National University and University Santo Tomas want no let-up against separate counterparts to cross the second round as still the joint leaders in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament.
Sharing the summit at 5-1, the Bulldogs take on the Ateneo Blue Eagles (4-2) at 2 p.m. followed by the Growling Tigers’ tussle against the Adamson Soaring Falcons (2-4) at 4:30 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum to end their first-round campaign.
The twin bills sets the stage for an explosive first-round finale Sunday at the same venue featuring reigning champion UP and runner-up La Salle, without Mason Amos and Kean Baclaan due to MCL injuries. Cellar dwellers Far Eastern University (1-5) and University of the East (0-6) figure in the other game.
But all eyes are on NU and UST for now in the middle of their revelation seasons to steal the thunder from the usual top contenders.
‘We have to keep this momentum going into the second round. To do that, we have to play Adamson with a 100% focus. Hindi madaling kalaban ang Adamson dahil anytime, kaya nilang manalo,’ said Santo Tomas assistant coach CJ Balingit.
UST’s lone defeat actually came against its co-leader NU, toppling the fancied UP, La Salle and Ateneo in a giant-killing spree for its best start in head coach Pido Jarencio’s return.
The Tamaraws served as the Growling Tigers’ latest victim, with UST running away with a 10-0 closeout in the waning minutes for a 92-80 win on Wednesday behind the efforts of Collins Akowe, Forstky Padrigao, Nic Cabañero, Gelo Crisostomo Kyle Paranada.
NU, on the other hand, faces a tougher outing against Ateneo out to end a two-game skid after a torrid 4-0 start to lose hold of the driver’s seat.
‘Ateneo is really doing good so we will be prepared for them with necessary adjustments. We will have plans A, B and C,’ warned deputy Vic Ycasiano, who stepped in for Jeff Napa due to PBA commitments after the game last weekend.
The Bulldogs are coming off a gutsy 82-78 win against the Green Archers in a duel marred by the MCL injury of Mason Amos. La Salle then lost Kean Baclaan to the same injury three days later in a 111-110 overtime win over UE.
That same injury bug hounded NU’s chances last season to settle for a seventh-place finish before a full reversal of roles this time around atop of the standings entering the second round.
‘Mas magiging intense pa kami sa second round. Mas magiging maayos pa ang laro namin,’ vowed Ycasiano, counting on skipper Jake Figueroa and returning reinforcement Omar John to lead the way anew amid his MVP campaign with all-around numbers in the first six games.