Warriors eye win No. 10 vs Bulldogs

University of the East hopes to repeat over National University and stretch its unbeaten run to 10 as it tries to move closer to a dream sweep of the two-round elims in the 70th UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Warriors have been dishing out one big game after the other to find themselves owner of the most impressive record thus far in the eight-team field with a 9-0 mark.

Their 99-82 romp over the defending champion UST Tigers last Sunday made the Warriors more formidable, thus installing them the favorites over the Bulldogs in their 4 p.m. encounter.

UE coach Dindo Pumaren, however, opts to downplay the team’s growing invincibility.

“Nothing has been proven (by this streak). It’s not an accomplishment. A lot of things can happen. But this is a good cushion,” said Pumaren.

The Warriors tamed the Bulldogs the first time they met last July 12, posting an 82-75 victory despite getting outscored in the final quarter.

UE actually sat on a 20-point cushion at the onset of the fourth and looked headed for a runaway win but the Warriors relaxed towards the end of the contest, enabling the Bulldogs to outscore them, 25-12.

However, expect the Warriors to come out and finish strong this time behind the likes of Mark Arellano, Kelvin Gregorio, Hans Thiele, James Martinez, Jorel Canizares and Paul Lee.

A sweep by UE will net the Warriors the first championship slot.

La Salle, meanwhile, seeks to solidify its hold of second spot as it takes on lowly Adamson in the 2 p.m. opener.

The Archers ripped the Falcons, 99-75, in the first round and remain the overwhelming favorite to clinch their seventh win in 10 games.

The Falcons are just a shade better than winless University of the Philippines (0-8) with a 1-7 slate.