Published November 20, 2019, 6:00 AM By Kristel Satumbaga
Games Wednesday
(Mall of Asia Arena)
12 noon – NU vs UST (women’s)
2:30 p.m. – Presentation of Individual Awards
4 p.m. – UST vs Ateneo (men’s)
Ateneo’s Ange Kouame, left, battles for the rebounds against UST defenders in UAAP Season 82 Finals Game 1 at Smart Araneta Coliseum, November 16, 2019. Ateneo guns for historic title sweep. (MB Photo / Rio Deluvio)
Ateneo guns for a historic title sweep in UAAP season 82 men’s basketball against University of Santo Tomas Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Game 2 of the best-of-three series is at 4 p.m. with the Blue Eagles on the verge of becoming the first team ever to go 16-0 in a season.
A win for Ateneo will also make them the third team to go unbeaten in a season after Far Eastern University and UST. The Tamaraws did it in 1980 and 1981 by winning all 12 games while the Tigers clinched the crown after sweeping 14 matches in 1993.
While so much is at stake in the game, Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin sees it differently.
“We just want to be 1-0 from here,” he said after the Eagles dominated Game One 91-77 on Saturday.
“Believe me, we just want to play this game well, play it really well. Win the game and whatever comes with that, comes with that. We don’t want our focus on anything else, especially any talk about records or anything like that.”
While momentum is on Ateneo’s side, Baldwin still thinks it’s a must-win game for them.
“They (UST) don’t quit, they don’t ever back down, so we need to have the attitude that it is a must-win game,” he said.
Thirdy Ravena is slated to anchor the Eagles on probably his last game in college after a season-high 32 points on 14-of-18 shooting in the opener.
For UST coach Aldin Ayo, it is not only about stopping Ravena in order to extend the series.
“It’s not only about Thirdy eh. If we want to stop them, we’ll have to stop the whole team,” he said.
Ayo admitted they played poorly last Saturday and took the blame for the defeat.
“I think the problem is coaching staff, we were not able to prepare the players well. But I told the players that we have to handle the loss right away and go back to our main goal ulit,” he said.
UST is expected to execute a fast-paced game that includes torching the three-point line after draining 14 triples the last time.
Expected to lead the Tigers are Season MVP Soulemane Chabi Yo and Rookie of the Year Mark Nonoy, who combined for 39 points in Game 1.
Game 3, if necessary, will be on Saturday at the same venue.
Tags: Aldin Ayo , Ateneo Blue Eagles , Blue Eagles , Eagles , Growling Tigers , Mark Nonoy , Soulemane Chabi Yo , Tab Baldwin , Thirdy Ravena , Tigers , UAAP , UAAP S82 men's basketball , UAAP season 82 men's basketball , UST Growling Tigers , UST Tigers
