MANILA, Philippines – Defending champion Ateneo de Manila University and vastly improved National University put their unbeaten records on the line on Tuesday as they battle for supremacy in the 73rd UAAP Juniors basketball tournament at the San Juan Arena.
 
Both sporting identical 4-0 cards, the Eaglets and Bullpups dispute the top spot when they meet in the 9 a.m. curtain-raiser of another thrilling four-game bill halfway into the season.

Later in the day, Far Eastern University-FERN takes on Adamson University at 10:45 a.m., followed by the 1 p.m. clash between the University of Santo Tomas and the University of the East. De La Salle Zobel and the hard-luck University of the Philippines Integrated School wrap up today’s hostilities in the main game at 2:45 p.m.

The Eaglets are coming off a 78-61 whipping of the unpredictable Baby Falcons on Saturday behind the 23-point explosion of Ateneo big man Von Pessumal, who ably relieved main man Kiefer Ravena of the scoring load via an impressive 8-of-13 clip from the field.

NU also prevailed in its last assignment, gnawing apart the hapless Junior Archers, 74-62, to clinch win No. 4 and underscore the Bullpups’ brilliant start in years.

Little-known Roque Estoce dished out another A-game for the Bullpups, firing 23 points, including a 3-of-4 heave from three-point country, on top of 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks. He got ample support from Jonel Parungao and Kevin Lara who combined for 29 points and 16 of the Bullpups’ 39 rebounds.

What has made NU a risky customer of late is the Bullpups’ unforgiving defense predicated on good ball hustle and gang-rebounding to offset their lack of inside depth.

For the Eaglets to avoid the Bullpups’ defensive paws upfront, Ravena and company must hit their outside shots and create mismatches down low with their imposing height advantage.

Aside from Ravena and Pessumal, Ateneo also expects veterans Paolo Romero and Charles Dumrique to keep the Eaglets in flight. NU, meanwhile, shores up its offensive bunker with reliable gunners Estoce, Lara, Parungao and Rafael Atangan at the helm.

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