How to play a close game with defending champion Ateneo is the challenge that the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers will face when they meet the Blue Eagles at 10:30 a.m. Today at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Tigers, who have won two straight games with the Blue Eagles, will fight it out for the solo lead in the 82nd University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament.
“Obviously, they are the best collegiate team, gusto lang namin makadikit then let’s see kung ano pwedeng mangyari sa laro. Gusto namin nandu’n lang, dikit. But we are going to do our best,” said Growling Tigers’ coach Aldin Ayo.
The Growling Tigers play with high spirits after having beaten the University of the East Warriors, 95-82, and the University of the Philippine Maroons, 85-69, by a wide lead.
“This is a competition. Every time you compete, every time you play, of course, you always aim to win. And you are going to do your best, you are going to squeeze everything just to win. We’re going to do our best and hopefully maganda resulta,” said Ayo.
The Blue Eagles have been know as team capable of beating their rivals with a huge advantage and they have demonstrated this in their 70-52 swamping of the Adamson Falcons, and their 81-69 crushing of the La Salle Green Archers.
“I was so entertained watching his team. I love the way they play basketball. I really do. I mean, they just throw their heads back and go full steam. If they’re hitting shots, good luck. I don’t think you’ll beat them if they’re hitting shots. I think you gotta play unbelievable defense against their pace,” said Blue Eagles’ coach Tab Baldwin after watching the Growling Tigers in action.
On the other hand, UST seems to be picking up Ayo’s “mayhem system,” which was first seen on the Letran Knights back in 2015 and with the La Salle Green Archers when he handled them from 2016 to 2017.
Later, the La Salle Green Archers will seek to bounce back from their loss to the Blue Eagles in their 12:30 p.m. clash with the National University Bulldogs.
The Adamson Falcons will meet the University of the East Warriors at 4 p.m.