UST hopes to stop FEU's goal of joining Ateneo on top
08/14/2009 | 07:02 PM
Far Eastern University tries to keep pace with defending champion Ateneo when it faces University of Santo Tomas on Saturday when second round action in the 72nd UAAP men’s basketball tournament resumes at the Big Dome.
The Tamaraws, currently at second with a 6-1 slate, are hoping to join the league-leading Blue Eagles (7-1) on top of the standings while the Growling Tigers are also looking at taking over sole possession of the second spot.
FEU has proven that they can be title contenders after notching six straight wins following an opening day loss to defending champion Ateneo last July 12 at the same venue.
With those victories the Morayta-based squad was able to keep in pace with the team from Katipunan and are now also looking for its seventh victory and a repeat over UST this season.
The Growling Tigers, who succumbed to the much taller FEU squad last August 6 at the Araneta Coliseum, will have the opportunity to avenge that 90-63 drubbing and bag their fourth win that could up their card to 5-3.
Again, FEU is expected to capitalize on their height advantage over the España-based team whose top slot man Jervy Cruz graduated last season.
With Cruz out of UST's roster, wingmen Dylan Ababou and Khasim Mirza were left with the role of plugging the hole inside. Ababou – who leads the MVP race with his awesome first-round per game averages of 19.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists – and Mirza were quite successful in doing their roles but failed against FEU miserably.
Standings
W-L
Ateneo 7-1
FEU6-1
UST 4-3
UE 4-4
La Salle 4-4
NU 2-5
Adamson 2-6
UP 1-6
Mirza have amply supported the Growling Tigers’ skipper with his averages of 17 points and 8.3 rebounds but FEU’s resounding victory showed that UST needed to double their efforts in manning the paint especially against taller teams.
With this in mind, UST must find an antidote against FEU’s formidable big men composed of Aldrech Ramos and Reil Cervantes and its top playmaker Andy Barroca, who notched a team-high averages of 12.9 points and 4.9 assists in the first round.
In another match, the National U Bulldogs are looking at posting their first back-to-back win this season when it faces inconsistent but also dangerous UP Fighting Maroons.
Games Saturday
Araneta Coliseum
2pm NU vs UP
4pm UST vs FEU
The Bulldogs ended their first round campaign with an 86-70 triumph over Adamson U last August 8 for their second win going into the last round of eliminations.
NU, likewise, is looking at repeating over UP, which the Bulldogs pummeled 74-64 in their opening match last July 11. – Perry Legaspi, GMANews.TV
The Tamaraws, currently at second with a 6-1 slate, are hoping to join the league-leading Blue Eagles (7-1) on top of the standings while the Growling Tigers are also looking at taking over sole possession of the second spot.
FEU has proven that they can be title contenders after notching six straight wins following an opening day loss to defending champion Ateneo last July 12 at the same venue.
With those victories the Morayta-based squad was able to keep in pace with the team from Katipunan and are now also looking for its seventh victory and a repeat over UST this season.
The Growling Tigers, who succumbed to the much taller FEU squad last August 6 at the Araneta Coliseum, will have the opportunity to avenge that 90-63 drubbing and bag their fourth win that could up their card to 5-3.
Again, FEU is expected to capitalize on their height advantage over the España-based team whose top slot man Jervy Cruz graduated last season.
With Cruz out of UST's roster, wingmen Dylan Ababou and Khasim Mirza were left with the role of plugging the hole inside. Ababou – who leads the MVP race with his awesome first-round per game averages of 19.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists – and Mirza were quite successful in doing their roles but failed against FEU miserably.
Standings
W-L
Ateneo 7-1
FEU6-1
UST 4-3
UE 4-4
La Salle 4-4
NU 2-5
Adamson 2-6
UP 1-6
Mirza have amply supported the Growling Tigers’ skipper with his averages of 17 points and 8.3 rebounds but FEU’s resounding victory showed that UST needed to double their efforts in manning the paint especially against taller teams.
With this in mind, UST must find an antidote against FEU’s formidable big men composed of Aldrech Ramos and Reil Cervantes and its top playmaker Andy Barroca, who notched a team-high averages of 12.9 points and 4.9 assists in the first round.
In another match, the National U Bulldogs are looking at posting their first back-to-back win this season when it faces inconsistent but also dangerous UP Fighting Maroons.
Games Saturday
Araneta Coliseum
2pm NU vs UP
4pm UST vs FEU
The Bulldogs ended their first round campaign with an 86-70 triumph over Adamson U last August 8 for their second win going into the last round of eliminations.
NU, likewise, is looking at repeating over UP, which the Bulldogs pummeled 74-64 in their opening match last July 11. – Perry Legaspi, GMANews.TV
