TEAM in the middle of the pack seek momentum to end the first round when the UAAP Season 82 men's basketball tournament resumes on Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.
University of Santo Tomas aims for back-to-back victories when it takes on La Salle at 2 p.m., while Adamson and FEU face off at 4 p.m.
Easily this season's biggest surprise, the Growling Tigers are intent on keeping their position at the top half of the standings with their 4-2 card behind Soulemane Chabi Yo, Rhenz Abando, and CJ Cansino.
And their confidence is certainly on a high after their 82-74 win over the Tamaraws last Sunday in Antipolo.
But standing in the way of the Aldin Ayo-mentored UST is his old squad La Salle.
The Green Archers have had a fluctuating run this season, as evidenced by their 2-4 card.
Justine Baltazar, Aljun Melecio, and Jamie Malonzo are pressured to get their side on the right track after losing three of their last four outings, the last of which was a 72-71 meltdown loss to UP last Wednesday.
On the other hand, both the Soaring Falcons and the Tamaraws are gunning for bounce back wins.
Adamson got stunned by La Salle, 68-61, last Saturday, which dropped it to an even 3-3 card.
Valandre Chauca, Jerrick Ahanmisi, and Congolese big man Lenda Douanga are intent on rebounding from that shock defeat as they seek to give the Soaring Falcons the confidence-boost they need before the second round tips off.
Things, meanwhile, are murkier for FEU, which got humiliated by NU in its 61-39 defeat last Wednesday for its second straight loss to be dropped to a 2-4 record.
L-Jay Gonzales and Wendell Comboy will have to find answers, not just for their skid, but also for the subpar shooting that has suddenly plagued the Tamaraws at the tailend of the first round.
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