UST aims for quarterfinal seat vs AU

Manila, Philippines - University of Santo Tomas guns for a quarterfinal berth as it tangles with also-ran Arellano U today in the FilOil Flying V Hanes Pre-Season Premier Cup at the Flying V Arena in San Juan City.

With a 3-2 card, the Tigers need to get past the Arellano side, out of contention with a 1-5 slate, in their 3:15 p.m. encounter.

The tournament backed by Filoil, Flying V, Gerry’s Grill, BDO, Oxycan, Bayo and Molten.

In the other seniors offering, University of the Philippines (4-2) would also attempt to move closer to a berth in the quarters when it tackles another ousted squad in St. Benilde (0-7) at 2:15 to open things up.

UST currently sits in the fourth spot in the tight Group A and temporarily holds the final ticket to the quarterfinals in that group but it certainly needs a win against the Chiefs to prolong its stay in that place.

Coming off a 65-55 victory over listless Lyceum last Saturday, the Tigers are looking to capitalize on the momentum and rack up another one to strengthen their bid for the next round.

UST currently leads fifth placers De La Salle and San Beda College, who are both at 2-2, by half-a-game and a win would allow the Tigers to move past National University, who finished its eliminations campaign at 4-3, and take a step closer towards the last eight.

As for the Fighting Maroons, a win, just like the Tigers, would be vital as they are also in the thick of the battle in the other group, Group B.

UP, who is riding a two-game winning run, is at the third place in the said group and a victory would create a much needed distance from the team below it and would certainly improve its chances of making it the next phase.

In its last outing, the Maroons escaped with a 78-76 win over University of the East courtesy of import Alinko Mbah’s miraculous toss-up shot at the buzzer.