Ateneo, FEU warm up before finals rematch on Sunday

Ateneo and Far Eastern University warm up against separate foes Thursday before their anticipated finals rematch on Sunday in the 74th UAAP men's basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum. The Blue Eagles tangle with University of Santo Tomas at 3 p.m.after the Tamaraws' 1 p.m. match with University of the Philippines. Ateneo and FEU meet on Sunday, their first meeting since the Blue Eagles swept the Tamaraws in last year's best-of-three finals series. Ateneo improved to 5-0 after blasting UP, 77-57, last Saturday but coach Norman Black still has some concerns with his team especially with their bench. Black said the Ateneo bench has been struggling ever since rookie Kiefer Ravena was elevated as a starter. "The second team is struggling a bit. I've been trying to preach to them that as long as you can defend and hold the other team down, you're doing your job. But of course you have to get the offense from the second team also." FEU is fresh from a rousing 62-59 win over UST where the Tamaraws overcame a 13-point deficit to hike their record to 4-1. FEU coach Bert Flores said that he wants to secure a win against UP so they can face Ateneo on a high note. "This will be a good preparation for us against Ateneo because we can't be complacent against UP." The Blue Eagles will face the Growling Tigers, who are hoping to end a two-game slide while the Fighting Maroons try to snap their three-game slump against the Tamaraws. — Reuben Terrado/JVP, GMA News