Ateneo targets semis incentive

By Jonas Terrado - Manila Bulletin - August 30, 2008

Ateneo, needing just one more win to assure itself of the overall top spot, aims to use its game against lowly National University today to hone its defense while shooting for win No. 12 to formally gain a twice-to-beat incentive in the semifinals of the UAAP basketball tournament.

"Well, we are just a win away from getting the twice-to-beat," Ateneo coach Norman Black said on the eve of their 4 p.m. date with the Bulldogs at the PhilSports Arena.

"That’s the goal from the very beginning and we have to win against NU."

With two games remaining, Black said defense will be the team’s priority.

"At this point of the season, we just decided to play defense, we’ll not worry about our offense anymore," he said.

"Defense got us into a good start."

A victory will not only give the Eagles the coveted twice-to-beat advantage in the Final 4 but will also put Ateneo in the No. 1 post in the semifinals.

Opening the day’s twinbill at 2 p.m. will pit Far Eastern University against the University of the Philippines where the Tamaraws will aim for solo second to boost their own bid for the other twice-to-beat incentives.

The Blue Eagles will be bannered once more by Most Valuable Player candidates Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Chris Tiu while Eric Salamat, Ryan Buenafe and Nonoy Baclao are expected to provide added muscle.

Despite a 2-10 record, the Bulldogs played competitive basketball in their last three games, faltering only in the endgame.

This, the Bulldogs will try to prevent behind Edwin Asoro, Jonathan Jahnke, Raymund Aguilar, Jewel Ponferrada, Jessey Garcia and Chris Catamora.

In the first game, the Tamaraws will have Mac Baracael on their bench for the second straight time.

Baracael, who was shot last month by a still unknown assailant, played six minutes against NU last Thursday and scored a jumper and grabbed a rebound in his first game after missing seven games while recovering from his gunshot wounds.

"Pakiramdam ko parang rookie ulit ako," Baracael said Thursday.

Although the return of Baracael has rejuvenated the 9-3 Tamaraws’ quest for one of the two twice-to-beat incentives, coach Glenn Capacio remains wary about his team’s performance going into the homestretch.

"Siyempre masaya kami na nasa Final Four kami pero hindi pa tumitigil kasi ang gusto namin talaga ay mag-number two at malaking advantage sa amin kapag nasa top two kami," said Capacio.

While Benedict Fernandez has led the team in scoring, FEU has been bolstered by the efforts of point guard Mark Barroca, who scored 26 and 22 points in his last two games. Big men Aldrech Ramos and Reil Cervantes have helped the team inside while backup guard Jens Knuttel is providing solid contributions off the bench.

The Fighting Maroons, who holds a 3-9 mark, hopes to have Jay Agbayani back from injury while Migs de Asis hopes to have another solid effort like he did in the last two games. On the other hand, Martin Reyes will look to bounce back from his disappointing one point production against Ateneo last Sunday.