Black, Blue Eagles hope to end UAAP title series on Saturday

A few days before Ateneo took on FEU in Game 1 of the UAAP men's basketball finals, Blue Eagles coach Norman Black was concerned on the Tamaraws' momentum. The Tamaraws entered the finals winning seven of their last eight games including two victories over Adamson in the Final Four overcoming the Falcons' twice-to-beat advantage. It is that same momentum that Black hopes that will not awaken FEU in Game 2 as Ateneo tries to sweep its way for a fourth straight title. "We need to win (Game 2) ," said Black said as he hopes to end the series on Saturday. "We better watch and not give FEU the momentum. They'll be going into Game 3 with a lot of confidence if they win Game 2," added Black. Ateneo overcame a lackluster first half to beat FEU in Game 1, 82-64, last Saturday to move closer of duplicating La Salle's feat from 1998 to 2001. Nico Salva played a perfect game making all eight of his field goal and free throw attempts. Ateneo shot 60 percent from the field (30-of-50), the highest in a finals game since the computerization of UAAP statistics began in 2003. The Blue Eagles' 18 fastbreak points was also the highest since 2003. Black said they'll go all out to complete their mission. "I'm not going to rest because we won the game. We are going to have the work done and be prepared." "At this time of the year, my coaches are just going home and watching tapes and see everything to know how to attack or defend against them," said Black. FEU played fluidly in the first half as they led for most part of the game but failed to sustain its momentum in the last two quarters where Ateneo's running game and defensive adjustments guided the Blue Eagles to the win. "We have to adjust on our pick-and-roll defense in Game 2. They were really successful attacking us in the first half and we were fortunate that our adjustments worked. Offensively, I would like to figure out how they'll going to adjust to our pick-and-roll and try to find out how they’ll going to defend us," Black said. — Reuben Terrado/JVP, GMA News