MANILA, Philippines - Far Eastern U goes for the solo lead when the Tamaraws play the UP Fighting Maroons in an exciting tiff in the 2015 UAAP men’s seniors basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum today.
FEU and UP clash at 4 p.m. with the Tams bracing for a tough fight from the Fighting Maroons who are back on track following an 89-84 win over the Adamson Falcons Saturday.
La Salle seeks solo third place while University of the East looks to move up to the upper half of the chart as they slug it out in the day’s other game at 2 p.m.
Through the first playdate of the second round of the elims, FEU and Santo Tomas set the pace with identical 7-1 win-loss cards, three games clear of La Salle (4-4) and Ateneo (4-4). Tied at joint fifth are UP, UE and National U at 3-5.
The Tamaraws have won all their last six games, but coach Nash Racela insists they still have a lot to improve on.
Racela said they could have been at 3-4, instead of 7-1, if not for crucial breaks.
They survived tough games against the Adamson Falcons, the NU Buldogs and the Ateneo Eagles. The Tams’ last lopsided wins came at the hands of the Maroons, 75-58, in their first-round tussle.
But the Maroons ride the momentum of a crucial win over the Falcons in heading to their rematch with the Tams.
It’s UP’s third win following back-to-back triumphs over UE and La Salle at the outset of the season.
“Throughout the week, or almost three weeks, our emotion was down low. We’re tested as a team,” said UP coach Rensy Bajar, shortly after snapping their five-game losing skein.