Men’s basketball standings
NU (8-2)
UP (7-3)
La Salle (6-4)
Adamson (5-5)
Ateneo (5-5)
UST (5-5)
FEU (4-6)
UE (0-10)
By MARK REY MONTEJO
National University and defending champion University of the Philippines hope to firm up their semis bids when they battle separate foes in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila Saturday, Nov. 8.
Following a 75-67 win over La Salle over the weekend, the NU Bulldogs will go to their 4:30 p.m. showdown with the Adamson Falcons fully motivated and well-rested – reasons why they are once again heavily favored.
But the Bulldogs can’t take it easy since the Falcons are out to rebound from a stinging a 73-70 loss to the FEU Tamaraws, a defeat that ended their four-game winning streak.
The Maroons are also the odds-on favorites against the still winless University of the East Warriors in their 1:30 p.m. duel.
NU is leading the team standings with an 8-2 mark while UP is not far behind as it totes a 7-3 mark.
In order to emerge victorious, NU coach Jeff Napa said his boys should be extra sharp on offense noting the Falcons are known for their hard-nosed defense.
“Against Adamson, I think they are the No. 1 defensive team, kailangan namin sila paghandaan talaga, at least kailangan makapag-perform kami up to the highest level,” said NU head coach Jeff Napa.
Omar John and Steve Nash Enriquez, who starred in the Bulldogs’ win over the Green Archers, vowed to produce another gem of a performance as they seek to put their painful experience in the past behind.
Without Gelo Santiago, who is serving a five-game suspension, the 6-foot-10 Senegalese and Enriquez should double their efforts, and so are go-to guy Jake Figueroa, Jolo Manansala, Paul Francisco, and Tebol Garcia.
On the other hand, Ray Allen Torres, who had a 24-point eruption in the team’s defear to FEU, is going for an encore. Help is likely to come from from Cedrick Manzano, John Erolon, and Earl Medina.
Meanwhile, UP, coming off an 89-88 escape over University of Santo Tomas, targets its fourth straight win and a potential share of No. 1 spot when it tangles with the struggling UE.
But the red-hot State U remains wary of the Warriors who have nothing to lose after being eliminated by Ateneo, 78-74.
“Syempre four games pa naiwan samin… we need to think about UE,” said UP chief tactician Goldwin Monteverde. “As I said, wala naman team dito sa UAAP na pwede mong pabayaan. We respect every team. Pare-parehas lang ang pagtrato namin sa kanila when it comes to preparation.”
Harold Alarcon aims to guide the Maroons anew alongside Noy Remogat, Gani Stevens, Mark Belmonte, Francis Nnoruka, Terrence Fortea, and Gerry Abadiano.
One thing going for UE is the return of head coach Chris Gavina from a four-game suspension.
But for UE to nail its first win in 11 games this season, Wello Lingolingo, John Abate and Precious Momowei should play extra-ordinarily on both ends.
In women’s games, NU goes for nine in a row when it battles Adamson at 7 p.m. while UP which squares off UE at 11:30 a.m.
