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By ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – The Ateneo Blue Eagles is more than ready for the De La Salle University Green Archers in the UAAP Season 79 men’s seniors basketball best-of-three finals, kicking off on Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin said his players are prepared against the heavily-favored Green Archers, which is eager to bounce back from its lone loss in the season against their archrivals.
“We are the prohibitive underdogs in this series. That (Green Archers) was a team that beat us soundly. We have some momentum. We are going to stand in front of them,” Baldwin said.
“We are prepared to face the La Salle soon. We are going to bloody them, the same way that they are going to bloody us,” added the former Gilas Pilipinas national basketball team mentor.
The Blue Eagles reached the finals following a 69-68 victory over dethroned champion Far Eastern University Tamaraws in their do-or-die semis match on Wednesday, courtesy of a game-winner by George Isaac Go.
“This kid (Go) is something. He is an evolving commodity. He is going to be in a war. He has shown everything I like in a player,” Baldwin said. “Isaac did his job. Credit to coaching staff for developing. That is what I am proud of him.”
“I just feel so blessed to be involved in this process (developing Blue Eagles players). These guys are outstanding to work with,” Baldwin added. “These players grew up a lot this year.”
This marks the the fifth time the Green Archers and the Blue Eagles are meeting in the best-of-three finale. The last time was in 2008 when the Blue Eagles swept the Green Archers, 2-0./PN
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