Basketball takes center stage on ABS-CBN Sports + Action (S+A) as the UAAP and ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) go back-to-back this weekend to give local hoops fans a dose of the Filipinos’ trademark “pusong palaban.”
The UAAP Finals between bitter rivals De La Salle Green Archers and Ateneo Blue Eagles starts on Saturday (December 3) at 3pm LIVE on S+A, S+A HD, and ABS-CBN while Alab Pilipinas resumes their ABL grind on Sunday (December 4) at 8pm LIVE on the country’s leading local sports channel.
Also happening on Saturday (December 3) is Game One between the NU Lady Bulldogs and DLSU Lady Archers for the UAAP women’s basketball crown that will air LIVE at 11am on S+A HD. All games can also be viewed online via livestreaming at sports.abs-cbn.com.
De La Salle entered the season as a surefire finalist with a powerhouse lineup anchored on hulking Cameroonian MVP Ben Mbala and bull-strong forward Jeron Teng. The Green Archers steamrolled anyone in their path en route to an almost unblemished record, inspiring fear using rookie coach Aldin Ayo’s “Mayhem” style of defense. However, the Archers faltered against Ateneo, which prevented a sweep, which eerily reminded people of the Archers’ 2002 season. Is this the year La Salle will finally win it all after three years?
Ateneo, on the other hand, defied all odds, and stopped a hard-fighting FEU Tamaraws, the defending champions, led by yeoman Raymar Jose. It was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Blue Eagles after losing Kiefer Ravena and Von Pessumal to graduation, and eight other players due to academic deficiency in the offseason. There was no true star for Tab Baldwin and Sandy Arespacochaga, but they saw a unit headed by Aaron Black, Thirdy Ravena, and Isaac Go mature and tow the team to a surprise appearance against their archrivals. Can the Blue Eagles conquer the mighty Archers for two more games to notch their first title since 2012?
Meanwhile, Alab Pilipinas looks to bounce back after its opening-day loss against the Singapore Slingers as they resume ABL action at the Baliwag Star Arena in Bulacan against the Kaohsiung Truth from Taiwan this Sunday (December 4). After a strong debut in their 66-71 loss, where he posted 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists, Bobby Ray Parks is upbeat to lead his team, which coach McC Cuan promised to do things differently when they face the troika of Cedric Oliver, Wesley Hsu, and Derek Hall.
Catch all the hot hardcourt action this weekend starting on Saturday (December 3) with NU Lady Bulldogs and DLSU Lady Archers at 11am on S+A HD, “UPFRONT at the Finals” at 2:30pm followed by Game One of the UAAP S79 Finals between De La Salle and Ateneo, which will air on S+A, S+A HD, and ABS-CBN at 3pm. Then on Sunday (December 4) at 8pm, it’s ABL basketball featuring Alab Pilipinas and the Kaohsiung Truth. For more information and stories, go online visit ABS-CBN’s sports hub sports.abs-cbn.com, and follow their official social media accounts on Facebook and Twitter (@ABSCBNSports).
