Tigers brace for tougher 2nd round of UAAP elims

MANILA, Philippines – Despite a strong start to the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament, the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers are still far from being contenders, team captain Nic Cabanero said. 

UST is currently sitting at fourth place in the tournament with a 4-3 win-loss record. 
The Espana-based cagers have now doubled their total record last season, with the second round of competition still about to begin. 

After their 83-72 victory over the Far Eastern University Tamaraws to end the first round, Cabanero acknowledged that the second round of competition will be very much different.

“I think kailangan namin to play as a team. Even on and off the court, kailangan solid kami. I know na dito masusukat iyong challenge e, kasi iba iyong second round,” he said. 

“I think every team will adjust kasi iba talaga iyong first round and second round. And dito malalaman kung sino iyong mga contender na teams and we’re trying to get more wins din sa second round,” he added. 

“Hindi ko pa masabi [na contenders na kami] kasi malayo pa kami sa gusto naming marating. Every day we’re trying to be better and i-adjust na lang namin kung ano iyong kailangan naming i-adjust for the team."

Guard Forthsky Padrigao, for his part, stressed that they are looking forward to tougher competition. 

“Second round, we’re expecting na the games are gonna be tougher kasi nagkalaban na lahat ng teams, nakita namin yung strength and weaknesses ng isa’t isa but then again, come the second round, may mga adjustments na mangyayari,” he said. 

“So we’re just expecting na talagang mas mahirap yung mga magiging panalo namin this coming second round.” 

This was echoed by big man Mo Tounkara. 

“It's not gonna be easy for sure. It's gonna be tough to deliver. But through our preparation, we're gonna put ourselves in a winning position. I know for sure it's not going to be easy anymore,” he stated. 

“It's gonna be tough and I believe in my teammates, my coaches. We're gonna take those wins in the second round. We're gonna do much better.”
 
The Tigers are strong offensively in seven games thus far, but subpar defensively. 

UST is currently third in the league in points with an average of 69.57. However, they are last in points allowed with 70.43. 

They are almost ranked third in total field goal shooting with 40.13%, but seventh overall in total opponent field goal percentage allowed with 40.36%. 

With this, the three Tigers are within the top 10 of the Most Valuable Player race. 

Padrigao is sixth with 62.43 statistical points (SPs,) followed by Tounkara with 60.0 SPs. Cabanero is at ninth with 55.14 SPs. 

The Tigers will kick off their second round with a battle against the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons on Sunday, 6 p.m., at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.