DEFENDING champion De La Salle University seeks to extend its winning run to 10 games when it faces National University (NU) in the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament at the University of Santo Tomas Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila today.
Already assured of the top seed in the elimination round, the Green Archers aim to enter the Final Four on a winning note at the expense of the also-ran Bulldogs at 2 p.m.
University of the East (UE) and Ateneo de Manila University, meanwhile, collide at 6 p.m.
The UE Red Warriors seek to improve their semifinal chances against the already-eliminated Blue Eagles
La Salle defeated University of the Philippines, 77-66, to go 12-1 and lock up the number one spot but there would be no letting up for the Topex Robinson-mentored team in this no-bearing game against NU.
While they have the luxury to rest their stars like Mike Phillips and reigning Most Valuable Player Kevin Quiambao, Robinson said the Green Archers, who haven't lost since falling to the Red Warriors, 75-71, on Sept. 22, aren't keen on doing that.
"We always strive for greatness and, you know, we honor the basketball, we honor the game, it's been good to us and short-handling or short-handling these guys is unfair to them. So, we always respect and honor the game and it's been good to us," said Robinson
"We're always going to come out playing for our school, you know, playing for the alumni that always watch our games and it's unfair to them if we're not going to play our best. You know, it's always going to be bringing out our best, you know, for our alma mater.
In the second game, the NU Bulldogs and the Blue Eagles are also out to finish their season on a winning note.
NU and Ateneo made the Final Four last year but struggled big time this season, becoming the first two teams to bomb out of Final Four contention.
On the other hand, the Red Warriors have been a surprise this year as they've put themselves in a good position to reach the semis for the first time in 15 years.
UE struggled in the second round, however, after a 5-2 start as it went 1-4 the last five games.
The Red Warriors last saw action on November 9, losing to the UST Growling Tigers, 67-76.
Meanwhile, Mike Phillips of the Green Archers and Camille Clarin of the NU Lady Bulldogs were voted as the Collegiate Press Corps' UAAP Players of the Week for the period of Nov. 3 to 10.
Phillips averaged 15.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 3.0 steals, and 1.0 block in DLSU's 2-0 week, making him the top choice among reporters in the men's tournament.
Phillips stepped up for the Green Archers against FEU, filling the void on a rare off night from Quiambao and recorded 17 points, 15 rebounds, two assists, five steals, and two blocks in a hard-fought 58-53 victory.
On the other hand, Clarin's leadership has been pivotal in keeping the Lady Bulldogs undefeated as they approach the final stretch of the preliminary round in women's basketball.
The 5-foot-10 guard averaged 15.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.3 steals in another perfect week for NU, highlighted by a 76-70 victory over archrivals UST.
In that game, Clarin scored 21 points along with seven rebounds, four assists, one steal, and a block.
Games Today UST Quadricentennial Pavilion: 2 p.m. La Salle vs NU, 6 p.m. UE vs Ateneo
Team Standings: La Salle (12-1); UP (9-3); UE (6-6); UST (6-7); Adamson (5-7); FEU (5-8); NU (4-9); Ateneo (3-9)
