By MARK REY MONTEJO
Men’s basketball standings
NU (11-2)
UP (9-3)
UST (7-5)
La Salle (6-5)
Ateneo (5-6)
FEU (5-7)
Adamson (5-7)
UE (0-13)
Games Wednesday
(Mall of Asia Arena)
7:30 a.m. – Ateneo vs UP (16U)
9:30 a.m. – Adamson vs La Salle (16U)
11:30 a.m. – Adamson vs La Salle (women’s)
1:30 p.m. – Adamson vs La Salle (men’s)
4:30 p.m. – Ateneo vs UP (men’s)
7 p.m. – Ateneo vs UP (women’s)
Reigning champion University of the Philippines guns for the twice-to-beat advantage while La Salle eyes to solidify its bid for a Top 4 finish when they take on separate foes in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City Wednesday, Nov. 19.
Fresh off a 70–65 win over Adamson that clinched them a semis ticket, the Fighting Maroons aim to strengthen their Final Four run by clinching the bonus against the Ateneo Blue Eagles in their 4:30 p.m. affair.
It goes after the 1:30 clash between the Green Archers who look to preserve, or even improve, their current ranking against the Adamson Soaring Falcons.
UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde emphasized the importance of his team’s maturity especially in picking up the slack for heir struggling teammates.
“Sa akin vina-value namin ‘yong ganon, having teammates to step up and knowing na tuwing may challenge sa loob, somebody’s got their back, coming from the bench,” said Monteverde.
“‘Di naman araw-araw papabor sa atin, importante lang is as a team, bawat isa samin harapin ang dapat naming harapin,” he added. “Hence, ang maganda rito they’re responding sa mga challenge.”
Expected to lead the Diliman-based squad are mainstays Gerry Abadiano, Harold Alarcon, Reyland Torres, and Terrence Fortea alongside reinforcers Gani Stevens, Noy Remogat and Francis Nnoruka.
A win would be big for the Maroons as they will join league-leading National University (11-2) with the same twice-to-beat armor.
A curious spectator to the clash meanwhile is UST as a loss by UP could open things up for the Tigers to snatch the bonus.
Same thing goes for Ateneo, which came from a 67-59 loss to UST, if it plans to live for another day. The Eagles bank on Kymani Ladi, Dom Escobar, Shawn Tuano, Divine Adili, Jaden Lazo, and Jared Bahay.
The Tab Baldwin-mentored crew is also eyeing to exact revenge after bowing to UP, 83-69, in their first encounter last Oct. 8, at the same venue.
