OH, how times have changed.
New-age rivals the University of the Philippines and La Salle seal off the first round of the UAAP Season 88 men's basketball tournament when last year's finalists face off on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
But unlike in the last two seasons, they aren't at the top at the halfway mark. Rather, the Fighting Maroons and the Green Archers are in the middle rungs this time out, trying to shake off their struggles when they collide at 4:30 p.m., as they hope for better returns come the second half of the season.
At least for UP, it's in the midst of a four-game win streak, seemingly having corrected its course after starting off at 0-2.
Harold Alarcon, Francis Nnoruka, and Jacob Bayla have had a big part in that turnaround, one that they keyed in the Diliman side's 69-66 win against Far Eastern University last week.
Meanwhile, La Salle did win its last outing, a 111-110 overtime escape of University of the East, but that came at a cost, as Kean Baclaan suffered an MCL tear joining Mason Amos at the injury bay.
That puts more pressure on Mike Phillips and Jacob Cortez to deliver, as they try to get back at the defending champions.
Undermanned UE battles hard-charging FEU
Cellar-dwellers FEU (1-5) and UE (0-6) meet at 1:30 p.m. in this Big Dome double-header, both trying to end their own slumps.
Janrey Pasaol, Mo Konateh, and Jorick Bautista are determined to end the Tamaraws' two-game losing streak, including Wednesday's 92-80 letdown against University of Santo Tomas.
The winless Red Warriors are big underdogs in this matchup, as they will miss team captain Wello Lingolingo and head coach Chris Gavina, both of whom will serve the first of their suspensions, and further putting more load on the shoulders of Precious Momowei and John Abate.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
