By: Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
After an impressive win against the Far Eastern University, knocking them out of the UAAP Season 82 Men’s basketball tournament, 81-71, the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers will face a tougher opponent in the next round as they set up a semifinal clash with the heavily stacked UP Fighting Maroons team.
UST surprised a lot of teams this year and they are trying to bring that momentum into the UP game. Two stalwarts of the UST squad received individual awards in the UAAP, with Soulemane Chabi Yo garnering MVP honors and point guard Mark Nonoy winning Rookie of the Year award.
On the other hand, the Fighting Maroons squad, albeit stacked with talent, is still hounded by inconsistency as the talented roster wasn’t able to win a single game against the Growling Tigers this Season 82.
UP is still considered the favorites, enjoying a twice-to-beat advantage and with stars who can take over games at any given moment.
With a lot of drama surrounding UP this season, not to mention coach Bo Perasol’s suspension, the Fighting Maroons are still laser-focused and are up to the task of taking down the “mayhem offense” of the young UST squad.
Expect an up and down battle between the two as UP hopes to turn the tables on UST in the playoffs.
Both teams will see action this Sunday, November 10, 2019.
