NORMAN BLACK

Games Thursday
(Araneta Coliseum)
2 p.m. La Salle vs NU
4 p.m. Adamson vs Ateneo

Defending champion Ateneo de Manila tries to forget its embarrassing defeat at the hands of University of the Philippines last Sunday when it faces Adamson on Thursday in the 72nd UAAP basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

The Blue Eagles and the Falcons clash in the main game of a regular twinbill at 4 p.m.

In the curtain raiser, La Salle goes for its third straight win against skidding National University at 2 p.m.

Head coach Norman Black downplayed their shock loss to the Maroons.

“We still have a lot of games left. Remember that loss was just the fourth game of the season,” Black said. “What’s important is how we can come back from a loss like that.”

The Loyola-based dribblers would like to see a much better performance from role players such as Nonoy Baclao, Nico Salva, Eric Salamat, Jai Reyes, Eman Monfort, and reigning Rookie of the Year Ryan Buenafe, who failed to score a single point against UP.

Meanwhile, La Salle bounced back from its two consecutive defeats to UE and FEU by beating UP and Adamson during its last two assignments.

The Green Archers defeated the Fighting Maroons 73-63 last Thursday before escaping with a thrilling 64-63 overtime win over the Falcons three days later.

"We're not a dominant team, we cannot have the luxury to relax and we have to play hard," said La Salle head coach Franz Pumaren.

Meanwhile, the last six playing dates of the first round will all be played at the Araneta Coliseum starting Thursday while the highly-anticipated clash between Ateneo and La Salle on August 5 has been moved from an earlier 1 p.m. start time to 5 p.m.

The first game playdate pitting FEU and UE will now be scheduled at 12 noon.