IT'S as tight of a race as you can get in the UAAP Season 88 men's basketball tournament - and it gets a hell of a lot closer on Sunday.
READ: It's been a decade since the UAAP was this ultracompetitive
National U (7-2) and La Salle (6-3) dispute provisional leadership in what promises to be an intense duel at SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Bulldogs coach Jeff Napa remains wary of the Green Archers, knowing that this is a totally different squad than the one they faced back in Oct. 12 when the Jhocson side earned the close 82-78 victory.
"Ang laki ng pinagbago nila mula nung first round hanggang ngayon sa pagpasok ng second round. We have to be ready talaga against La Salle," he said, as NU once again leans on the likes of Jake Figueroa, Steve Nash Enriquez, and Omar John.
Indeed, the Taft side seemed to have turned the tides following the injuries to Mason Amos and Kean Baclaan, winning its last four assignments behind the leadership of Mike Phillips and Jacob Cortez.
But coach Topex Robinson knows that matching NU's standards will be a good gauge of the legitimacy of this current run.
"They're No. 1 for a reason. They’re really doing a good job preparing this team to really go further this season. So for us, we’re just going to try to be the best version of ourselves. We try to get better each and every time," he said.
Adamson eyes solo fourth
Tip-off is at 2 p.m., serving as the first game in this All Souls' Day double-header which also has Adamson (5-4) and Far Eastern University (3-6) at 4:30 p.m.
The Soaring Falcons are slowly but surely showing their talons, one that was in full view in their gutsy 97-96 overtime win over University of Santo Tomas last Wednesday.
Mathew Montebon, Matty Erolon, and Ray Allen Torres conspired in pulling off that miracle, as the San Marcelino crew eyes to extend its three-game win streak.
Meanwhile, the Tamaraws are seeking a quick turnaround from their 89-75 defeat to the University of the Philippines last Sunday, with Janrey Pasaol aiming to do better in this contest.
Cellar-dwelling University of the East is also keeping a close eye on this matchup, as an Adamson win would eliminate it from Final Four contention.
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