BEFORE a title can be defended, one has to be in the mix first, right?
Reigning champion University of the Philippines will try to do just that when it seeks to secure a Final Four spot against Adamson on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Harold Alarcon has been in full control for the Fighting Maroons in their current four-game win run and is one of the reasons why State U currently stands solo second with its 8-3 record.
But the boys of coach Goldwin Monteverde knows better not to step on the brakes anytime soon, especially with the competition this tight in the ongoing UAAP Season 88 men's basketball tournament.
Those fears should also remain eminent with the Soaring Falcons actually taking the first round matchup, 62-59, last Sept. 24.
However, there's a world of difference from that UP side to now.
The Soaring Falcons should know this very well when they fight for their lives, with Cedrick Manzano, Ray Allen Torres, and Mathew Montebon all raring to repeat that upset and more importantly, end this two-game skid to move up from their current 5-6 standing.
La Salle begins the gauntlet
Game time is at 4:30 p.m., serving as the main event in a double-header which also features La Salle (6-4) and Far Eastern U (4-7) at 2 p.m.
Mike Phillips and Jacob Cortez are hopeful that the two-week break would do the Green Archers wonders, all the more as their last game saw them fall to league pacesetter National U, 75-67, last Nov. 2.
Desperation, however, is what persists for the Tamaraws - bannered by Janrey Pasaol, Mo Konateh, and Kirby Mongcopa - fight for their lives, as they face elimination in this match.
La Salle escaped FEU, 74-72, by the skin of its teeth in their first matchup back in Oct. 1.
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