National University plays defending champion Ateneo to cap a four-game bill to open second-round action of the UAAP Season 81 juniors’ basketball tournament on Sunday at the Filoil Flying V Centre.
The 6-1 Bullpups hope to score a repeat of their 78-62 win in a rematch of last year’s Finals to become the No. 1 team in the first round in their 3 p.m. duel with the Blue Eaglets, which will be aired on national TV.
Far Eastern University-Diliman and Adamson University, bunched in a three-way with Ateneo in second place at 5-2, clash at 11 a.m.
The showdown will also feature giants Kai Sotto, the 7’1” Ateneo center who is leading the season MVP race, and NU’s Carl Tamayo.
In their first UAAP match-up with Sotto last Dec. 15, Tamayo tallied a double-double effort of 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Sotto paced the Eaglets with 23 points, 13 boards and three assists.
Looking sharp as ever, the Bullpups are coming off a PSSBC championship during the Christmas break.
In other matches, University of Santo Tomas (3-4) and University of the East (1-6) collide at 9 a.m., while De La Salle-Zobel (3-4) and UP Integrated School (0-7) take the floor at 1 p.m.