UNIVERSITY of the Philippines plays University of Santo Tomas to open a tough two-game swing and wrap up its first round campaign in the UAAP Season 87 collegiate men’s basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum today (Wednesday).
The Fighting Maroons, who have won all of their five games in double-digits this season, are not taking the Growling Tigers lightly in the 4:30 p.m. contest.
“Knowing them now compared to last year, they now have a good program, definitely they are better now. I think in each position, they have the materials to really compete. Paghahandaan naming mabuti,” said UP coach Goldwin Monteverde on UST.
A victory will serve as a confidence builder for UP heading into this Sunday’s Finals rematch against De La Salle, which has won its last two contests.
Coming off a 67-88 blowout loss against the defending champions, UST hopes to close out the first round with a winning record and remain in the Final Four conversation.
The Growling Tigers, who have yet to beat the Fighting Maroons in the last six meetings since 2022, hold a 3-2 record in joint third.
UP was still able to win via double digits against Adamson University, 69-57, last Saturday as the Fighting Maroons rallied from 22 points down to prevail.
University of the East, the second-hottest team in the league with three straight victories, goes up against Ateneo in the 6:30 p.m. nightcap.
The Red Warriors are enjoying their longest winning streak since closing out the eliminations with five consecutive victories in 2014, where the Recto-based side came short in its Final Four bid.
Written off after losing to UST and UP by a combined 25 points to open the season, UE has found its rhythm and proved that it can be one of the contenders.
The Blue Eagles, who sit in sixth place at 1-4, cannot afford any missteps from now on if they want to make a push to the Final Four.
Ateneo, which absorbed a tough 65-66 overtime defeat to Far Eastern University last Wednesday, will take on another struggling team in National University to cap its first round on Saturday.
Coach Jack Santiago hopes that the Red Warriors will learn their lessons from last Sunday’s come-from-behind 57-51 win over the Bulldogs as the first round is about to end.
“We cannot afford to relax. They are a strong team,” said Santiago, recalling a preseason loss to the Blue Eagles in the Fujen Catholic University Cup in Taiwan last August.
“Our last game will be against Adamson (on Sunday). Nakita naman natin ang laro nila, we cannot afford to relax talaga,” he added.
In the women’s division, holders UST and UP clash in a rematch of last season’s epic Final Four duel at 11:30 a.m., while Ateneo seeks to gain a share of the third spot against UE at 1:30 p.m.
Games Wednesday (Smart Araneta Coliseum)
8 a.m. – UST vs UPIS (JHS)
9:45 a.m. – UE vs Ateneo (JHS)
11:30 a.m. – UST vs UP (Women)
1:30 p.m. – UE vs Ateneo (Women)
4:30 p.m. – UST vs UP (Men)
6:30 p.m. – UE vs Ateneo (Men)
