UE tests NU mettle; UP vs Ateneo

Opening day winners University of the East and National U duel for the lead today even as Ateneo seeks a share of it when it clashes with University of the Phils. at today’s resumption of the 70th UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The Warriors overwhelmed the defending champion UST Tigers, 73-60, to kick off their campaign but the Recto-based cagers will need more firepower to hurdle a tough NU side in their 2 p.m. encounter.

“The win over UST was big, we just hope we could sustain if not improve our form,” said UE coach Dindo Pumaren, seeking to steer the school to its first title in 12 years after three failed tries.

The Bulldogs, spearheaded  by Joseph Lingao-Lingao and Edwin Asoro, outgunned the FEU Tams in overtime to pull off a 73-70 victory in what could be a big start for the league’s perennial whipping squad.

Meanwhile, Angeli Gloriani hit all of her 24 points from beyond the three-point arc yesterday and led La Salle to a 62-52 decision of University of the East as women’s basketball play in the UAAP got off in earnest at the Far Eastern gym.

The Lady Archers wiped out a 16-23 deficit by holding the Lady Warriors to just four points in the second period even as darkhorse University of the Philippines upset Far Eastern, 44-42.

Sihhaya Sadora and Anna Asistio combined for 19 points to lead the Lady Maroons, who were joined in the early lead by Adamson, a 74-59 winner over National in the other game.

Adamson needed a 22-11 tear in the third quarter to put the game away.

Tin Alon-Alon actually paced the Lady Warriors with 26 markers. Alon-Alon hit 10 of 18 attempts from the floor.