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DEFENDING champion University of Santo Tomas sets a
classic rematch against last year’s runner up Ateneo de Manila
University in the 70th University Athletic Association of the
Philippines men’s basketball tournament at the Cuneta Astrodome.
The Growling Tigers, coming off
an 86-90 overtime loss to La Salle last Sunday, tackle the Blue
Eagles at 4 p.m.
The Green Archers, tied for
second with the Blue Eagles at 4-2, face the unpredictable National
University Bulldogs in the curtain raiser at 2 p.m.
“We have to be consistent each
game. If we start strong, we need to finish the game strong,” said
coach Pido Jarencio, who steered the Tigers to the title with a 2-1
victory over the Blue Eagles in their best-of-three championship
series last year.
The Tigers, sharing third spot
with NU and idle Far Eastern University at 3-3, will be spearheaded
by Jervy Cruz, who averages 15.8 points and 16 rebounds per game,
Anthony Espiritu, Mark Canlas and shooting guard Japs Cuan.
Ateneo, smarting from a 64-77
loss at the hands of FEU, expects an interesting rematch with UST.
“We want to focus in rebounding
and hopefully covert more points in perimeter shooting,” said
Black, who will bank on Chris Tiu, Jai Reyes, Kirk Long and Rabeh
Al-Hussaini.
Meanwhile, La Salle expressed
satisfaction over the findings of the UAAP Technical Committee and
has left the decision to the UAAP Board which will tackle the issue
in a meeting on Saturday.
In a letter submitted to UAAP
president Fr. Emerito de Sagon, DLSU head Bro. Bernard Oca stated
that “De La Salle University appreciates the findings of the UAAP
Technical Committee that Ateneo de Manila committed a violation of
Rule VII when it fielded two foreign players during the game.”
Oca also made it clear that La
Salle is not asking for forfeiture of Ateneo’s 80-77 overtime
victory on July 26 at the Araneta Coliseum citing that La Salle just
wanted “to acknowledge that a violation was committed” during
the game.
League Commissioner Ed Cordero
denied the other day the protest of La Salle due to lack of merit.
--Emil Noguera
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