University square off at 2 p.m. with the Maroons hoping to reprise the performance that enabled them to beat the Bulldogs in their opening game.
UAAP Press Corps Player of the Week James Martinez and rookie Paul Zamar are expected to encounter stiff resistance this time after sizzling from the 3-point territory last Saturday.
"The key during that game was our aggressiveness and defense," said UE head coach Dindo Pumaren. "We were able to pressure them from their half-court game which helped us."
Aside from Martinez, who scored 19 points last Saturday, and Zamar, the Warriors got solid help from Hans Thiele, Pari Llagas, and Paul Lee.
Martinez, 21, finished with an impressive 5-of-9 shooting from the trifectaville, while Zamar, son of former UE mentor Boyzie Zamar, chipped in 12 markers.
La Salle was not in full strength the last time as Simon Atkins, James Mangahas, Rico Maierhofer and Marco Batricevic were slowed down by various injuries.
Atkins suffered a "whiplash injury" after his head bounced off the floor as he tried to draw an offensive foul from the driving Rudy Lingganay early in the opening period. Atkins was rushed to St Luke’s Hospital in Quezon City for further treatment.
Coach Franz Pumaren will lean on the efforts of top scorer JV Casio and Maierhofer. Mangahas and Peejay Barua, on the other hand, is expected to provide solid support with rookie point guard LA Revilla most likely play major minutes with Atkins remains a doubtful starter.
The Bulldogs and Fighting Maroons are coming off upset victories over FEU and Adamson, respectively, thus making today’s game the more exciting.
NU leaned on the brilliant game from Jewel Ponferrada and Jonathan Jahnke to end a six-game losing run, 69-61, while UP leaned on another impressive showing from Martin Reyes and team captain Jay Agbayani to defeat the Falcons, 76-68.
The Bulldogs are aching to get back at the Maroons after absorbing a shocking 86-72 spanking in the first round.
That win enabled the Maroons to heave a big sigh of relief after losing all their 14 games last season.
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