Team Standings
NU 5-2
UP 5-2
AdU 4-3
UST 4-3
FEU 4-3
DLSU 3-4
Ateneo 3-4
UE 0-7
Games on Wednesday
(SM Mall of Asia Arena)
8 a.m. – DLSU vs UST (Women)
10 a.m. – UE vs FEU (Women)
Noon – NU vs UP (Women)
2:30 p.m. – DLSU vs UE (Men)
5 p.m. – UP vs UST (Men)
7:30 p.m. – Ateneo vs AdU (Women)
RED-HOT University of the Philippines (UP) tries to pick from where it left off against University of Santo Tomas (UST) to seize the solo top spot in the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball second round on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
UP and National University (NU) currently share the lead at 5-2 but only by a hair from a jampacked middle standings after the first round, making it a must to take care of business against UST at 5 p.m. to create enough breather in the tightrope Final Four race.
The UP Fighting Maroons got into safe position thus far after three straight wins to end the first round, recovering from a stumble with back-to-back losses midway against NU and host Far Eastern University (FEU) to right the ship of its redemption tour after a bridesmaid finish to De La Salle University.
La Salle — which battles University of the East (UE) at 2:30 p.m. — is off to a rough start as well, tied with rival Ateneo de Manila University at 3-4 as rising forces FEU, Santo Tomas and Adamson University occupy the peloton at 4-3 behind the two-way NU-UP lead. UE (0-7), on 27 straight losses in almost three seasons, remains at the cellar after the first salvo.
Head coach Goldwin Monteverde said that early struggle was part of their growth given a young squad with the departure of their core but the learnings should be applied already in the make-or-break second phase.
“Lahat naman siguro ng natatalo namin, part na rin ng growth namin ‘yan. Lahat ‘yun, for me, good or bad; it’s still a learning experience for the team, which we need naman towards the second round,” said Mr. Monteverde, the engineer behind Diliman’s five straight finals appearances.
The Fighting Maroons hacked out a gutsy 92-85 win over the UST Growling Tigers in the first round and they are well aware that it would be an even tougher duel this time.
“Hindi magiging madali sa second round. Kailangan pagtrabahuhan,” said transferee but already veteran James Payosing, one of the newcomers for UP this season from San Beda as NCAA Finals MVP.
Santo Tomas will march into battle brimming with confidence as it seeks to add UP to its upset list after stunning reigning champion La Salle in a strong first-round closeout, 80-75.
“Alam na namin yung gagawin namin at kailangan din namin lalo na sa training. Kasi, pagdating ng second round, iba na yun eh. Ibang usapan na yun, magiging prepared lang din kami,” said Santo Tomas guard Mark Llemit (66), fourth in MVP race with teammate Amiel Acido (68.714) as No. 2.
NU ace guard Reinhard Jumamoy leads the race after the first round with 72.714 statistical points. He’s joined by teammate PJ Palacielo (66.286) at No. 3 with FEU’s Kirby Mongcopa (65) completing the Top 5.
Meanwhile, UE’s bid to end a long drought against La Salle also takes a hit after the one-game suspension of John Dexter Santos due to a disqualifying foul upgrade from unsportsmanlike foul on UP’s Dikachi Ududo last week upon review. — John Bryan Ulanday