Ateneo, Adamson try to create buffer as

UAAP’s top four teams collide

Defending champion Ateneo and powerhouse Adamson seek to gain a cushion against their closest
pursuers as the Top 4 teams take the floor on Saturday in UAAP Season 81 seniors basketball at
Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Carrying a 6-2 record, the Blue Eagles battle the Far Eastern U Tamaraws at 4 p.m., after the
Falcons, who share top spot with Ateneo, clash with the resurgent La Salle Green Archers.

Ateneo will be without star wingman Thirdy Ravena, who will serve a suspension for an
unsportsmanlike foul that was upgraded into a disqualifying foul upon review in their match against
the University of the Philippines.

Ravena’s suspension bars the star wingman, an MVP contender, from winning any individual award,
this season. The incident stemmed from a punch that Ravena threw at Paul Desiderio of UP last
Saturday.

The Tamaraws are also playing without power forward Arvin Tolentino, whose disqualifying foul on
University of Santo Tomas’ Zach Huang was his second infraction of the season. The league has
slapped a two-game suspension on Tolentino, who will also miss the duel against UP on Tuesday.

The Falcons and Archers are actually meeting just one week after La Salle prevailed over Adamson,
79-78, in overtime at the close of the first round last week.

“I guess everybody is itching to get even with them which, I guess, is a good sign,” said Adamson
coach Franz Pumaren, whose team started the season on a five-game winning run. “But we’re
playing our third game in a week. It’s nice to hype up the game, but if we’re playing another school,
it’s still a must win for us. Bottom line is we want to maintain where we are now and get the [twice-
to-beat] incentive.”

The Archers, who, like the Tams own a 5-3 record, go to battle on the back of two straight victories
against Adamson and University of the East.

For the complete collegiate sports coverage including scores, schedules and stories, visit Inquirer
Varsity.

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