Tams eye revenge vs UST
Games Today (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 2 p.m. – UE vs Adamson 4 p.m. – FEU vs UST
Vengeance will be Far Eastern University’s objective besides the bonus of clinching a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four when it faces first round tormentor University of Santo Tomas today in the UAAP basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Tamaraws, who have won nine straight games after a 1-1 start, has a league-best 10-1 record, but still needs to come out sharp against the Growling Tigers as they are coming from a break of almost two weeks. Game time is 4 p.m. Though still at No. 2 with a 9-3 record, UST is aiming to regain its form after suffering a shock 91-77 defeat last Wednesday from lowly University of the East, a team that is fighting for its life.
UST has lost two of its last three games but FEU coach Nash Racela is not taking chances against a team desperate to bounce back and gunning for a twice-to-beat edge.
“It’s clear with the players that every game, we’ll try to win regardless of our standing. We’re still not assured of the top two, we’ll just play the remaining games the way we played before,” said Racela.
“We’re concerned because UST beat us in the first round, the goal is to win this game. We’ll prepare for Kevin Ferrer, (Ed) Daquioag, (Karim) Abdul, Marvin Lee and (Louie) Vigil, yan yung mga players na naglalaro ng maayos sa kanila.”
In the first round, Daquioag exploded for 12 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter as UST eked out a 72-71 thriller last Sept. 9. The game also saw FEU lose following a maze of errors, 10 by ace guard Mike Tolomia.
FEU has never lost since while UST became one of the league’s top contenders.
While many pundits are also looking at this contest as a potential finals preview, Racela doesn’t want look at it that way.
“Ayoko pagisipan kasi talaga. The playoffs will be different. There’s no assurance,” he said.
Another defeat will reduce UST’s hold of second place to a half-game, opening the door for streaking Ateneo in their battle for the semifinals bonus.
Ateneo has won its last four games and is in third spot with an 8-4 slate. The Blue Eagles could forge a tie for second should it beat La Salle tomorrow and UST loses again.
UST coach Bong Dela Cruz, however, is more concerned on his team’s performance.
“Basta ang concern ko lang is yung team namin. May gameplan kami na kailangan i-execute and in this game kailangan namin makabawi,” said Dela Cruz.
UE faces lowly Adamson in the 2 p.m. opener with the Red Warriors looking to use their win over the Tigers as a springboard to keep their Final Four hopes alive.
The Warriors are in sixth place with a 4-7 record, a game behind the Green Archers (5-6) in the race for the fourth and last Final Four berth. A victory will put them in a tie for fifth with the idle National University Bulldogs, who are at 5-6.