By NIKOLE JAVIER
Defending champion University of the Philippines remains vigilant despite taking the first semifinal seat when it tackles Far Eastern University as the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament resumes after a 12-day break on Thursday, Nov. 17, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The tipoff is set at 4:30 p.m. for the Fighting Maroons (9-1) as they take on the Tamaraws (4-6) with the league returning to action after giving way to the Gilas Pilipinas' campaign in the Middle East against Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
FEU is seeking to keep itself in the Final Four race by bouncing back after blowing a 19-point advantage against National University last Nov. 5.
Carl Tamayo, who begged off his Gilas duties due to an ankle sprain, will have Malick Diouf to rely on after the latter’s 21 and 23-point explosions in their two recent games which proved to be enough to extend their winning run to six.
In the first offering, Adamson (4-5) battles De La Salle (3-5) in their 11 a.m. collision.
In another play, NU (7-3) takes on University of the East (4-6) in their 1 p.m. tussle.
Serving as the finale in the quadruple-header is the match between Ateneo (5-3) and University of Santo Tomas (1-8) at 6:30 p.m.