Games today:
(Ynares Center)
1 p.m. — UP vs UST
4:30 p.m. — Adamson vs La Salle
Defending champion University of the Philippines eyes the solo lead against skidding University of Santo Tomas in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 85 men’s basketball tournament at the Ynares Center in Antipolo today.
The Fighting Maroons are fancied to extend their two-game roll at 1 p.m. but head coach Goldwin Monteverde does not want his team to take the Tigers lightly despite their 1-5 win-loss record.
Meanwhile, De La Salle University and Adamson University hope to get back to their winning ways when they clash at 4:30 p.m.
Monteverde has raised concerns about his team, which currently shares the lead with National University with identical 5-1 win-loss cards, having issues with a slow start and inconsistencies throughout the match.
The same issues almost cost the Fighting Maroons the game in their 84-77 escape over University of the East last Wednesday.
“I think one thing we need to address is that we need to be consistent. I want to see the team execute offensively and play superb defense consistently,” Monteverde said.
The UP mentor expects to field a complete lineup once again after top guard JD Cagulangan, who made his season debut in a win over Ateneo de Manila University, skipped the Fighting Maroons’ previous outing to rest a nagging hamstring injury.
“He slightly strained his hamstring in our game against Ateneo. He’s recovering and I think he’ll be able to play in our next game,” Monteverde said.
Gerry Abadiano stepped up in the absence of Cagulangan, scoring 13 points. Abadiano, Most Valuable Player contender Carl Tamayo, Terrence Fortea, James Spencer and Malick Diouf will banner the Diliman-bases squad’s mission to end their first-round campaign on a high note.
The Tigers, on the other hand, have been struggling to notch another win after their opening-day victory.
UST absorbed its fifth straight defeat on Wednesday at the hands of Far Eastern University, 60-75, to share a 1-5 slate with its latest tormentor.
Back to see action for the Tigers is center Adama Faye, who was slapped with a one-game ban for throwing an elbow on the side of the head of Red Warriors guard Harvey Pagsanjan in UST’s loss to UE a week ago. He served his suspension last Wednesday.
The Green Archers are tied with the Red Warriors at fourth with 3-3 slates.
The Taft-based squad suffered a sorry 76-80 defeat to the Bulldogs on Wednesday.
On the other hand, Adamson carries a 2-4 card and is coming off a 55-76 drubbing at the hands of Ateneo de Manila University also last Wednesday.