Games Saturday
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
10 a.m. – AdU vs FEU (women)
12 p.m. – DLSU vs UE (women)
4 p.m. – AdU vs FEU (men)
6 p.m. – DLSU vs UE
MANILA, Philippines – Reigning champion meets the league’s hottest team as pace-setting La Salle seeks sweet payback against the rampaging University of the East to open the crucial second round of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Hostilities fire off at 6 p.m. with the top-seeded Archers (6-1) eyeing to settle unfinished business with the Warriors (5-2), at solo third, after the duel between struggling teams Adamson (3-4) and Far Eastern University (1-6) at 4 p.m. to pump hopes to their Final Four bid.
Though La Salle still ended up atop the standings, the first round saw a bevy of surprises across all matches none bigger than its lone defeat at the hands of UE, 75-71.
Doubts were cast on the Archers if they could still defend the crown before the Taft-based dribblers seized three straight wins since then, capped by a 68-56 win over rival University of the Philippines to snatch the driver’s seat entering the second round.
For La Salle with Most Valuable Player race leader Kevin Quiambao at the helm, sustaining that drive remains the top priority, letting its game take care of business in exacting some measure of vengeance on its tormentors from Recto that’s been on its best start in 10 years.
“We still have a lot to work on kasi kung masatisfy na kami dito, that would be our downfall,” said deputy mentor Gian Nazario.
The Warriors, who started at 0-2 before posting five wins in a row, will boast the same mantra with an all-time high confidence that they could stand their ground against any UAAP team, even the mighty Archers for the second straight time.
“I honestly believe we can beat other teams. Ang pinakamagandang nangyari samin was when we played against the number one team and luckily, we beat them,” said coach Jack Santiago, on the heels of a 63-62 win over Adamson off a Wello Lingolingo buzzer-beater to end the first round with a bang.
“Nararamdaman ng team na kaya pala namin. Mula noon, nag-trabaho lang kami. At ganoon ulit sa second round, 0-0 ulit kami. Hindi kami magre-relax. Back to zero mindset kami.”