Defending champion Ateneo seeks its second win when it clashes with Adamson in the first round of the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball tournament on Saturday, Oct. 7, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Blue Eagles (1-1) and the Soaring Falcons (1-1), who are both coming off their respective first victories against separate opponents a couple of days prior, tussle in the first offering of the quadruple header at 11 a.m.

Following its disappointing loss against National University Bulldogs, Ateneo bounced back in convincing fashion at the expense of longtime rival De La Salle Green Archers.

Kai Ballungay, Chris Koon along with rookie big man Mason Amos anchored the Blue Eagles in their fourth quarter fightback en route to a 77-72 win.

The Soaring Falcons sans Jerom Lastimosa, though, should need reliable reinforcements against the Blue Eagles to give themselves fighting chance in the head-to-head clash. 

In the second play, NU and University of the Philippines vie for the early solo lead in the standings at 1 p.m.

Both squads remained unbeaten in two matches, with reigning MVP Malick Diouf and returning CJ Cansino leading the Season 85 finalist Fighting Maroons to the dominant start.

On the other hand, La Salle (1-1) is looking to bounce back quickly when it faces the winless University of Santo Tomas (0-2) at 3 p.m.

Veteran duo Kevin Quiambao and Evan Nelle are expected to carry the fight for the Green Archers as they seek to rejoin the winning column.

The Growling Tigers continue to slide in 15 games dating from last season after their overtime defeat against Adamson.

Meanwhile, University of the East (1-1) eyes its next win against Far Eastern University (0-2) at 5 p.m.

The Red Warriors, though promising, suffered painfully at the hands of the Fighting Maroons and couldn’t stretch their winning start to 2-0.

Tamaraws, for their part, are looking for a breakthrough so as not to repeat their disappointing campaign last season.