THERE’S no place like home, as they say.
And in the midst of losing back-to-back games this UAAP Season 87, University of Santo Tomas looks to find relief inside its walls when it gets a rare home court advantage at UST Quadricentennial Pavilion on Saturday.
Yet as uplifting as the prospect of playing in front of its fans is, Forthsky Padrigao erred on the side of caution, knowing that this edge can go both ways.
“We can’t be complacent. Minsan kasi may dagdag pressure yan, gigil ka mag-perform, so you don’t play at your best,” he said of this upcoming matchup against Ateneo. “So for us, we’ll treat it as just like any other game and try to perform.”
It’s the first time that UST's men's team will play on its own floor, with last season’s game day in Espana not even featuring the Growling Tigers.
The venue has also hosted games for the womens, boys, and girls tournaments, but this match tipping off at 12 p.m. will be the first time for the school's men’s team.
And it couldn’t come at a better time as the black-and-gold needs a big boost all the more, as it won’t have Malian center Mo Tounkara, who will serve his one-game suspension after being ejected due to two technical fouls from their 94-87 overtime loss to La Salle last Wednesday.
READ: No Mo Tounkara for UST as it defends home court vs Ateneo
“Siyempre, mabigat sa amin na wala si Mo, but we’ll try to make up for that loss and devise a game plan, so that we can win because we really need this win,” said Padrigao, with UST currently holding a 4-5 win-loss record and still in the thick of the Final Four race.
For Ateneo, it’s a golden opportunity to silence the home crowd and get a win run going after its 70-66 win over National University last Sunday.
Things may not have been working out well for the Blue Eagles, but glimpses of future greatness are starting to emerge with rookies Jared Bahay and Kristian Porter performing well.
La Salle seeks sixth straight
Meanwhile, defending champion La Salle (8-1) aims for its sixth straight victory when it takes on skidding Adamson (3-5) at 3:30 p.m.
Kevin Quiambao and Michael Phillips salvaged the Green Archers from a close shave against UST and will try to keep this hot streak going for coach Topex Robinson.
On the other hand, the Soaring Falcons are driven to snap a three-game losing skid, especially after falling to Far Eastern University in overtime, 76-72, last Saturday, and get themselves back in the playoff chase.
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