Archers play for win, Eagles for pride

By Jonas Terrado - Manila Bulletin - September 6, 2008

It will be a no-bearing game for top semifinalist Ateneo when it tangles with archrival De La Salle University today, but expect the Eagles to battle the Archers as though a championship is at stake as the elimination round of the UAAP basketball tournament comes to fitting close at the Araneta Coliseum.

While the Blue Eagles have nothing to lose but pride in their 4 p.m. encounter, the stakes will be higher for the Archers who will be eyeing the No. 2 spot and the second twice-to-beat incentive in the semifinals.

Nothing will make Ateneo happier than beating their arch enemy. A loss for the Archers means they will have to face the Far Eastern University Tamaraws for the last twice-to-beat-advantage already enjoyed by the Eagles regardless of the result of today’s game.

Ateneo coach Norman Black acknowledges that his team has nothing to gain or lose in today’s duel but he expects them to play their best against La Salle.

"It’s La Salle-Ateneo so there’s always the pressure to win," said Black. "Whether it’s a no-bearing game or not, our supporters would love us to beat La Salle so I know it’s going to be a bearing game for them (fans) and it may not be a bearing game for us but we’ll just try our best to win."

The Eagles are set to meet University of the East in the Final 4 needing only one win to secure a finals berth.

Ateneo will be bannered by Most Valuable Player candidate Rabeh Al-Hussaini along with team skipper Chris Tiu, reserve guard Eric Salamat, and rookie Ryan Buenafe.

As for the Green Archers, all they need to do is to win in order to secure second spot in the Final Four after Far Eastern University suffered a 73-61 defeat to University of the East last Thursday.

Franz Pumaren is expected to be back to coach the team in today’s game after his stint with the RP Youth squad in the FIBA Asia Youth Championships in Tehran, Iran where he led the Filipino cagers to a quarterfinals berth.

In Pumaren’s absence, Jack Santiago, a former PBA cager before being tapped as La Salle’s assistant coach six years ago, steered the Archers to two close victories over University of Santo Tomas and Adamson University.

"It’s a good experience for me pero sabi ko nga sa mga boys sana wag nila sana akong pakabahin ng ganun because it's going to be hard for myself," Santiago said.

As for the match against the Blue Eagles, Santiago hopes that the team would not suffer the same problems it had in the last two games.

"I told them that we’re running away from our system. Some defensive and offensive plays, hindi ginagawa," Santiago said. "I mean come big games like against Ateneo, we cannot have these kinds of mistakes."

In hopes of winning this time against their rivals, Mythical Five candidates JV Casio and Rico Maierhofer are expected to give their all while role players Peejay Barua and James Mangahas will also have to produce well.

Meanwhile, UST aims to end its season on a winning note when it tangles with University of the Philippines in the 2 p.m. opener.