University of the Philippines seeks to solidify its hold of the top spot when it takes on Adamson University in the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Fighting Maroons enter the game with a league-best 4-0 record, having won all of their games with double-digit margins.
The Soaring Falcons have some momentum thanks to their thrilling win against National University last Wednesday and head coach Nash Racela hopes his squad can put a streak together against UP.
"Win, lose, win, lose, win...hopefully we break that against UP. We will just do our best," said Racela.
"I'm excited for the challenge. You know they are a good team and undefeated, but just like the UE-La Salle game, everything can happen. Hopefully, we can come out very best and hopefully, we can come out with a win," said Matt Montebon, who has been solid for Adamson this season.
For UP, it's always about improvement as Goldwin Monteverde is preaching.
"What's important for our team is everybody is on the same page and having the same goal. Obviously, that goal is putting ourselves in the best position to win," said Christian Luanzon, one of Monteverde's assistant coaches.
"I'm not talking about the championship, but just taking it one game at a time, one quarter at a time, one possession at a time," he added.
Meanwhile, University of the East shoots for a third straight win as it clashes with struggling National University at 6:30 p.m.
The Red Warriors are coming off a 75-71 reversal of De La Salle last Sunday, pinning the back-to-back title-seeking Green Archers their first loss of the season.
Wello Lingolingo, who emerged as the new Red Warriors' main offensive option this season, knows the ingredients to sustain their rise from a disappointing 0-2 start.
"Stick to the system, stay composed, and keep working hard sa upcoming games na gaganapin," said Lingolingo.
Jack Santiago praised the way his troops worked hard in the last two victories, which put UE in the conversation for the Final Four.
"I think the boys responded well, they accepted the challenge. Now at least alam na nila na kaya nilang maglaro, kaya nilang mag-perform and beating the No. 1 team," said Santiago.
"I'm so proud with the boys kasi walang nagkakanya-kanya. Nandoon pa rin kami, we stick together sa game plan namin," he added.
The Red Warriors are facing the Bulldogs squad mired in a three-game slide. After a lopsided 62- 87 defeat to UP, NU has narrowly lost to the University of Santo Tomas and Adamson.
In the women's division, NU seeks a sixth straight win against an inspired UE side which ended a 40-game losing streak the last time out at 1:30 p.m., right after Adamson and UP collide in their bid to remain within the top four range at 11:30 a.m.
