By JONAS TERRADO (Manila Bulletin)

Game on Thursday
(Araneta Coliseum)
3:30 p.m. Ateneo vs UE

Four days after the opening of their title series was “washed away” by storm “Ondoy”, defending champion Ateneo and University of the East begin again their quest for the title as the country’s No. 1 collegiate team when they clash on Thursday in the UAAP basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.

Many expect both squads to be a little rusty following long playoff, not to mention the havoc wrought by “Ondoy”, but the fun, thrill and hard action are highly anticipated in their 3:30 p.m. encounter.

The Blue Eagles are coming off an 11-day rest after edging out University of Santo Tomas, 81-64, in the Final Four last Sept. 20 while the Red Warriors overcame a twice-to-beat advantage by Far Eastern University in their own series exactly a week ago to advance to the Finals for the second time in three years.

Ateneo coach Norman Black admits that the massive destruction made by “Ondoy” distracted a bit the team’s preparation but they’ll be ready for Thursday.

"It was really hard to get focused because of the typhoon but we're making sure that we'll be prepared once we get on the court," said Black, who is hoping to lead the school to its fifth title overall and the first back-to-back since 1987-88 championships.

Clearly, the Eagles, who will bannered by last year’s MVP Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Eric Salamat, Jai Reyes, Ryan Buenafe, Nonoy Baclao, and Nico Salva, are the favorites in the best-of-three title series

The Eagles beat the Warriors twice in the elims but the Recto-based squad is on a roll.

The Blue Eagles rallied from 17 points down in the first quarter to beat the Warriors, 72-57, last July 16 then had to prevent the Recto-based dribblers from staging a fourth quarter comeback for an 80-75 win last Aug. 13.

In those two games, Al-Hussaini dominated the UE frontline of Pari Llagas and Elmer Espiritu with an average of 28 points and 12 rebounds that saw him hit 30 in their second round meeting.

Head coach Lawrence Chongson credited a lot of factors for reaching the finals after pundits predicted the Warriors to even miss the Final Four for the first time in five years.

“I believe that whatever success na natamasa ng UE ngayon, siguro mga 65 percent nun dahil sa PBL," said Chongson. "Yung natitirang 35 percent siguro yung mga experiences that we gained along the way."