Games today:
(UST Quadricentennial Pavilion)
12 p.m. –- NU vs Adamson
4 p.m. –- La Salle vs UE
National University tries to keep its hot win streak going against Adamson University to close the first round of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 86 men’s basketball tournament today at the Quadricentennial Pavilion inside the University of Santo Tomas campus.
Despite riding the crest of three straight victories, head coach Jeff Napa wants the second-running Bulldogs to be on their toes as the league approaches the crucial stretch of the Final Four race.
He warns his wards that the Falcons, just like them, seek to end the round on a high note when they meet at 12 p.m.
“We can’t afford to relax. Adamson, this is a very dangerous team. Coach Nash (Racela) is a very disciplined coach. We have to be ready against Adamson on Saturday,” Napa said.
NU crushed University of the East, 68-49, last Wednesday to improve its win-loss record to 5-1 behind unbeaten leader University of the Philippines (6-0).
Foreign student-athlete Omar John will again be at the forefront of the Bulldogs’ charge backed by Jake Figueroa, Donn Lim, Kean Baclaan, Steve Nash Enriquez and PJ Palacielo.
Adamson, on the other hand, wants to bounce back from a stinging 46-49 loss to Far Eastern University.
The Falcons are in a
three-way tie at third to fifth with a 3-3 slate alongside De La Salle University and defending champion Ateneo de Manila University.
Joshua Yerro, Ced Manzano, Vince Magbuhos and Joem Sabandal need to step up their game to get back on the winning track and carry momentum heading into the second round where injured Jerom Lastimosa is expected to make his return.
Lastimosa is still recovering from a knee injury that has sidelined him since the preseason.
Meanwhile, La Salle and UE clash at 4 p.m. with both squads looking to end the first round with a bounce back win.
The Green Archers absorbed a 64-67 loss at the hands of the Fighting Maroons last Wednesday for back-to-back defeats.
“We’ll gonna use these losses as a tool for us to get better,” La Salle first year coach Topex Robinson said.
Robinson is keeping his fingers crossed that veteran guard Evan Nelle will be available after sitting out the UP match due to a quad contusion injury.
