Tams hope to extend win run versus Tigers

MANILA, Philippines - Enjoying its first two-game streak after a roller-coaster start in UAAP LXXIX men’s basketball tourney, holder Far Eastern U seeks to keep on winning as it tangles with Santo Tomas in an explosive duel with its finals nemesis today at the MOA Arena.

The Tams (3-2) and the Tigers (2-3) clash at 4 p.m. in their first showdown since disputing the Season 78 crown in three hard-fought matches last year.

“We hope to play tough defense against an explosive UST team,” FEU coach Nash Racela said.

Racela’s troops have to work double time to fill in the void left by Ron Dennison, a key player who serves his suspension today. Dennison was thrown out during the Tams’ 51-49 escape act over University of the Philippines last Sunday. FEU’s appeal to lift the ban was turned down by commissioner Rebo Saguisag.

FEU’s squeaker over UP, after a 67-59 verdict over University of the East, made up for a loss-win-loss result which came after its first back-to-back wins in the season.

“We welcome those first back-to-back wins, but we expected again an-up-and down season for us and every game, we tell our players that it’s not going to be easy,” said Racela.

The Tigers have also struggled, dropping their assignments to Ateneo, La Salle (by 38 points) and National U while picking up victories over UP and UE.

UST coach Boy Sablan rued his wards’ lethargic starts.

 “May tendency na tinatamad, nagpapabaya sa first half. Sinasabihan ko sila pag masipag ka, lamang kang manalo; kung tamad ka, lamang kang matalo (They have the tendency to take it easy in the early goings. I’m telling them if they work hard for it, the chances of victory is big; if they slack off, the chances of losing are big),” he said.

The Bulldogs, who held off the Tigers’ late uprising to score a 75-68 win Sunday, hope to make it two in a row in the 2 p.m. first game against the Maroons (1-5), who are on a two-game slide.

“There’re no pushovers in this league, we can’t ignore anybody so we have to really prepare well and play heads-up against UP, which is a dangerous team,” said NU’s Eric Altamirano.