UP seeks joint UAAP men's basketball leadership

c/o UAAP

UAAP Season 87 Basketball Standings

Juniors High School Boys 

DLSZ 2-0

UE 1-0

FEU-D 1-0

UST 1-1

Ateneo 1-1

NUNS 0-1

UPIS 0-1

ADU 0-2

Collegiate Women

UST 2-0

AdU 2-0

NU 1-0

Ateneo 1-1

UP 0-1

FEU 0-1

UE 0-1

DLSU 0-2

Collegiate Men

DLSU 2-0

UST 2-0

UP 1-0

AdU 1-1

NU 0-1

FEU 0-1

UE 0-1

Ateneo 0-2

Games today at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum

8 a.m. – NUNS vs FEU-D (JHS)

9:45 a.m. – UPIS vs UE (JHS)

11:30 a.m. – NU vs FEU (Women)

1:30 p.m. – UP vs UE (Women)

4:30 p.m. – NU vs FEU (Men)

6:30 p.m. – UP vs UE (Men)

The University of the Philippines seeks to force a three-way tie on top as it plays University of the East tonight when the UAAP Season 87 collegiate men's basketball tournament resumes action at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

The Fighting Maroons hope to capitalize on their size and depth advantage to the hilt in the 6:30 p.m. duel with the Red Warriors.

In the men's basketball curtain-raiser, National University and Far Eastern University eye to crash into the win column at 4:30 p.m..

UP, which ended a 36-year championship drought in the 2022 bubble tournament and runners-up in the last two seasons, flaunted its might on opening night in a 77-61 tripping of a young Ateneo crew.

JD Cagulangan and Francis Lopez were stellar, and the Fighting Maroons unveiled Quentin Millora-Brown, the graduate transfer center from The Citadel who grabbed 17 rebounds to dominate the Blue Eagles frontline.

UP knows it has a long way to go, as it tries to polish its game as the season progresses.

Cagulangan, the Season 84 hero, is determined to give back to coach Goldwin Monteverde by giving the Fighting Maroons another championship in his final year.

"Siguro, gusto ko na legacy na maaalala ng tao is yung tipong yung nakikita ninyo yung isang JD na sasabihin na winner. And siguro naman, alam natin na since dumating si coach Gold sa UP, ini-insist niya sa amin na mindset na maging winner talaga," Cagulangan said.

"Para sa kanya, yung winner hindi lang sa court, kahit na sa buhay. Laging sinasabi ni coach na yung pagiging champion, lifestyle iyan eh. Nagli-live kami sa sinasabi ni coach, which is thankful kami na nakilala namin siya," he added.

UE, meanwhile, opened the season with a 55-70 loss to University of Santo Tomas.

The Red Warriors sorely missed Noy Remogat, last season's Mythical Team member who moved to the Fighting Maroons earlier this year, as Nigerian Precious Momowei and Ethan Galang were only the bright spots in the loss to the Growling Tigers.

Despite losing their season opener, the Bulldogs still have the potential to remain on the podium.

NU gave defending champion De La Salle fits before dropping a 75-78 decision last Sunday, losing to a game-winning triple by reigning MVP Kevin Quiambao.

The Bulldogs are facing the young Tamaraws, who are adopting the new system implemented by new coach, PBA great Sean Chambers.

FEU actually had a good start against Adamson University, only to lose steam in the second half, suffering a 47-59 defeat also last Sunday.

Chambers, who played under the famed triangle offense system under decorated coach Tim Cone in the pros, remains upbeat about what the Tamaraws can do as the tournament progresses.

“Hopefully, we’ll be able to shock some teams this year,” Chambers said.

Action then moves to the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday, as it will feature the rivalry game between De La Salle and Ateneo at 6:30 p.m., with UST gunning for a third straight win against Adamson at 3:30 p.m.

The Green Archers and the Growling Tigers share the early lead, having won both of their respective matches so far.

In the women's division, NU seeks to join UST and Adamson atop the standings as it shoots for a second straight win against FEU at 11:30 a.m., while UP seeks to rebound from its season-opening setback to Ateneo when it tangles with UE at 1:30 p.m.

Opening things in the morning are a couple of Junior High School matches, with NUNS faces FEU-Diliman at 8am, seeking to bounce back after being stunned in its opener. It is then followed by UE seeking consecutive wins against UPIS at 945am.