MANILA -- Ateneo de Manila will try to leverage on its one-week break to down National University Saturday, 4 p.m., in the 73rd UAAP men’s basketball at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
The Blue Eagles will have to rely on the leadership of Eric Salamat, slotman Nico Salva, Justin Chua, and diminutive guard Eman Monfort, who played well against La Salle but was forced to sit on the bench after complaining of cramps.
The Bulldogs, for their part, 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 on Thursday.
The 4 p.m. square off was originally scheduled on Sunday but the UAAP approved NU’s request to move the games earlier as the school celebrates its 110th anniversary on August 1.
Ateneo is currently at solo fifth place (2-2), while NU is half game behind at 2-3. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)