EXPECT explosive action and dramatic finishes as teams in the middle standings mix it up, each one hoping to end their first round campaigns on winning notes in time for the big push in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Clashing in the opening game at 2 p.m. are La Salle and University of Santo Tomas with the former still smarting from a stinging 72-71 loss to the University of the Philippines on Wednesday that dropped them to sixth place at 2-4 – same record of Far Eastern University.
The Tigers, on the other hand, are back to their tigerish form after a heart-rending loss to the Maroons by humbling the Tamaraws, 82-74, on Sunday for a 4-2 mark.
Also worth watching is the 4 p.m. encounter between No. 5 Adamson Falcons (3-3) and the Tamaraws.
Adding color to the La Salle-UST showdown is the fact that current UST coach Aldin Ayo mentored the Archers for two years, giving them a championship three years ago right on his first year.
But after La Salle lost to bitter rival Ateneo two years ago, Ayo shocked the basketball community, especially the avid green and white alumni when he stepped down.
Ayo later cited differences in handling the team as the reason why he left the Taft-based school.
Despite hiring a foreign consultant in Jermaine Byrd this season, the Archers continue to struggle – showing little of their once feared attack and their defense not too solid as it was before.
In contrast, the Tigers have made a flying start, claiming the scalp of the highly-touted Maroons.
FEU coach Olsen Racela was furious after they absorbed a crushing 61-39 defeat to the National University Bulldogs.
“Bottomline is they did not show up (against NU),” lamented the former San Miguel playmaker. “Whether you play NU or the strongest team, if you don’t show up, you’ll get blown out.”
The Tamaraws played terrible basketball, finishing with a woeful 15-of-79 shooting from the field for 19 percent – the team’s all-time low since 2003 and went 2-of-26 behind the arc.
What made Racela so mad was the fact they only managed three assists.
“Kailangan every game, you have to bring you’re A-game,” Racela said. (Kristel Satumbaga)
Games Today
(Mall of Asia Arena)
2 p.m. – La Salle vs UST
4 p.m. – FEU vs Adamson