Games Today (Araneta Coliseum)
2 p.m. UST vs NU
4 p.m. UE vs Ateneo

Opening game winners take the floor on Thursday as the UAAP basketball tournament resumes with early leadership at stake at the Araneta Coliseum.

Defending champion Ateneo de Manila and University of the East clash at 4 p.m. in what is billed as a possible preview of teams likely to collide in the Final Four, while University of Santo Tomas and National University meet at 2 p.m.

All four teams won their opening games.

Ateneo coach Norman Black believes that his squad will be in for hard-fought encounter against the Red Warriors whose easy win against La Salle was the talk of the league.

"They don't have much structure to their offense but there seems to be good spacing, meaning they allow their players to utilize their talents," said Black, who singled out Paul Lee as one of those thriving under the system of new UE head coach Lawrence Chongson.

Chongson, hired last January as Dindo Pumaren's successor, is confident that they can pull off an upset against the team he dubbed as "King Kong".

"We played a Goliath (La Salle) but now we're going to meet King Kong (Ateneo)," Chongson said. "They are the defending champions, we'll have to find an antidote against them. I'm not saying this to add gas to their fire but maybe adding fuel to our fight."

Behind the 18-point and 8-rebound performance of reigning Most Valuable Player Rabeh Al-Hussaini, the Eagles outlasted Far Eastern University, 63-59, with 6-foot-7 Al-Hussaini describing it as a “statement” game.

This was because the win came against an FEU team backstopped by three members of the RP Developmental team, including guard Mark Barroca and Aldrech Ramos.

The Warriors also made a statement of their own.

With PBL veterans Paul Lee and Pari Llagas hitting key baskets, the Warriors roared to a 65-46 win over the La Salle Archers.

The Tigers eked out a 66-65 win over Adamson as head coach Pido Jarencio leaned on Khasim Mirza's 23 points along with help from Smart Gilas standout Dylan Ababou, newcomer Allen Maliksi and veteran big man Chris Camus.

The Bulldogs are out to follow-up their surprising 74-64 rout of University of the Philippines last Sunday.

The Bulldogs, who have yet to reach the Final Four since 2001, are seeking an end a 55-year title drought.