STANDINGS
• La Salle 2-0
• UST 2-0
• UP 1-0
• Adamson 1-1
• FEU 0-1
• NU 0-1
• UE 0-1
• Ateneo 0-2
By MARK REY MONTEJO
Games Today
(Araneta Coliseum)
4:30 p.m. – NU vs FEU
6:30 p.m. – UP vs UE
University of the Philippines, runner up the past two seasons, tries to forge a three-way tie for the early lead when it battles University of the East in the UAAP Season 87 Basketball Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 14, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Coming off a masterful 77-61 drubbing of bitter rival Ateneo in the opener exactly a week ago, the Fighting Maroons are heavily favored in their 6:30 p.m. showdown right after the 4:30 p.m. tiff between Far Eastern University and National University.
A win by the Maroons would enable them to draw level with reigning titlist La Salle and University of Santo Tomas, which is off to its finest start in almost a decade.
Tasked to carry UP’s offensive might are JD Cagulangan, Francis Lopez and rookie Quentin Millora-Brown.
Quick and deadly, Cagulangan mocked all guards thrown at him as he flirted with an almost rare triple-double performance after tallying 17 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds.
Explosive due to his leaping ability, Lopez added 14 points spiked by a couple of powerful dunks while Millora-Brown likewise impressed with his smart inside plays that saw him produce 17 boards and 7 points.
“Well, I believe each one did their role in helping the team win the game and for me, as we progress, the newcomers and the rookies will really improve,” said UP mentor Goldwin Monterverde.
“And it’s important to improve the way we play together is our ultimate goal as the tournament progresses,” he continued.
Out to lead the UE side which has yet to win a title since the dynamic duo of Allan Caidic and Jerry Codinera led the Recto-based squad to back-to-back titles in 1984 and 1985 editions are Prince Momowei, Elijah Fikes, Ethan Galang and Gjerard Wilson.
“As a team, we just wanna keep winning and I think we’re just going to keep improving as the season goes along,” said Millora-Brown.
The Warriors are still smarting from a crushing 70-55 defeat to ther Growling Tigers.
Handled by former PBA import Sean Chambers, the Tamaraws are out to bounce back from a 59-47 loss to the Adamson Falcons – same thing for the Bulldogs who suffered a heartbreaking 78-75 loss to the Archers – no thanks to Kevin Quiambao’s game-winning triple.
The Bulldogs will once again rely heavily on wily guard Steve Nash Enriquez, Jake Figueroa, PJ Palacielo and Jolo Manansala.
