Games Saturday

(UST Quadricentennial Pavilion)

12 p.m. – Ateneo vs UST

3:30 p.m. – Adamson vs La Salle

Defending champion De La Salle University goes for its sixth straight win while University of Santo Tomas defends its homecourt at the Quadricentennial Pavilion in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament Saturday, Oct. 19.

The Green Archers (8-1) face the Adamson Soaring Falcons (3-5) at 3:30 p.m. while serving as a fitting appetizer is the collision between the UST Growling Tigers (4-5) and the Ateneo Blue Eagles (2-6) at 12 noon.

For DLSU's head coach Topex Robinson, they expect all teams to pour it out against them being the reigning titlists.

“We always remind ourselves that every team will really be all out, you know, competing against us,” stressed Robinson moments after La Salle’s 94-87 overtime victory over the Growling Tigers last Wednesday, Oct. 16, at Mall of Asia Arena.

“I mean, this is what being a defending champion gives you. I mean, all teams will really play their best and base their season in the times that they're going to face you,” he added.

Kevin Quiambao, the league’s reigning MVP, became the hero for the Taft-based crew after listing his career-high 29 points on top of nine rebounds and three assists. He ignited La Salle’s first-half surge then drilled big shots down the stretch.

Mo Tounkara, meanwhile, will not suit up for UST after he was slapped with a one-game suspension for his actions in the Growling Tigers' 94-87 overtime loss to the Green Archers last Wednesday, Oct. 16.