Red-hot Maroons want Archers in casualty list

University of the Philippines tries to ride the momentum of its stunning victory over Ateneo last week when it meets title favorite La Salle today in the 65th UAAP basketball tournament at the Makati Coliseum.

The Maroons dealt the Eagles a 53-49 loss last week and are hoping for the same result in their 2 p.m. match with the Archers, still unbeaten in four games. UP has an even 2-2 record under new coach Allan Gregorio.

"Beating Ateneo gives us a lot of confidence," said Gregorio, who took over this year as coach after his younger brother, Ryan, got tied up with Purefoods in the PBA. "But La Salle is a different and more dangerous team so we have to apply a different tactic."

One major obstacle Gregorio and his wards would need to hurdle is La Salle’s vaunted full court press, a system that has netted the Taft-based dribblers four consecutive titles.

Another puzzle the Maroons needed to solve is the exciting trio of Mike Cortez, Mark Cardona and Joseph Yeo, who have all been dishing out incredible games for the Archers.

Another Ateneo conqueror, University of the East, collides with slumping FEU at 4 p.m. with the Warriors hoping to extend their own winning streak to four and move up to solo second.

The Red Warriors handed the Eagles a second straight loss, 76-73, last Thursday.

The Tamaraws, on the other hand, have four losses in five games, their latest setback dealt by the Santo Tomas Tigers the other day, 80-85.