With the thrill and spills of their last encounter still fresh, Ateneo and La Salle go at each other again on Sunday, exactly one week after the Blue Eagles pulled off a scintillating 76-72 overtime victory at the Araneta Coliseum.

Game time is 4 p.m. with the Archers hoping to exact revenge after playing a game that belied the rawness and youth of the squad.

Heavy underdogs, La Salle almost scored one of the biggest upsets of the UAAP basketball season when it battled the defending champion Ateneo on even terms, leading for most of the way, almost winning the game in regulation before finally succumbing from pressure and exhaustion in overtime.

Ateneo, on the other hand, won it minus its star, Rabeh al-Hussein, who suffered a sprain with just over five minutes left in regulation.

Last season’s Most Valuable Player, however, is expected to return on Thursday when Ateneo takes on University of the East.

Team doctor Raul Canlas said yesterday the 6-6 Hussein is fully recovered and has returned to practice.

“No fracture, swelling, tear or dislocation,” he said in a text message.

Tournament director Mark Molina of host Far Eastern University said the same ticket scheme used last Sunday will be implemented in the La Salle-Ateneo game last Sunday.  The crowd will be allowed during the game first game, which will feature UE against Adamson at 12 noon, after which the venue will be emptied to accommodate fans of the La Salle-Ateneo game.