MANILA -- The Ateneo Blue Eagles are determined to come out stronger and play tougher on Sunday, hoping to finish off the University of the East Warriors and keep the UAAP crown on the Loyola campus.

A win away from a second straight championship, the Eagles go for it, looking to repeat their 78-71 whipping of the Warriors in Game One Thursday.

Game Two is set at 3:30 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum with students, alumni and supporters of the two schools likely to fill the venue once again.

Ateneo coach Norman Black said there would be no changes in their game plan except that they intend to work harder and play better.

“We’ll try to continue doing things we do well. Want to get out and run,” said Black, a former grand slam-winning PBA mentor gunning for his 12th title as a coach in Philippine basketball.

“We didn’t control the rebounds in the first half of Game One. We want to rebound better in Game Two. We want to get the ball to Rabeh (Al-Hussaini) and we want to shoot well. That’s basically what we want to do,” added Black, player-coach of Magnolia in the PBA in 1987 when Ateneo beat UE in their last finals showdown.

Al-Hussaini proved to be a big match-up problem for UE in Game One with the 6-foot-7 behemoth erupting for 28 points.

There was also Jai Reyes who tossed in 17 points, including five booming triples in the second half.

“We had a hard time matching up with their starters. That’s where we had problems,” noted Chongson, whose charges stunned the Far Eastern U Tams in the Final Four – 84-74 and 78-72 – to make the finals.

“We particularly had a hard time against Al-Hussaini. He’s likely to get his usual numbers in Game Two. The plan is to try to limit the rest. We’ll keep an extra eye on Jai Reyes,” Chongson added.

The gamble of Chongson to start Paul Zamar in place of Paul Lee in Game One backfired.

Lee, who totaled 43 points in two games in the semifinals against FEU, made only 15 Thursday, taking some time to get his rhythm as he checked in with only seven minutes into the game.

“We’ll know at the start of Game Two, we’ll see,” said Chongson on his plan for Game Two.

Black hopes Eric Salamat can come out and contribute today after struggling for only four points Thursday.

“He struggled in Game One but I assure you he’ll bounce back big in Game Two,” said Black of his spitfire guard, who has taken over the spot left by last year’s skipper Chris Tiu.

Meanwhile, the league will bestow today the MVP honors on Santo Tomas hotshot Dylan Ababou in simple opening rites set at 3 p.m.

Ababou, who is now training with Smart Gilas Pilipinas under Serbian coach Rajko Toroman, is also to lead the Mythical First Team including Far Eastern U’s Aldrech Ramos, Al-Hussaini, Lee and Elmer Espiritu.

Jeric Teng is this year’s Rookie of the Year.