Make Or Break: AdMU vs. NU

Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles (2-2)

Make:

-Ryan Buenafe. With him penetrating the basket and bringing the ball inside, he is virtually unstoppable. The Bulldogs just don't have any single body to put on him. If he performs consistently all through out (including defense), then it would force the Bulldogs to adjust and eventually allow other Blue scorers to have their opportunity.

-Solid defense on Kokoy Hermosisima and Jewel Ponferrada would only force them to bring the ball to Emmanuel Mbe. However, if Ateneo could slide in and out and play interior help defense, then their headed for points off turnovers.

Break:

-The inconsistency of the Blue Big Men would make a nailbiter out of this match. Unless we get regular stops from the inside and Jumbo Escueta and Justin Chua could efficiently score, things are going to get difficult.

-Never remind me about what happened here. The Hail Mary Squad has to hold leads very well if they win the game.

National University Bulldogs (2-3)

Make:

-Emmanuel Mbe might spell the difference in this game. Having a variety of skills (except ball-handling), he might be the best guy around when it comes to beating the defending champs. His height and power might spell danger for the Eagles

-Consistent ball movement with the aim of allowing Hermosisima and Ponferrada to go all-out from the inside. Once they are able to break Ateneo's zone and force them to stretch, the game will already be on their side.

Break:

-Too much of the offense on Kokoy Hermosisima. In NU's losses, it was Hermosisima who carried the team all over. However, while he reaches the expectations as the Bulldogs' premier go-to guy, he could not set plays which would open his teammates.

-Ball handling during fastbreak became a problem for NU against defensive teams. During their very first regular season game, against Adamson, there were a lot of instances when NU seems to let the ball loose when guarded by quick players. Now that they are facing against a backcourt which puts themselves on top when it comes to steals, they would not be able to convert breaks easily and somehow hand the ball over to the Eagles.

One Big Fight.

'04 AdMU-NU pic courtesy of pepman12