Salamat aims to help Eagles deliver KO punch on Warriors

Following a subpar performance, Ateneo guard Eric Salamat is expected to bounce back big time when the Blue Eagles go for the UAAP crown against University of the East on Sunday at the Big Dome. The lefty Salamat was a non-factor with only four points to show during the Loyola-based squad's 78-71 win over the Red Warriors on Thursday that moved them within a victory of repeating their 1987-1988 back-to-back championship seasons.

Good thing for Ateneo, big man Rabeh Al-Hussaini danced his way against UE’s defenders inside the paint en route to finishing with 28 points and 14 rebounds while Jai Reyes exploded for five three-pointers in the second half to finish with 17 markers. This time, coach Norman Black expects Ateneo will once again be thankful for Salamat. "One thing you can expect, Eric Salamat will bounce back on Sunday. There's no question about that." Salamat has been regarded as one of the league's best finishers averaging 11.9 points behind a 43 percent shooting clip. He also logged in per game averages of 2.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.1 steals in the 14 games he played in the elimination round. The former San Sebastian Staglet also scored just six points, all in the first half, during Ateneo's easy 81-64 rout of University of Santo Tomas in the Final Four last September 20. – GMANews.TV