By Waylon Galvez
Games Saturday
(Fil-Oil Flying V Center San Juan City)
2 p.m. – UST vs NU
4 p.m. – UP vs UE
Center Zach Huang will be a marked man today as University of Santo Tomas shoots for its fifth win against dangerous National University in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Fil-Oil Flying V Center San Juan City.
The 6-foot-4 Huang was a big revelation in the team’s impressive 78-70 win over the Far Eastern University Tamaraws as he scored a career-high 20 points apart from providing the needed muscles in the shaded lane.
But for the Tigers to continue their rise, Huang must double his effort since they will continue to miss the services of Enrique Caunan and Steveo Akomo.
Akomo has not played for three weeks after he was diagnosed with blood clots in his brain.
Still, UST coach Aldin Ayo remains unfazed, saying: “We played well especially our big man (in the last game). We’re going to keep working hard.”
The game between UST (4-4) and NU (2-6) is set at 2 p.m., before the match of University of the Philippines (3-5) and University of the East (1-7) at 4 p.m.
Aside from Huang, Ayo can also count on Germy Mahinay.
Mahina stepped up big time as he contributed a personal-best 10 points and eight rebounds.
UST’s win also gave Ayo a perfect 6-0 record against FEU, or since he joined the UAAP through DLSU two years ago following his lone and successful stint in the NCAA as he powered his alma mater Knights to the title.
While UST is on a roll, NU is still nursing a stinging 69-58 defeat to Adamson last Wednesday.
Also eager to get back on the winning track are the Fighting Maroons of head coach Bo Perasol.
After two big wins against La Salle and NU, State U has dropped back-to-back matches – an 86-72 loss to UST to end the first round, and an 83-66 beating from defending champion Ateneo to open the second round.
