DLSU, UE resume drive

By Jonas Terrado - Manila Bulletin - August 16, 2008

Defending champion La Salle and University of the East resume their Final Four drive when they go up against separate rivals in the UAAP basketball tournament at the PhilSports Arena today.

The Green Archers collide with the National University Bulldogs in the opener at 2 p.m. while the Red Warriors tackle the slumping University of the Philippines Maroons at 4 p.m.

La Salle is a game behind Ateneo with a 7-2 record but is expected to close the gap at the end of the day. The Eagles are sporting an 8-1 card.

But La Salle mentor Franz Pumaren is wary about the possibility of NU scoring another upset.

"We cannot take them for granted as we all know they (Bulldogs) spoiled Ateneo’s bid last year and our main objective is to win as many games as possible," said Pumaren.

If they’re all healthy, the Bulldogs are capable of scoring another upset just like what they did against the Far Eastern University Tamaraws whom they beat, 69-61, at the end of the first round last Aug. 3.

They also managed to get back at the Maroons, 72-59, before injuries to key players wrought havoc on their bid against the Warriors last week and suffered a crushing 67-50 beating.

Jonathan Jahnke and Jessey Garcia are not likely to suit up today due to various injuries.

The wily Jahnke, the team’s third leading scorer with 9.0 points per game suffered a hip injury in the second quarter against UE while Garcia injured his head and neck after a collision with Marcy Arellano on a fastbreak play.

Pumaren is again expected to rely on Rico Maierhofer, who came off the bench to score 19 points and 13 rebounds in the team’s 81-61 win over UP on Aug. 10.

Also expected to play key roles in the team are JV Casio, James Mangahas and Peejay Barua.

It was Barua who starred for DLSU’s 93-69 thrashing of NU in the first round after scoring 26 points.
NU’s Edwin Asoro, Raymund Aguilar, and Jewel Ponferrada have to pick up the scoring slack in the event Jahnke and Garcia will not see action.

With a 5-4 card, the Warriors have to win again over the Maroons to improve their semis bid. A win will put the Warriors a game-and-a-half ahead of the Tigers.

Aside from Arellano, UE coach Dindo Pumaren can again rely on the services of Elmer Espiritu, Hans Thiele, and James Martinez.