Games Wednesday
(Mall of Asia Arena)
10 a.m. – UST vs Ateneo (men)
12 noon – UE vs NU (men)
2 p.m. – FEU vs AdU (men)
6 p.m. – DLSU vs UP (men)
(AdU Gym)
9 a.m. – FEU vs AdU (women)
11 a.m. – DLSU vs UP (women)
1 p.m. – UST vs Ateneo (women)
3 p.m. – UE vs NU (women)
ALONE at the summit, unbeaten University of the Philippines (UP) wants no let-up against chasing rivals as teams below scramble for handsome positions nearing the end of the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball tournament first round today (Oct. 18) at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The Fighting Maroons swept their first five assignments and now have the De La Salle University Green Archers (3-2) as next target in the main game at 6 p.m. that would catapult them closer to a sweep approaching the crucial second round.
At 10 a.m., struggling champion Ateneo de Manila University (2-3) and winless University of Santo Tomas (0-5) lock horns while National University (4-1) eyes to keep hold of the second spot against University of the East (2-3) at 12 noon followed by the duel between Adamson University (3-2) and Far Eastern University (1-4) at 2 p.m.
UP’s last game is against Ateneo in a finals rematch but it has to take care of business first against another fierce foe in De La Salle (DLSU) if it wishes to bolster a redemption bid after a bridesmaid finish in Season 85.
That should explain Goldwin Monteverde’s relentless hunger in spite of a perfect campaign so far, calling on his troops to brave on and trample every hurdle in the way while continuing to cover their bases for continuous growth.
De La Salle, despite a slight stumble at 3-2 marked by a tough 80-77 loss against now solo second-placer National University (NU), vows to wage a strong resistance against the “top team in Philippine collegiate basketball now.”
“There’s no magic potion here but we just got to trust the process. We have to make sure we prepare these players to be against the top team in college right now. Again, we’re gonna leave it on the floor,” said coach Topex Robinson.
In women’s basketball, fellow league leader UP (5-0) shoots for another win against De La Salle (1-4) at 11 a.m. after the duel of FEU (2-3) and Adamson (1-4) at 9 a.m. Ateneo (4-1) and UST (3-2) battle at 1 p.m. followed by the battle between NU (4-1) and UE (0-5) at 3 p.m. — John Bryan Ulanday
