UST-Sunkist seeks win in UST gym

Action in the PBL Platinum Cup shifts to the UST gym today with Sunkist-UST and ICTSI-La Salle gunning for a first victory in two starts at each other’s expense and Blu Star Detergents hoping to bounce back against Fash Liquid Power.

The Tigers hope to draw much from the proverbial home crowd against the Archers in the 3:45 p.m. main game of another exciting twinbill featuring some of the collegiate stars as the league stages its games at a second university venue after San Beda last Tuesday.

The Detergent Kings face the Liquid Powers, the Unity Cup champions, at 1:45 p.m.

After hurdling ICTSI, 85-80, in overtime, Blu bowed to Welcoat Paints, 63-71, in San Beda to slip from a share of top spot to solo third place with a 1-1 (win-loss) slate.

Leo Isaac’s charges, however, are expected to face tough opposition in Fash, which is out to atone its sorry 67-70 loss to Montaña Pawnshop (2-0) in Saturday’s opener in Pasig City.

But focus will surely be on ICTSI and Sunkist-UST, both reeling from opening day setbacks over the weekend.

ICTSI, for one, lost an otherwise won game to Blu Star while Sunkist-UST, mentored by interim coach Nel Parado in the absence of Aric del Rosario, fell short of its upset bid against fancied Welcoat.

The ICTSI-Sunkist duel will not just be a showdown of teams going all out for a first win but it is also expected to rekindle old rivalry in the UAAP.

Mark Cardona is expected to lead the Franz Pumaren-coached Archers again although he will have to work harder against the Alex Compton-led Tigers and a hostile UST crowd.

Another thing going for Sunkist-UST is ICTSI standout Joseph Yeo will not be around. Manny Salgado, the Archers’ manager, told The STAR that the spitfire La Salle guard is still at sickbay.

"He’s sick, had check-up yesterday. We still don’t have the results of his blood tests so there is a possibility he may not play again," said Salgado of Yeo.