Games Today (Saturday)
The Arena, San Juan City
2 p.m. UP vs. NU
4 p.m. UST vs. FEU
THE Adamson Soaring Falcons are not paper tigers after all as the team bolstered its bid for an encouraging first round campaign since 1994.
The San Marcelino-based squad went out from a humbling setback to an unscathed Far Eastern University (FEU) last Sunday to upend a shackled University of the East (UE), 69-56, in the 73rd UAAP men's basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum on Thursday.
Adamson University made a strong start in the 73rd UAAP men's basketball tournament by notching four wins in six outings so far. (Sunnex/Virgil Lopez)
"This is perhaps our best finish. I think this is the most important win in the first round because we're in the middle of the standings. So this is a good start for us to gain the No. 2 spot because for sure sa FEU na ang No. 1," said coach Leo Austria.
The former PBA player brought Adamson to its first semifinals appearance since the introduction of the Final Four format under a Ken Bono-led squad in 2006.
The Soaring Falcons however lost a possible finals stint at the hands of Ateneo de Manila in a close 73-76 contest last September 17, 2006.
Adamson will wrap up its first round eliminations campaign on August 8 against young gunners from De La Salle University.
Meantime, basketball action moves to the Arena in San Juan for the first time this season as FEU takes on University of Santo Tomas to seize solo lead in the eight-member tournament.
The Tamaraws will be powered by two-time player of the week RR Garcia, along with Aldrech Ramos and Pippou Noundou.
A headache for the Tamaraws meantime are the outside shooters of UST which include Clark Bautista, Jeric Teng and Jeric Fortuna, who drained eight triples in their come-from-behind win against University of the Philippines last July 22.
"We just have to stick to our defense in the three-point area. We'll see. We just have to do our best," said coach Glenn Capacio.
UP might end its first round campaign in a winless note if the NU Bulldogs show its biting form in the 4 p.m. main event.
The Fighting Maroons continues to languish at the cellar after dropping six straight games while the Bulldogs are looking for a third win in seven assignments. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)