Inconsistent Maroons go after Bulldogs

Unpredictable University of the Philippines seeks to enhance its bid while National University hopes to breathe new life to its flickering Final Four aspiration as the two clash today in the 65th UAAP basketball tournament at the Makati Coliseum.

Gametime is set at 4 p.m. with the Maroons, currently at fifth place with a 2-3 slate, aim to bounce back from a heartbreaking 67-71 loss to the five-peat seeking La Salle Archers a week ago with a win over the slumping Bulldogs, winless in five starts.

All eyes are on Michael Bravo, who currently leads the league in scoring with an average of 21 points a game, although UP must get some contribution from other sources like Xavier Nunag, rookie Lino Tabique Jr. and Toti Almeda.

Nunag and Tabique, heroes in the Maroons’ stunning 53-49 triumph over the fancied Ateneo Eagles a week and a half back, have been showing a lot of promise but lacked the endgame poise while Almeda has been a non-factor this season.

UP has some other problems too.

Jay-Ar Reyes, a neophyte out of Letran High who was MVP of last year’s NCAA juniors, has yet to live up to his billing while fellow big men Rodel Celo, Lito Arnaiz, PBL veteran Abe Santos and Josant Cervantes had shown defensive spunk but lacked the offense to complement it.

"We have a lot of problems because we are a young team although I’m happy to say that we’re starting to learn from our mistakes," said UP coach Allan Gregorio, elder brother of the PBA’s Purefoods interim coach Ryan.

Alfie Grijaldo and Anthony Urbano, on the other hand, are the players who have been consistently dishing out impressive games for the Bulldogs while Jeff Napa, who erupted for 32 markers in NU’s close 84-85 loss to the Santo Tomas Sunday, has been inconsistent.

The missing link for NU is Froilan Baguion, who was the biggest sensation last season after leading all players in the points-turnover ratio department. This year, Baguion, who was injured before the season, is in shambles.