After two harrowing games in their best-of-three final series, Ateneo Blue Eagles and University of the East Warriors will whoop it up today to determine whether the Eagles will keep its title or UE will crown itself as the new champion of this year’s UAAP men’s basketball at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Blue Eagles have been tabbed from the beginning to reach the finals and eventually win it -- with or without mortal archrival De la Salle U.

UE on the other hand, had always been considered as a contender in the Final Four.

It's supposed to be a battle of coaching expertise with multi-awarded Norman Black and upstart Lawrence Chongson who has not been considered a serious contender in the PBL or in the collegiate leagues.

The odds are stacked against Chongson and his boys but after a 78-71 heartbreak in their first outing versus the soaring Eagles, a rainbow carved itself for them last Sunday when they dumped their opponents with a roaring 20-point advantage.

If Paul Lee, Elmer Espiritu and Narciso Llagas and Val Acuna fail to come up with expectations, their dream of a title would go up in smoke.

The Warriors got so heat up with draining triples and making nearly impossible passes which shocked Ateneo's vaunted troopers as early as second quarter Sunday.

For Chongson, the right formula was to tighten up their defense, gambled on the zone, clogged up the center and cut down Ateneo star Rabeh al Hussaini's 28-point average to mere 18 points.

And pile up points to get way ahead by a mile to tire out and disturb the opponent's rhythm so he won't be able to recover.*PNA

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