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The most anticipated title duel between the country's collegiate rivals starts today as the De La Salle University Green Archers and the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles collide in Game One of the best-of-three UAAP championship series at the Araneta Coliseum.
La Salle head coach Franz Pumaren admits that the defending champions Archers are the underdogs in the series.
Pumaren has a strong point.
Ateneo has been playing remarkably all season-long and wound up as the number one seed going into the semis after ending the elimination round with 13 wins and one loss.
Armed with a twice-to-beat edge, the Blue Eagles, easily reached the championship round by beating the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors in their semifinal battle, 70-50.
La Salle, on the other hand, needed to bag crucial wins in the elimination round before it could take a twice-to-beat edge in the semis.
La Salle and the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws both finished the elimination round with identical 10-4 (win-loss) slates. The Archers had to beat the Tamaraws in a playoff game before taking the last twice-to-beat incentive.
La Salle went on to beat FEU in their semis duel, 67-62, setting the table for their gigantic battle against Ateneo.
La Salle and Ateneo will be facing in a championship series for the fourth time with the Blue Eagles holding a 2-1 edge.
Ateneo came out victorious in their championship battles in 1988 and 2002, while La Salle prevailed in 2001.
This season, Ateneo holds a 2-0 edge over La Salle.
In their first encounter last July 6, Ateneo drubbed La Salle, 79-73.
The Blue Eagles proved that the victory was no fluke as they repeated over Archers last Sept. 21, 65-57.
But La Salle has a thing for winning the games that matter most.
Last year, Ateneo dominated La Salle in the eliminations only to lose to the Archers in the semifinals.
The Blue Eagles hope to erase that bitter experience and will rely on their solid frontline led by Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Nonoy Baclao and Jobe Sherwin Nkemakolam.
