Games Wednesday 

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)

4:30 pm – Adamson vs La Salle

6:30 pm – UST vs Ateneo
 

Defending champion De La Salle University and University of Santo Tomas are eyeing for a fitting follow up to their rousing opening wins when they take on their separate foes in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Wednesday, Sept. 11.

The Green Archers (1-0), who regained consciousness from an almost nightmare against the Bulldogs, try to shoot down fellow first game winner Adamson Soaring Falcons (1-0) in the curtain raiser set at 4:30 p.m.

Likewise, aiming to prove that their opening game win was no fluke, the Growling Tigers gun for a second win against the Ateneo Blue Eagles (0-1) in the second game at 6:30 p.m.

Living up to the lofty billing before the start of the season, reigning Most Valuable Player Kevin Quiambao stamped his class and helped La Salle escape an upset-conscious National University, 78-75.

“We’re just here to really attack this season. Ang sa amin we know that walang surprises, we played 50 plus games during the preseason, we saw it and all teams are gonna play against us that way,”  said La Salle head coach Topex Robinson.

“Sabi nga namin, it just gonna make us better and just gonna bond us, siguro do’n lumalabas ‘yong mga share struggles namin during preseason, we have games like that,” he added

The Taft-based squad will lean once more on Quiambao, who was brilliant with 22 points – none bigger than clutch trey – to go with his eight rebounds and seven assists. He joins fellow mainstay Mike Phillips, EJ Gollena and Earl Abadam, in spearheading both ends of the floor for La Salle.

Adamson, however, has shown that it wouldn’t be a pushover even with the exit of last season’s star Jerom Lasitmosa.

Monty Montebon and Matty Erolon both willingly stepped up to the leadership role in the 59-47 win against FEU. They will be heavily relied on if the Soaring Falcons wish to pull off an upset against the defending champions.

Meanwhile, the new-look Growling Tigers get an early test to their campaign after splendid 70-55 opener against UE,

Shifty backcourts Forthsky Padrigao and Nic Cabañero are expected to power the España-based squad  alongside freshman Mo Tounkara, Christian Manaytay and Mark Llemit.

Padrigao is facing his former team Ateneo which suffered a 77-61 defeat against Katipunan rival University of the Philippines. Poised to lead the Blue Eagles is rookie guard Jared Bahay along with skipper Sean Quitevis, Shawn Tuano and Josh Lazaro.