Games today (Araneta Coliseum)
1 p.m. — Ateneo vs NU
3 p.m. — UE vs FEU
THE much-anticipated matchup between two of the most celebrated rookies in league history will happen today as Bobby Ray Parks and his National University Bulldogs take Kiefer Ravena and the rest of the three-time defending champions Ateneo Blue Eagles in the 74th UAAP basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.
Much attention has been paid to the two guards way before they have actually stepped foot on the court, by virtue of their lineage. Ravena is the son of former pro Bong while Parks is the son of former seven-time PBA best import awardee Bobby Parks. The two youngsters though have justified their respective billings with sensational performances last week.
Ravena, after a sorry debut that saw him go scoreless against the Adamson Falcons, scored 24 points, 22 of which came in the first half against the La Salle Green Archers no less. He also added 10 rebounds and five steals to his incredible showing.
Not to be outdone, Parks put up a scintillating performance of his own against the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, wherein he scored 30 points, on an efficient 9-of-13 clip, a far cry from his 5-of-20 shooting during his debut against the University of Sto. Tomas. Parks’ 30 points also broke the rookie record for scoring previously held by UP’s Mike Gamboa.
NU and Ateneo’s centers will also be embroiled in their own personal duel with the Bulldogs’ Emmanuel Mbe taking on the Eagles’ prized rookie, Greg Slaughter, formerly of the University of the Visayas Green Lancers.
The main game of today’s twinbill will feature last year’s runners-up the Far Eastern University Tamaraws against the rebuilding University of the East Red Warriors.
FEU which is at 1-1, will try to bounce back from a poor outing in their last game where they lost to the Adamson Soaring Falcons, 59-78. UE on the other hand, is at 0-2 after falling to UST, 63-70 last weekend. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio