ARCHRIVALS Ateneo and La Salle will usher in the equally exciting second round of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 84 men’s basketball tournament starting this Holy Tuesday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City with the presence of their throng of fans at last.
Unbeaten Ateneo and La Salle figured in the last playdate that was held behind closed doors last Saturday owing to the UAAP’s strict bubble setting before it decided to welcome in-game crowds last Tuesday.
The three-time defending champion Blue Eagles (7-0) and the Green Archers (5-2) cross paths again in the main game at 7 p.m. of the latest schedule released by the league over the weekend following the thrilling first round.
Favor is on Ateneo, which took a 74-57 win over La Salle in the first salvo as part of its first-round wipeout and a 33-game winning streak in 2018.
In other games, second-running University of the Philippines (6-1) and No. 4 National University (NU) (4-3) bid to stay inside the top four at 10 a.m. while No. 5 Far Eastern University (FEU) (3-4) and No. 7 Adamson (1-6) collide in a crucial outing at 12:30 p.m.
Cellar-dweller University of the East (UE) (0-7) shoots for first win against No. 6 Santo Tomas (2-5) at 4:30 p.m.
All teams then will have a long break for the Holy Week before plunging back to action next Tuesday. — John Bryan Ulanday