Men’s basketball standings
NU (9-2)
UP (8-3)
La Salle (6-4)
UST (5-5)
Ateneo (5-5)
Adamson (5-6)
FEU (4-6)
UE (0-11)
Games Wednesday
(Mall of Asia Arena)
7:30 a.m. – UE vs UST (16U)
9:30 a.m. – FEU vs NU (16U)
12 p.m. – UE vs UST (women’s)
2 p.m. – UE vs UST (men’s)
4:30 p.m. – FEU vs NU (men’s)
7 p.m. – FEU vs NU (women’s)
By MARK REY MONTEJO
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National University eyes a playoff for a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four, while University of Santo Tomas and Far Eastern University look to bolster their respective semis bids at the resumption of the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City Wednesday, Nov. 12.
Emboldened by a three-game winning streak that included a 66-65 escape over the Adamson Falcons, the Bulldogs are certainly the odds-on favorites in their 4:30 p.m. showdown with the FEU Tamaraws.
Also worth watching is the 2 p.m. duel between the UST Growling Tigers and the also-ran UE Warriors.
Though they have already punched their ticket to the semis round, the Bulldogs still need to extend their winning streak in order to improve their 9-2 mark for a chance to secure a bonus in the semis.
As one takes a look at the team standings, it is so tight that NU should hurdle two of its three remaining games to assure itself of a Top 2 finish – same thing for second running and defending champion University of the Philippines which is carrying an 8-3 card.
Despite its status for now, the Jhocson-based squad refuses to be swayed as it focuses more on improving its play since every game is vital in this crucial stretch of the tournament.
With Gelo Santiago currently serving his five-game suspension, the Bulldogs should play with a sense of urgency and the task of filling that void falls into the hands of Jake Figueroa.
And Figueroa has proven to be up to the task as he joined forces with Mark Parks to lift NU past a determined Adamson side.
Also expected to deliver for NU are Omar John, Steve Nash Enriquez, Paul Francisco, Reinhard Jumamoy, and Jolo Manansala – all ready to contribute against a team they beat convincingly in the first round, 84-68, last Sept. 27.
Led by combo guards Janrey Pasaol and Jorick Bautista, the Tamaraws are determined to score a follow-up to their 73-70 win over the Falcons to improve their 4-6 mark.
Meanwhile, UST needs to beat the Warriors again if they are to stop their bleeding.
After going 5-1, the Tigers have dropped their last four games, including an 89-88 loss to the Maroons in a defeat that infuriated head coach Pido Jarencio and some of their supporters.
Manpower-wise, the Tigers enjoy a huge advantage over the Warriors, but they can’t take the latter for granted even if the Recto-based squad is still winless in 11games.
In women’s play, defending champion NU goes for its 10th straight win over FEU in their 7 p.m. encounter, while UST guns for its 11th consecutive against the hapless UE at 12 noon. In the 16-under event, UE battles UST at 7:30 a.m. followed by a 9:30 a.m. clash between FEU and NU.
