Adamson, UST seeking to keep pace with leaders

c/o UAAP

UAAP Season 87 Basketball Standings

Men's

UP 3 0

DLSU 3 0

AdU 2 1

UST 2 1

UE 1 2

NU 1 2

FEU 0 3

Ateneo 0 3

Women's

UST 3 0

NU 3 0

AdU 2 1

Ateneo 2 1

UP 1 2

FEU 1 2

DLSU 0 3

UE 0 3

JHS Boys'

UE 3-0

FEU-D 2-1

DLSZ 2-1

UST 2-1

Ateneo 2-1

NUNS 1-2

UPIS 0-3

AdU 0-3

Games today at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum

8 a.m. – NUNS vs UST (JHS)

9:45 a.m. – Ateneo vs AdU (JHS)

11:30 a.m. – NU vs UST (Women)

1:30 p.m. – Ateneo vs AdU (Women)

4:30 p.m. – NU vs UST (Men)

6:30 p.m. – Ateneo vs AdU (Men)

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas and National University seek to regain their winning ways, while Adamson University plays Ateneo today (Saturday) in the UAAP Season 87 Collegiate Men's Basketball Tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Growling Tigers, whose two-game winning streak was snapped by the Falcons, take on a Bulldogs side coming off their worst loss in five years at 4:30 p.m.

After an impressive start, UST crashed back to earth with a 56-69 loss to Adamson last Sunday.

NU, meanwhile, suffered a 62-89 beating at the hands of University of the Philippines on Wednesday night.

The Falcons, who are currently tied with the Growling Tigers at 2-1, are going up against the Blue Eagles, who are on their worst start in 11 years, in the 6:30 p.m. mainer.

The last time Ateneo started at 0-3 was in 2013 (Season 76), a year removed from completing a five-peat.

Action on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena will have UP clashing with the league's heartbreak kids Far Eastern University at 4:30 p.m., and defending champion De La Salle battling University of the East at 6:30 p.m.

The Growling Tigers' defeat to the Falcons served as a wake-up call for the España-based dribblers that things won't be easy despite the tremendous upgrades they built on during the off-season.

All UST needs is to bring back the teamwork that keyed its first two victories that gave hope to the Growling Tigers faithful that they can contend again for the Final Four.

For the Bulldogs, who are level with the Red Warriors at 1-2, it is all about how they will respond to their worst defeat since coach Jeff Napa took over in UAAP Season 84 (2022).

NU is trying to move on without Mali's Mo Diassana, who suffered a season-ending knee injury on opening day.

Adamson is determined to gate crash in this season's Final Four party.

After losing by 30 to the Green Archers, the Falcons came back from a slow start to beat the Growling Tigers, a big confidence booster heading into their match-up with the Blue Eagles.

"This is a long season, we are not thinking about that. We look it game-to-game," said coach Nash Racela, regarding Adamson being a top-four contender.

"Every game is different, something that we realized. Yun ang preaching namin sa kanila, the defense that will be facing will be different. Huwag maging masaya sa resulta.

"Moving forward, it's going to be different when we play the next game (against the Blue Eagles). Siyempre, yun ang tendency ng tao, maging kampante, akala nila magagaling na and all of the sudden next game, you face a tough team then mahirapan. Hopefully, they learn from that La Salle experience and prepare better moving forward," he added.

It will be the first meeting by both teams since the Blue Eagles eliminated the Falcons in a playoff for the remaining Final Four berth last season.

No doubt, it has been a trying season so far for Ateneo.

The Blue Eagles are struggling with their young core and were missing injured captain Chris Koon in the last two games.

Meanwhile, women's holders UST and NU, undefeated in three games, collide in a rematch of last year's Finals at 11:30 a.m., while Ateneo and Adamson, both sporting 2-1 slates, slug it out in an equally interesting duel at 1:30 p.m.