UAAP: MAROONS RERESBAK SA EAGLES

Mga laro bukas:
(Mall of Asia Arena)
2 p.m. – UE vs UST (Men)
4 p.m. – NU vs DLSU (Men)

NAGHAHANDA na ang University of the Philippines sa pagresbak sa Ateneo sa pagtutuos ng Katipunan rivals sa ikalawang pagkakataon sa UAAP men’s basketball tournament.

Namayani ang back-to-back title seeking Blue Eagles laban sa Fighting Maroons sa overtime, 99-89, sa kanilang unang paghaharap magmula sa Game 3 ng Season 85 championship noong Linggo.

Mainit na sinimulan ng Ateneo ang kanilang second round campaign sa 59-62 pagdispatsa sa Far Eastern University noong nakaraang Miyerkoles sa likod ng improbable three-pointer ni Ljay Gonzales sa buzzer.

Ang Blue Eagles ay winalis ng Tamaraws sa kanilang elimination round head-to-head at nahulog sa 4-4 record sa fourth place.

Naibalik ng UP ang kanilang winning form sa 77-51 pagbasura sa Adamson upang manatiling kasalo ang National University sa ibabaw ng standings na may 7-1 kartada.

Batid ng Fighting Maroons na magiging mabigat ang kanilang laban sa Linggo, alas-6 ng gabi, sa Araneta Coliseum.

“It’s gonna be a tough game for sure. We have to clean up a lot of things na we thought we should have done better noong kalaban sila (Ateneo), specifically on defense,” sabi ni Christian Luanzon, ang ever-trusted first assistant ni UP coach Goldwin Monteverde.

“So it should be a good one, as long as players come out to play.” BInigyang-diin ni rookie Francis Lopez ang pangangailangan na ma-outwork at ma-outhustle ng Fighting Maroons ang Blue Eagles kung nais nilang maiganti ang kanilang pagkatalo na tumapos sa kanilang perfect 6-0 start.

“I think, coming off a loss to them, you know, that’s really tough. But, you know, they are coming for us, we are coming for them. We just have to be more prepared about it. We are just ready for whatever happens,” sabi ni Lopez.

“I think we just have to be prepared mentally and physically about the game on Sunday.”

Iskor:
UP (77) – Torres 12, Diouf 12, Lopez 11, Alarcon 9, Torculas 7, Felicilda 7, Gonzales 7, Briones 3, Belmonte 3, Cansino 3, Abadiano 2, Alter 1, Cagulangan 0, Gagate 0, Pablo 0.

AdU (51) – Yerro 7, Ramos 7, Montebon 6, Ojarikre 6, Calisay 6, Canete 4, Lastimosa 3, Manzano 3, Anabo 3, Magbuhos 2, Colonia 2, Sabandal 2, Erolon 0, Barcelona 0, Hanapi 0, Barasi 0.

QS: 17-11, 40-20, 58-38, 77-51.