STANDINGS
UP 5-0
La Salle 5-1
UST 3-2
UE 3-2
Adamson 3-3
Ateneo 1-4
NU 1-5
FEU 1-5
Games Wednesday
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
4:30 pm – UST vs UP
6:30 pm – UE vs Ateneo
By MARK REY MONTEJO
University of the Philippines aims for its sixth straight win while University of the East tries to add Ateneo to its surprisingly growing list of victims in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament Wednesday, Oct. 2, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
With a week left before the first round ends, the Maroons (5-0) are expected to pour it all when they clash with the UST Growling Tigers (3-2) in their 4:30 p.m. showdown.
And for the final duel set at 6:30 p.m., the Red Warriors hope to extend their winning run to four against the faltering Eagles who are toting a dismal 1-4 mark.
The Recto-based squad has been playing great of late winning its last three games after dropping its first two games.
That run was highlighted by a stunning win over the defending champion La Salle, 75-71, last week.
UP coach Goldwin Monteverde is hoping to avoid the same mistakes they committed last time that saw them fall behind by 22 points before mightily clawing their way out of that hole to beat the Adamson Falcons, 69-57.
Against the Tigers of España, Monteverde said they can’t afford to commit the same lapses knowing their rivals are much better squad this season than last year – defensively and offensively.
“Knowing them now, compared to last year with a good program. Definitely they’re better now. They have materials to compete, sa’min siguro paghahandaan lang namin [sila] after reviewing this game [against Adamson],” said Monteverde.
“I mean, for me, I think that it’s about us. First, we gotta fix what we messed up in this game and just improve,” added Quentin Millora Brown.
“I think that first, we just have to view this game and improve on the mistakes we made here before we can even focus on moving to the next game,” he continued.
The Fighting Maroons will once rely on their backcourt aces in JD Cagulangan, Francis Lopez, Gerry Abadiano and Harold Alarcon.
UP’s frontcourt is equally formidable what with rookie Millora-Brown leading the way and Dikachi Ududo, Gani Stevens and Sean Alter providing the needed defensive muscles.
Another thing going for the Maroons is that the Tigers are still nursing from a defeat to La Salle.
Expected to spearhead UST are Forthsky Padrigao, Nic Cabañero, Amiel Acido, Christian Manaytay and Mo Tounkara.
Out to lead UE are Wello Lingolingo, John Abate and Ethan Galang, who were all pivotal in their 57-51 triumph over NU (1-5).
The Blue Eagles, who suffered a 66-65 heartbreak loss to FEU (1-5), seek for a big turnaround in order to place their feet anew in the winning column.
