Games today:
Smart Araneta
2 p.m. – NU vs. UP
4 p.m. – UE vs. La Salle
RIDING high on the momentum of their morale-boosting 66-64 win over rivals Ateneo last weekend, the La Salle Green Archers aim for a tie of the second spot when they battle the struggling University of the East (UE) Red Warriors today in the 76th UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The league-leading National University (NU) Bulldogs (8-3) also seek to gain some more separation between them and the rest of the pack when they face off against the still-winless University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons (0-10) in the opening game of today’s double-header.
La Salle (7-4) is currently half a game behind the reeling Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws (8-4) but has a lot going for them especially after their thrilling win over the defending champions Blue Eagles last Sunday, one that was made possible by Jeron Teng, who sank the game-winning jumper with 1.9 seconds left in the game.
UE (5-5) is spiraling downwards after suffering one suspension after another to several of their key players.
Already without import Charles Mammie for one more game, the Red Warriors will be playing without former University of the Visayas ace Ralf Olivares, who was suspended for two games for an assortment of infractions during their game against NU last weekend. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio