UAAP: Ateneo vows to rebound (2:41 p.m.)

MANILA -- Three-peat seeking Ateneo de Manila hangs on to its main target in the 73rd UAAP season despite absorbing upsets from unscathed Far Eastern University in season opener and archrival De La Salle last week.

Or at least according to sixth year mentor Norman Black, who assured media that the Blue Eagles will redeem themselves by venting their ire on a retooled National University on Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Talking to reporters after losing to a rookie-laden Green Archers, Black said his players will do better this time especially in bucking end game slips.

“We have done a very good job over the years of bouncing back from losses so I don’t see any difference...but mostly, these players have championship experience so I don't expect them to just roll over and die. I expect them to bounce back,” he said.

La Salle ended a six-game losing streak to Ateneo since the first round of Season 71 when sophomore Samuel Joseph Marata buried back-to-back triples in less than two minutes of play to ignite the defensive rally of the Green Archers.

As this developed, the Blue Eagles might see themselves on a rocky tiff with NU, which is just fresh from a nail-biting loss to the University of Santo Tomas last Thursday.

NU will be leaning anew to forward Jewel Ponferrada, Melvin Baloran and Cameroonian center Emmanuel Mbe who registered 10 points, 14 rebounds and a block in a losing cause against UST.

Ateneo, for its part, have to rely on the leadership of Eric Salamat, slotman Nico Salva, Chua and diminutive guard Eman Monfort, who played well against La Salle but was forced to sit on the bench after complaining of cramps. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)