UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas aims to end another losing streak as it faces De La Salle in the featured UAAP Season 88 collegiate men’s basketball game today (Saturday) at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Matched against another Season 87 finalist, the Growling Tigers are eyeing their first 2-0 start since UAAP Season 82 (2019) while trying to snap an almost decade-long, 16-game losing streak against the Green Archers in the 4:30 p.m. main game.
National University will also pursue a second straight win against a youth-laden Far Eastern University squad in the 2 p.m. curtain-raiser.
The last time the Growling Tigers defeated the Green Archers was on October 11, 2015 during UAAP Season 78, with a come-from-behind 81-79 victory in the second round.
UST ended a nine-game losing streak against defending champion University of the Philippines with an impressive 87-67 win last Sunday, giving them momentum heading into this marquee match-up with De La Salle.
However, the 20-point rout over the Fighting Maroons does not guarantee UST a repeat performance against the Green Archers, who are looking to bounce back after a tough season opener. La Salle barely edged out Adamson University, 60-58, last Saturday.
UST secured its opening day win even without suspended guard Forthsky Padrigao, as Kyle Paranada stepped up. Padrigao, who is in his final year, will make his season debut today.
“Sobrang laking morale boost nito sa amin kasi defending champion ang UP, we have a lot of respect sa coaching staff nila. But the good thing lang is given na wala si Forthsky at si Nic (Cabañero) hindi pa nakakascore masyado, at least napakita namin sa players na the system is going to work — we just have to believe in it,” said Japs Cuan, a 2006 champion player and one of coach Pido Jarencio’s trusted assistants.
The Growling Tigers also boast a major upgrade in the middle, as Nigerian center Collins Akowe delivered a 29-point, 17-rebound performance in a smashing collegiate debut.
“We’re just playing a system that everyone gets to touch the ball. It so happened lang na Collins did a great job sealing out their bigs and making the good read if they double him. Yung game plan naman namin, it’s based on reads so lahat naman sila may free will mag-decide,” Cuan added.
Coach Topex Robinson knows that the Green Archers must elevate their level of play after narrowly defeating the Falcons.
“I guess, always being the hunted now is going to be hard. We’re always gonna bring out their best every time they’re gonna play us and trying to size us up, but I really like what I saw with our guys. There are new guys, per se. Kean (Baclaan), Jacob (Cortez) and Mason (Amos) delivered in the clutch. There’s so much promise with Lebron Daep,” Robinson said.
“Again, the more games we play, the more times that we really spend together is really gonna be crucial for us in this long season. Part of that is, I guess, these times, these learnings that we get. We always treat these games as a learning opportunity for us. We really need to work a lot, just like what Mike (Phillips) said, but we’re okay. That’s just part of the journey for us,” he added.
The Bulldogs are also seeking another 2-0 start, which they last recorded in 2023, as the Jhocson-based squad aims to return to the Final Four after failing to advance past the eliminations last year.
Coach Jeff Napa wants his Bulldogs to remain fit and healthy throughout the grind.
“Very important for us is to become healthy muna. So yun ang pinaka-iniisip namin ngayon is maging healthy kami. Kasi mahaba yung season. So at least masaya kami na nalagpasan namin itong first game. Na kahit pa-pano, walang nangyari sa players namin. So hopefully we’re looking forward for our next game, FEU sa Saturday. Mabigay ulit namin yung best namin, magperform kami ng better. So at least maging turn around ulit yung game para sa amin,” Napa said.
Second-year coach Sean Chambers believes the Tamaraws can compete despite their narrow 83-86 overtime loss to Ateneo in their season opener.
“I still think highly about our team. We finished the game again with Janrey (Pasaol), Luke (Felipe) playing his first game, Kirby (Mongcopa) playing his first game, Mo (Konateh) is still a sophomore, and Janrey’s a sophomore. So we’re still so young, and I felt like we just had young moments down the stretch to help put that game away. So we’ll get better from it. We’ll work harder. But also, I feel like I have to do a much better job and make sure we clean up our offense a little bit more,” Chambers said.
Meanwhile, DA Olan will make his coaching debut for the decorated NU women’s team as the back-to-back title-seeking Lady Bulldogs face the FEU Lady Tamaraws at 12 noon.
Kent Pastrana-led UST begins its redemption campaign against De La Salle at 7 p.m.
In 16-and-under action, NU-Nazareth School and FEU-Diliman clash for a second win at 8 a.m., while UST aims for a 2-0 start in the 10 a.m. game against De La Salle-Zobel.
Games air on the Pilipinas Live app, One Sports, and the UAAP Varsity Channel.
