Ateneo-FEU ‘rubber’: Dream duel or shattered dream?

MANILA, Philippines – It’s down to a 40-minute bare-knuckle fight for Ateneo and holder Far Eastern U to settle the score and forge a title showdown with early finalist La Salle.

The second-seeded Blue Eagles and the No. 3 Tamaraws put everything on the line as they clash again today in a UAAP LXXIX men’s basketball Final Four duel at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Tams coach Nash Racela refused to accept the notion the resilient Tams enjoy the momentum in the 4 p.m. rubber match following their gutsy 62-61 come-from-behind decision at the MOA Arena last Saturday.

“All we did was force a last game. I don’t think there’s an advantage there. But again we’ll do our part, review again, make sure the players are locked-in for the next game,” said Racela, who had previously expressed his intention to throw a wrench in the anticipated DLSU-AdMU finale.

Ateneo mentor Tab Baldwin said the poise that led his young Eagles to a strong second-round showing that enabled them to take No. 2 abandoned them in the first game.

“We didn’t play with the sort of composure and experience that we thought we have developed during the course of the season. It got away from us in the fourth quarter and we paid the price. So we have to make sure that won’t happen again,” he said.

The Tams wiped out a 10-point deficit and turned things around with the monster effort of skipper and indefatigable Raymar Jose (20 points, 23 rebounds) and the endgame heroics of Monbert Arong.

“Gusto ko talaga makabalik sa finals kaya focus ako na makatulong sa loob, double, triple effort, todo bigay talaga (I’m really determined to make it back to the finals so I’m focusing on how I can help the team and going all out),” said Jose.

The Tams made the Eagles settle for three-pointers with their zone defense in the first game and benefited from the latter’s poor 6-of-36 clip. With Jose leading the way, the Tams also won the battle underneath the boards, especially in the crucial fourth.

“Offensively, we weren’t looking for the best shot, we were settling for three-pointers and we could’ve attacked their defense better. I think that’s what we’re gonna look at – attacking their zone and looking at the spots that are open on the floor to shoot,” said Aaron Black, the team’s top-scorer with 11 markers.

“Every zone in the world is tough if you don’t shoot the ball well and we didn’t shoot well last time. We ended up taking 36 treys, that’s just too many and it’s exactly what they forced us to do and that worked in their favor,” said Baldwin.

Racela said they should be ready for Baldwin’s counter-moves.

“For sure, they’ll make adjustments and pag-aaralan namin (we’ll prepare for it). If it means us allowing only five attempts from three-point area next game, we’ll do it,” he said.

Ateneo is gunning for its first finals appearance since completing a five-peat in 2012 while FEU is looking for its third straight championship stint.

It’s been eight years since the last DLSU versus AdMU titular showdown. On the other hand, it was way back 2005 when FEU last squared off with DLSU for the crown.