The Philippine Star

Eagles seek win, sweep, final

- By OLMIN LEYBA

Believe it or not, the words S-W-E-E-P aren’t foremost on the minds of the highflying Ateneo Blue Eagles today when they face archrival La Salle in a titanic end-of-eliminatio­ns duel in the UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball tourney at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“I think the mere fact it’s an Ateneo-La Salle game, that’s what we’re gonna focus in on, not necessaril­y the sweep,” stressed AdMU assistant coach Sandy Arespacoch­aga.

Whatever, the Eagles can go 14-0 and claim outright finals stint – a feat that eluded even the batches from the five-peat era – if they beat the second-running defending champions (11-2) a second time around (76-75) in the 4 p.m. duel.

“An Ateneo-La Salle game is big enough already so that’s what we’re gonna focus on. And our records, what we’ve done in the past, don’t matter right now. What’s important is this game against La Salle,” said Arespacoch­aga.

The Eagles and the Archers engaged in a thrilling battle of spurts the first time last Oct. 8, with Ateneo needing a key defensive stop and two free throws from Matt Nieto to escape with a one-point victory.

DLSU veteran Kib Montalbo expressed confidence La Salle can complete the job this time around.

“Actually, no team is unbeatable. Once we see their flaws, we’re gonna expose them and hopefully we’ll win the game,” said Montalbo, who personally aims to atone for the inbounds pass that Nieto intercepte­d. “Ateneo-La Salle games, standings don’t matter (there), rivalry yan; when it comes to the court, I don’t care sino kalaban ko, basta Ateneo yan (which Ateneo player I’m matched up with), I’ll go hard.”

In case of a sweep, Ateneo awaits in the finals while No. 2 La Salle, No. 3 Adamson and the fourth-ranked team will go through the stepladder semis phase. If La Salle prevents an Ateneo sweep, a Final Four proceeding­s ensue with the top-seeded Eagles and the second-ranked Archers enjoying twice-tobeat advantages against the Nos.4 and 3, respective­ly.

Prior to the blue-versus-green rivalry game, bottom dwellers University of the East (3-10) and winless Santo Tomas (0-13) collide in a “high stakes” battle of pride at 12 noon.

The Warriors seek to finish the season strong while the Tigers, once-proud owners of a 14-0 record, look to avoid getting swept in the competitio­n.

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