Maroons fight Warriors, Eagles battle Falcons

MANILA, Philippines — Host University of the Philippines and University of the East jockey for positions inside the magic four while Ateneo and Adamson look to stay in the thick of the race in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball today at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Fresh from a long break, UP (7-1) is a favorite to repeat over UE (5-3) at 6:30 p.m. while being in the upper half of the standings just behind semis-bound La Salle (9-1). Streaking Ateneo (3-6) and skidding Adamson (3-6) figure in a key duel at 3:30 p.m.

The Maroons could move closer to following the Archers in the semis but coach Goldwin Monteverde is urging his wards not to look far ahead as they play the dangerous Warriors, who had a five-game win run at one point.

With a long breather since their 83-73 win over Santo Tomas on Oct. 13, the Maroons will have fresher legs as added advantage against UE that saw its streak end against La Salle in overtime, 94-87, last weekend.

“We have to be consistent with what we’ve always said in the first round: responding to the challenge at hand, especially against a team like UE,” said Monteverde, whose charges grinded out an 81-71 win in their first-round clash.

The bigger opportunity, however, is on the Eagles with a potential to tie the Tigers at fourth spot.

Ateneo, after a winless start, has scored two straight wins to catch up with Adamson – on a three-game slide – and fellow red-hot Far Eastern U at No. 5 with identical 3-6 slates.

“It does take some pressure off. It does relieve things a bit,” said coach Tab Baldwin following a gutsy win against Santo Tomas, 67-64, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.

The Falcons, on their part, absorbed a 70-45 defeat at the hands of the La Salle Archers at the UST gym, suddenly losing steam.