Maroons, Warriors press drives

MANILA, Philippines — Two of the hottest teams step on the gas in their similar bids to solidify their places inside the Magic Four at the tailend of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball first-round eliminations.

University of the Philippines tests the mettle of the retooled Santo Tomas while red-hot University of the East, on a three-game rampage, wants no let-up against the struggling Ateneo side today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Maroons, at 5-0, are the only unbeaten team in the league with double-digit wins against all opponents, making them the heavy favorites at 4:30 p.m. even against the Tigers (3-2) who have improved by leaps and bounds from a bottom-place finish last season.

For their part, the Warriors (3-2), at 6:30 p.m., eye to add the Blue Eagles (1-4) to their kill list headlined by the reigning champion La Salle Archers, whom they stunned, 75-71, last week.

UP is out for more than just taming Santo Tomas, but also priming up for a rematch with second-running La Salle this weekend to end the first round.

“We’re not gonna put our minds doon sa undefeated na situation, but rather, we’re gonna tackle kung ano ang sa harapan namin for now,” said coach Goldwin Monteverde.