UAAP preview: FEU-UST

MANILA, Philippines – FEU looked like a team on a championship mission following their 88-64 demolition of Ateneo last Sunday. They played as flawless a match as there ever was in getting past their longtime rival.

 

UST, on the other hand, got away with what would have been a humiliating loss were it not for Kevin Ferrer as the Adamson Falcons battled them for almost the entire game; losing only because of their youth and inexperience. 

 

The Growling Tigers will go up against the Tamaraws, who have a wealth of hungry and battle-tested veterans, although it is the latter team that has loads of championship experience. UST might have Karim Abdul, Kevin Ferrer, Jon Sheriff and Kent La who were around from their last finals berth from two years ago, but it is Abdul and Ferrer who who played serious and meaningful minutes.

 

This season, Abdul doesn't look like the player he was two years ago as he has put on some weight compared to the more chiseled look he had last year. Nevertheless, FEU will still be concerned about him. 

 

Ed Daquioag, like Ferrer, will grow into his role as UST's main man and if the former showed anything, it is that he can strap the Tigers on his athletic and daring back.

 

The frontline of UST is alright, but their point guards from Sheriff to Renzo Subido and Marvin Lee need to show up. 

 

That's because FEU has a more balanced inside and outside attack. They attack from the perimeter and the wings wreaked havoc on the Blue Eagles. Stands to reason they will try to do the same against the Tigers. So successful were they in their penetrations that when helped arrived, the attacker simply dropped the ball to teammates from gimmes or open shots. 

 

Mike Tolomia was devastating in the season debut. Achi Iñigo and Monbert Arong had their moments, and so did Ron Dennison. 

 

The frontline of Mac Belo, Raymar Jose and Russel Escoto look mighty good. However, they will need Prince Orizu though to make a better account of himself lest the others get into foul trouble guarding Abdul should he be more offensive minded. He played as he did during the summer -- lost in the flow and unsure of himself. But he is the active sort and when he gets the game down pat, he could be a force. 

 

FEU had no trouble imposing their will and game plan on Ateneo from the get-go. It behooves them to do the same against UST.  The Tigers prefer to shoot from the outside when they cannot run. The onus is on them to find ways to deal with FEU's devastating dribble drive offense.  

 

While not the two aren't intense rivals the way FEU and UE are, expect this to be a physical matchup.