FAR Eastern University (FEU) tries to tighten its grip at the No. 2 spot against skidding University of Santo Tomas (UST) when they clash in the main game of Season 79 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball action on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Tamaraws and Growling Tigers face off at 4 p.m., right after the tussle between Adamson University and University of the Philippines (UP) at 2 p.m.
The defending champions Tamaraw are currently at solo second spot with a 6-2 win-loss record, two games behind league-leading De La Salle (8-0) and two games ahead of Ateneo de Manila, National University and Adamson University, all sporting 4-4 cards.
FEU is coming off a 57-56 squeaker over the Bulldogs last Sunday on Monbert Arong’s game-winner.
The Morayta-based dribblers will be facing the struggling UST quintet, which is entering the game with a five-game losing streak and is currently tied with University of the East (UE) and UP at the bottom of the standings with 2-6 cards each.
“UST is a dangerous team. They have veterans, long and athletic players. Their record does not say much of that team,” Tamaraws Head Coach Nash Racela said. “So we have to prepare well because we know it will be difficult in the second round.”
After a 2-1 start, the Growling Tigers dropped their last five games, including a 61-71 defeat to the rising Red Warriors.
The Fighting Maroons, meanwhile, are eyeing their first back-to-back wins of the season against the dangerous Soaring Falcons, who gave the Green Archers a scare last Sunday before yielding an 86-79 decision.
UP is coming off a huge 56-52 triumph over the Blue Eagles that ended its 14-game losing streak to the Loyola-based team dating back to 2009.
“I think we are better than 1-6. I really think that if we could have closed out games better, then we could have won a couple more games,” Fighting Maroons Head Coach Bo Perasol said.
Perasol and his wards will try to avenge their 85-104 loss to Adamson University in the first round. Standings: La Salle 8-0; FEU 6-2; Ateneo 4-4; NU 4-4; Adamson 4-4; UE 2-6; UP 2-6.
