BY CHRISTINE MONCADA (Malaya)

AFTER a 10-day layoff, Ateneo plunges into action anew today, staking its title against University of the East in Game 1 of their best-of-three battle for the 72nd UAAP men’s basketball championship at the Araneta Coliseum.

Living up to expectations, the Blue Eagles whipped University of Santo Tomas 81-64 last Sept. 20 in their Final Four showdown and secured the first finals berth, in the process gaining a 10-day reprieve and raising questions whether they will go into the title showdown rusty.

"It is a possibility but we’re doing everything to make sure that doesn’t become a factor. We’re doing everything to offset ’yung days of lack of action," said Ateneo assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga.

"The boys have stayed focused in practice so we are not really bothered. We want to assure everybody that we are not rusting and we are not resting," he added.

In contrast, the Red Warriors needed to beat Far Eastern University twice in their semis match-up to earn the right to face the Blue Eagles and get another chance at ending more than two decades of frustration.

After routing the Tamaraws 84-74 last Sept. 19, the Red Warriors returned five days later to score a come-from-behind 78-72 win in their do-or-die match for the second finals berth.

The Red Warriors last won the crown in 1985. They had consistently made it to the Final Four since 2002 and barged into the finals in 2007 after completing a 14-game sweep of the eliminations, only to be swept in two games by La Salle in the title match.

Coach Lawrence Chongson, who has guided the Red Warriors to the finals in his rookie year with the team, said they intend to dethrone the Blue Eagles.

"Sa simula sinabi namin na ang goal namin is this year is to win the title. We’ve come this far and we hope we can push this on until we achieve our goal," said Chongson, adding their defense will be their biggest weapon.

"We intend to defeat Ateneo with our defense. Our defense has been ridiculed, sinasabi na ‘walang sistema’ or ‘a system without a system’ but we keep on winning," Chongson stressed.

Manpower-wise, Ateneo has the decided edge, with reigning Most Valuable Player Rabeh Al-Hussaini expected to dominate the shaded lane with his bulk. Also expected to step up for Ateneo are Jai Reyes, Noy Baclao and Ryan Buenafe, among others.

Leading UE, which intends to dictate the tempo in the series, are the trio of Paul Lee, Elmer Espiritu and Pari Llagas.

In their head-to-head duel this year, the Eagles swept the Warriors. They came back from a 17-point deficit and hammered out a 72-57 win last July 16 and repeated the trick with an 80-75 triumph last Aug. 13.

GO ateneo!! Hehe.. Kaya yan..

Go Ateneo! whie!