Coach Norman Black feels that the Ateneo Blue Eagles has an even chance of winning  their first round encounter with the defending champion La Salle Green Archers on Sunday.

    Man for man, Black said the Loyola-based dribblers are as talented as the Green Archers when they clash at 4 p.m. on the second day of action in the 71st season of the UAAP men's basketball tournament at the Big Dome.

    Franz Pumaren, however, does not agree with Black.

    He believes that the Blue Eagles have a better advantage in terms of recruitment and preparations.

    "I doubt we're pretty even. I think they will have the advantage," said Pumaren during Monday's press conference which ushered in the start of the season at the 14th floor of the ELJ Bldg inside the ABS-CBN Compound in Quezon City.

    Pumaren said this as he assessed the chances of the Green Archers' bid to claim a back-to-back title conquest this year.

    For Pumaren, it will be a long and tiring season for the most of the participating teams.

    The innovations, new rules and new format which will be introduced when hostilities  begin will make it so.

    Under the  new format, the team which claims a 14-game sweep of the elimination round which not only get an automatic finals berth, but a thrice-to-beat incentive as well, while the challenging squad which emerged from the stepladder semifinals will only have a twice-to-beat edge.

    "It's going to be difficult. Kaya ka nga naka-sweep kasi dominant team. Tapos, yung twice to beat advantage, that's already a very good advantage. But, a thrice to beat advantage (for the challenging team), that's going to be hard," remarked Pumaren.

    The Green Archers won the crown last year at the expense of the University of the East Warriors after sweeping their best-of-three finals series at 2-0.

    The Warriors, on the other hand, got the first championship after they claimed a 14-game sweep of the eliminations.

    Despite the disappointments of what they went through last year, Warriors coach Dindo Pumaren told the team forget about last year's experience with the coming of a new season.

    "I told the boys we just have to move on and keep on trying," said the younger Dindo. He added that their first goal at the moment is to reach the Final Four semifinals first before anything else.

    League officials are also introducing three modifications in it basketball rules, and these includes the suspension of the useage of the possession arrow in the last two minutes, the challenge rule and the ban of the use of pro-grip hand adhesives.

    The possession arrow determines which team gets hold of the ball during the game, but in the last two minutes, the UAAP board approved a rule which will have teams go for a jump ball.

    Under the challenge rule, on this year's commissioner Chito Narvasa will be given the sole discretion of rectifying mistakes in case there are questions on a three-point attempt.   

    The board ruled that pro-grip will not allowed during games since it poses a health hazard to athletes.

    UAAP president and UP chancellor Sergio Cao said the innovations they have introduced are "a work in progress," and is part of an initiative to help better the UAAP.

    The UE Warriors will battle the University of Santo Tomas Tigers at 4 p.m. in the second of two games on opening day. Earlier, the Far Eastern University and the Adamson Falcons will meet at 2 p.m.

    On Sunday also at the Big Dome, the UP Maroons take on National University at 2 p.m.

- Cesar Concio