MANILA, Philippines — From one rivalry game to another.
Following a huge win over archrival La Salle this weekend, Ateneo is off to get another victory over rivals University of the Philippines, but Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin believes it will be a “rugged” “Battle of Katipunan” Wednesday.
Ateneo, undefeated through four games, will take on the Fighting Maroons, who are currently tied with La Salle with a 2-2 win-loss record.
Game time is 5 p.m.
Baldwin, after their 81-74 victory over La Salle on Sunday, said the Fighting Maroons are still dangerous despite their up-and-down season thus far.
“Well, I mean I can say that UP is, as they were billed in the preseason, they're a real problem. They're a really, really good team. But, you know, NU really had them on the ropes,” Baldwin told reporters.
On Saturday, UP clawed out of a 13 point deficit to grab the win over the National University Bulldogs, 66-59.
“We know that UP, it's going to be a rugged game. It's going to be two teams that... UP fighting to get back into where they know that they belong, back into the top four and top four contention. Us trying to hold on to a really outstanding start to the season,” the coach added.
“So both teams playing for a lot, but I think that's pretty much always the case early in the season.”
Ateneo, so far, is second in the league in scoring with 76.5 points per game. UP, on the other hand, is putting up 71 points a contest.
The Blue Eagles are also on top of the least field goals allowed per game with 36.9%, while UP is third at 37.7%.
Both teams are forcing their opponents to commit 15.7 turnovers a contest. The Fighting Maroons, though, allow just 6.5 fast-break points a game.
The retooled Diliman-based squad struggled in the start of UAAP Season 88. They lost their first two games — a 20-point demolition at the hands of University of Santo Tomas and a three-point loss against Adamson — before finding their rhythm against University of the East and NU.
UP assistant coach Christian Luanzon, for his part, said they will have a “same approach” against the Blue Eagles.
“We’re gonna give them a fight. Hopefully, pagdating ng Wednesday, everybody will be healthy and ready to go.”
Before the Battle of Katipunan, the National University Bulldogs will take on the Adamson Soaring Falcons at 2 p.m.