Red-hot Tigers eye No. 4 vs Warriors

MANILA, Philippines - Streaking University of Santo Tomas guns for its fourth straight win against lightweight University of the East today when UAAP Season 75 men’s basketball tourney resumes at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

After huge victories over defending champion Ateneo, National U and La Salle, the Tigers (3-1) seek to keep the momentum going at 4 p.m. against a struggling Warriors side (0-4) out to break into the win column.

Slumping La Salle (2-3) looks to arrest a three-game slide as it battles Adamson (1-3) in the 2 p.m. curtain-raiser.

The double-header was originally slated last Aug. 8 but was postponed due to the heavy monsoon rains that flooded several parts of Luzon and left many stranded.

The Tigers of coach Pido Jarencio have already met four teams tipped to contend for playoffs spots this year and have given a pretty good account of themselves.

After a blown game against FEU (72-73), the Thomasians showed big fighting heart in snatching victories from the jaws of defeat in dispatching the Eagles (71-70), the Bulldogs (77-71) and Archers (84-82 in double overtime).

“Our confidence level has gotten higher after winning those three close games,” Jarencio said in Filipino.

However, he cautioned his wards against taking the Warriors lightly. 

“We have to play our game and do what we need to,” said former UST star, who will bank on team leaders Jeric Teng, Karim Abdul, and Aljon Mariano against the UE squad led Roi Sumang and Chris Javier.

Meanwhile, La Salle hopes to get back to its winning ways. Following a 2-0 start that briefly gave them a share of the early lead, the Green Archers have dropped their next three.

The Falcons, themselves, have been struggling this season, with only a win over UE to show so far against setbacks to Ateneo, NU and Far Eastern. Worse, the Falcons lost ace swingman Alex Nuyles to a shoulder injury.

Meanwhile, FEU Diliman Baby Tamaraws clobbered UP-Integrated School, 76-46, to stretch their unbeaten run to five games and catch idle National U at the helm in the juniors division.

Reigning MVP Jerie Pingoy fired 18 points and dished out six assists to lead the Baby Tams in the lone game at the Ynares Sports Arena yesterday.