UAAP: Surging La Salle looks to extend winning streak vs Ateneo | ABS-CBN

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UAAP: Surging La Salle looks to extend winning streak vs Ateneo

UAAP: Surging La Salle looks to extend winning streak vs Ateneo

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Ateneo de Manila University (blue) battle against De La Salle University Green Archers (light) during the UAAP Season 87 Men's Basketball at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on September 15, 2024. UAAP Media/FileAteneo de Manila University (blue) battle against De La Salle University Green Archers (light) during the UAAP Season 87 Men's Basketball at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on September 15, 2024. UAAP Media/File

MANILA -- Already assured of a spot in the Final 4, defending champion De La Salle University looks to keep its winning streak going against archrival Ateneo when the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament resumes on Saturday.

Game time is at 6:30 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena, with the league returning to action after basketball games last Wednesday were postponed due to severe tropical storm Kristine.

Among the games called off was the showdown between Ateneo and Adamson University, forcing the Blue Eagles to shift their attention to the Green Archers.

La Salle carries into the match a league-best six-game winning streak, while Ateneo has won back-to-back games. After winning just once in the first round, the Blue Eagles have improved to 3-6 -- just half a game behind University of Santo Tomas (4-6) for the last spot in the Final 4.

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"Because we had such a tough start, it allows us, I guess, to be a little bit more laser focused on how these guys are growing and developing as players. And we all know that the philosophy of the Blue Eagle program is that process yields results," Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin said.

"It's really consistent with what we've always taught. It's just that there's more pressure on the process externally because people want results. But we will maintain, you know, our same, I guess, integrity to the purpose that we always try to maintain," he added.

The Green Archers conquered the Blue Eagles, 74-61, in their first meeting last Sept. 15.

La Salle, with its 9-1 record, is now trying to secure a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final 4. They are coming off a weeklong break after a stretch of playing three games in a week bridging first and second rounds.

"It will never change, you know. Whether where you are now right now, you standing, you just forget everything because it's gonna be Ateneo. So we know that they are coming off a good run. Their guys are really picking up the system, the staff are doing there, with coach Tab's. So there's always gonna be excitement. You play one of the best programs and there is so much history in this," La Salle coach Topex Robinson said.

"We are so grateful to be a part of it. We keep on reminding our players that we watched those rivalries when we were growing up and dream of being part of that rivalry and being a part of this historic match-up. So I guess more than anything else, we are so excited to play our worthy rivals," he added.

Meanwhile, University of the East seeks to regain its winning plays against National University at 2 p.m.
Meanwhile, University of the East seeks to regain its winning plays against National University at 2 p.m.

The Red Warriors (5-3) saw their five-game winning streak come to a halt with a 68-77 loss to the Green Archers at the start of the second round.

They were supposed to play the University of the Philippines on Wednesday in another game cancelled due to inclement weather.

Opening the second round with back-to-back defeats and are now sitting in last place with a 2-7 mark, the Bulldogs cannot afford to commit any missteps from now on if they want to stay in the Final Four chase.

In the women's division, unbeaten NU shoots for a ninth straight victory against UE at 10 a.m., while Ateneo tries to arrest a three-game losing skid in their 12 noon duel with De La Salle.

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