De La Salle need not wait long enough to face a familiar nemesis. Fans need not wait to see varsity basketball’s most celebrated rivalry, either.

The defending champion Green Archers begin their title-retention bid against the Ateneo Blue Eagles on July 6 as Season 71 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) kicks off its opening weekend.

Although both schools have a predominantly young roster, they will be anchored by veterans. Gunner JV Casio and center Rico Maierhofer lead De La Salle, while team heart and soul Chris Tiu and pivot man Rabeh al-Hussaini banner Ateneo.

The Archers-Eagles battle royale is scheduled at 6 p.m., after the National U Bulldogs face season host University of the Philippines at 4 p.m.

The UAAP wars officially open hostilities Saturday.

The University of the East Warriors try to set aside a shocking defeat from the previous season when they take on the Santo Tomas U Growling Tigers at 6 p.m. Saturday. The match features two title contenders who fell short in 2007—the Warriors’ 14-game sweep being tainted by their collapse in the championship round and the 2006 winners Tigers exiting early.

In the first game set at 4 o’clock, the Far Eastern U Tamaraws face the Adamson Falcons.

All games on opening weekend will be played at the Araneta Coliseum.

Commissioner Chito Narvasa leads the cast of basketball-tournament officials. Ogie Narvasa and Tanny Gonzales will serve as his deputies.

Other events lined up in the first semester are chess, swimming, taekwondo, judo, beach volleyball and table tennis.

Meanwhile, some rules changes will be discussed by the UAAP board when it convenes Friday.

Among the rules are: challenging whether a shot is a three-pointer or not once in game and the application of a jump ball to decide possession inside the last-two-minute mark.

Changing the incentive for a team that sweeps a tournament may also be discussed, according to Hercules Callanta, UP’s dean of the College of Human Kinetics, in the weekly forum of the Philippine Sportswriters’ Association Tuesday at Shakey’s UN Avenue.

‘My money on Manny’

THE man heavily credited for mapping out perhaps one of the biggest, if not the biggest, upsets in professional boxing history has placed his money on, who else, but Manny Pacquiao.

Glitter equals gold?

A stellar group of NBA All-Stars was named to the US men’s Olympic basketball team Monday, and most hoops junkies in America, not surprisingly, claimed immediate victory in Beijing.

Opening in style

WIMBLEDON, England—When last seen in a competitive setting, Serena Williams was spraying tennis balls wildly at the French Open—into the net, beyond the baseline and everywhere, it seemed, except where she was aiming.

De La Salle need not wait long enough to face a familiar nemesis. Fans need not wait to see varsity basketball’s most celebrated rivalry, either.

Air21 wants to take fortunes further

Lito Alvarez, team manager and Air21’s representative to the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) board, was visibly ecstatic after the Express survived a late charge by the Welcoat Dragons for a 91-87 victory on Wednesday.

DESPITE all the politics in Philippine basketball, there are a lot of things to watch out for particularly when it comes to the development of new basketball players for the future.

Greenside Chip: Jungolfers say ‘yes’ to Optimist golf tournament

SOME 10,000 junior golfers aged 10 to 18 from 25 countries join qualifying tournaments every year for the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships.