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DEFENDING champion University of Santo Tomas and last
year’s runner-up Ateneo de Manila University hope to strengthen
their hunt for semis slots when they collide anew in the 70th
University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s
basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.
The UST-Ateneo rematch is set at
4 p.m. while Far Eastern University and University of the
Philippines square off in the 2 p.m. curtain raiser.
The Growling Tigers kept their
semis bid alive after beating National University, 84-72, last
Sunday to take the solo third spot with a 6-4 win-loss record.
“At this moment, we have to be
aggressive. Ilang teams pa ang naghahabol para makapasok sa semis.
We need to stay focused and play solid games,” said UST coach Pido
Jarencio.
“Playing against Ateneo is
another big task for us. Tingnan na lang natin baka maka-tsamba ulit
kami,” added Jarencio. UST beat Ateneo, 87-74, in the first round.
Most Valuable Player candidate
Jervy Cruz, who averages 15.9 points and 15.5 rebounds a game, is
expected to provide strength on both ends along with Dylan Ababou,
Khasim Mirza, Japs Cuan and Mark Canlas.
The Blue Eagles, who snapped
their three-game losing spell with an 83-75 win over FEU last
Saturday, will be spearheaded by Chris Tiu, Ford Arao, Eric Salamat
and Rabah Al-Hussaini.
Ateneo improved to 5-4 in fourth
place followed by FEU (5-5) and NU (4-6) while Adamson University
(1-9) and UP (0-9) are already out of the semis race.
De La Salle, sporting an 8-3
card, needs one more win to join unbeaten University of the East in
the final four.
--Emil Noguera
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