UAAP S74: DLSU vs ADMU

There's strength in numbers for both teams, as this game could go down to a test of depth (pic source)

History Lesson:
Since the 2 > 3 season of 2007, when the DLSU Green Archers upset the up-until-then undefeated UE Red Warriors for the championship, the ADMU Blue Eagles have won 7 of their last 8 encounters in the UAAP tournament versus La Salle. That record includes last season's first round triumph by the Archers, a 66-63 squeaker that saw La Salle take control late in the fourth when Kirk Long fouled out, and the subsequent second-round thrashing by Ateneo, a 74-57 beatdown that would have been won by a larger margin had Jovet Mendoza gotten skittish attacking the rim. This summer saw the Archers beat their rivals twice though, once in an exhibition game in Dubai, 62-58, without Greg Slaughter, and again in the elimination round of the Fil-Oil Tournament, 66-61, though the Eagles eventually went on to win the entire affair, while the Archers got booted in the round of eight.

La Salle Storyline : The Archers couldn't complete their late-game comeback, as RR Garcia and Terrence Romeo extinguished La Salle's chances with some timely free throw shooting. Despite playing 15 out of their 16 man roster, only comebacking point guard LA Revilla really shined, finishing with 18, 5 and 5. Their rookie frontcourt of Arnold Van Opstal and Norbert Torres struggled all game with foul trouble, while the rest of the La Salle shooters waxed cold from outside. This game versus Ateneo is not just big because of the rivalry, but also because of the implications of a 0-2 start.
Stat to Watch : Despite FEU going to a zone defense early, the Archers made just 2 of their 11 triples, a sub-par number for a squad with guys like Almond Vosotros, Simon Atkins and Luigi Dela Paz. If Ateneo goes the zone route as well, La Salle needs to make them pay by nailing outside shots.
Player to Watch : Arnold Van Opstal seems eager to face Ateneo's Greg Slaughter, judging from his interview on Hardball, and he probably should be, as he held the 7'0" giant to a paltry 2 points and 5 rebounds. But Slaughter's been much improved since then, especially in the post. Needless to say, Van Opstal will have to use his 5 fouls wisely, or let the other guy get the better of him.

Ateneo Storyline : The Eagles seemed like a one-man team in their season opener, as the Adamson Falcons dared Greg Slaughter to beat them, only to have a Kirk Long goaltend and two charities by Emman Monfort seal their defeat. Defense was the key there, as the Eagles silenced their avian rivals during the last 7 minutes of the fourth quarter. It shouldn't have to come to that though, as this squad has shown that it can clamp down on opponents as early as the opening tip.
Stat to Watch : After a summer in which the Ateneo bench bailed out their starter counterparts again and again, the Eagle reserves failed them in the season opener, providing just 8 points, including a 0 for 1 debut for Kiefer Ravena. All in all, only 7 Ateneans scored in that game, so it's important that back-ups like Justin Chua, Tonino Gonzaga, and Juami Tiongson find their groove early on Saturday.
Player to Watch : Kirk Long has a made a collegiate career out of playing strong-nosed defense and taking care of the ball. In high school though, he was a scoring machine capable of putting up 30 each night, and he's shown flashes of that as a Blue Eagle, especially against UST. In the first round last season, Long piled up 22 markers (9/13 FG, 4/5 from 3pt) versus La Salle before exiting with 5 fouls, and he'd give his teammates a big boost if he can come out with that kind of numbers again, especially if that's in addition to another guy, Ravena or Slaughter, scoring big as well.

Prediction: Ateneo Blue Eagles