source: By JONAS TERRADO
Games Saturday (Araneta Coliseum)
11 a.m. – FEU vs Adamson
3 p.m. – Ateneo vs La Salle
MANILA, Philippines — Celebrated rookie center Greg Slaughter hopes to provide a fitting sequel to his impressive debut last Sunday when the four-peat seeking Ateneo renews rivalry with La Salle Saturday in the 74th UAAP basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.
In his first game with the Eagles, the 6-foot-11 Slaughter, who played for University of Visayas for three years, came through with 23 points, eight rebounds and two blocks to help his team score a 55-51 win over Adamson.
He did that despite the double, if not triple-teaming defense by the Adamson Falcons.
For the Archers to contain the former Smart Gilas understudy, the Archers must come up with a solid defense in their 3 p.m. game where a sea of blue and green shirts is expected to fill the 15,000-seat Big Dome.
This will mark their 66th showdown in the league and Ateneo hopes to beat La Salle for the 39th time.
Ateneo has won nine of their 12 meetings since the 2007 season although the matches have been usually close over that duration.
Even La Salle coach Dindo Pumaren knows it will take an extra-ordinary effort to tame the King Eagle but he has designed a strategy to at least limit his moves inside the paint.
"It's going to be a tough test guarding Slaughter," said Pumaren. "We hope that the big men we got this year would be able to control his production."
Problem for the Archers is that Slaughter is not the only one capable of hitting big shots for the team.
Ateneo coach Norman Black has so many offensive options with Nico Salva, Kirk Long, Emman Monfort and Justin Chua around.
Kiefer Ravena – another celebrated rookie of the team – is expected to redeem himself following his scoreless debut.
In the opener, Far Eastern University will likewise go for a perfect 2-0 mark against a dangerous Adamson side. The Tamaraws are coming off a 74-65 win over the Archers also last Sunday.
As usual, the league will issue separate tickets to both games to ensure that more fans will be able to watch their preferred choice of match.
Out to foil Slaughter are La Salle’s forwards and centers like Norbert Torres, Arnold Van Opstal and Ponso Gotladera.
Black’s only concern is La Salle’s pressure defense.
"No. 1 thing to do against La Salle is break their press. You have to try limit your turnovers, try to break their pressure," said Black.
La Salle guard LA Revilla had a rousing return in the league with 18 points but help must also come from the likes of Maui Villanueva, Torres, Simon Atkins and Joshua Webb, among others.
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