TEAM STANDINGS
La Salle 9-1
UP 7-1
UE 5-3
UST 4-6
FEU 3-6
Adamson 3-6
Ateneo 3-6
NU 2-7
Games Wednesday
(Mall of Asia Arena)
3:30 p.m. – Adamson vs Ateneo
6:30 p.m. – UP vs UE
After a much-needed break, University of the Philippines tries to boost its Final Four bid when it goes for a repeat against University of the East, while Ateneo is looking to extend its winning streak to three games in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday, Oct. 23, at Mall of Asia Arena.
Coming off a bounce back 83-73 win over the UST Growling Tigers (4-6), the Fighting Maroons (7-1) and the Red Warriors (5-3) clash at 6:30 p.m.
Carrying a 3-6 card, the Blue Eagles are slightly favored over the slumping Adamson Falcons in their 3:30 showdown.
The Falcons have the same record as the Eagles after dropping their last four games.
“As I said before, in our season, especially this season, we don’t have a team that we can let go of. And I believe every team is really well coached,” said UP tactician Goldwin Monteverde on facing each of their opponents in the 8-school collegiate league.
“Good thing for us, we’re happy that we were able to overcome and challenge whatever we faced a while ago as a team,” he added.
UP easily beat the 18-time champion UE, 81-71 in the first round, but the Warriors have tremendously improved since that defeat, winning five straight before losing to defending champion La Salle to start their second round campaign.
With the return of JD Cagulangan from injury, the Maroons are back to their deadly form as mirrored by their win over the Tigers.
Out to give Cagulangan the needed firepower are Francis Lopez, Harold Alarcon, Terrence Fortea, and Quentin Millora-Brown.
With a 9-1 record, the Archers have already clinched the first semis berth, and that’s the reason why the Maroons are expected to go all-out against the Warriors.
The Jack Santiago-mentored Warriors are no pushovers, though.
They boast of role players in John Abate, Wello Lingolingo, Rainer Maga, Gjerard Wilson and Ethan Galang who can explode on a given day – especially now that they need a win to shore up their own semis bid.
The Blue Eagles, on the other hand, will again draw strength from Andrew Bongo, Ian Espinosa, Shawn Tuano, Chris Koon and Jared Bahay in their bid to nail their fourth win that will keep their semis bid alive.
Cedrick Manzano and AJ Fransman need to produce huge numbers if they are to help stop the bleeding for the Falcons.
