UAAP Season 86 2nd round fires off

Games Wednesday
(Mall of Asia Arena)
(men’s)

11 a.m. – UST vs DLSU
1 p.m. – NU vs UE
4 p.m. – ADMU vs FEU
6 p.m. – UP vs AdU

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
(women’s)

9 a.m. – FEU vs UE
11 a.m. – AdU vs DLSU
1 p.m. – NU vs ADMU
3 p.m. – UP vs UST

MANILA, Philippines – Off to different tracks, title contenders take on different counterparts to hold their positions or stabilize shaky spots as the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball tournament enters the pivotal second round at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. 

University of the Philippines and National University, ahead of the pack with similar 6-1 cards, want no let-up to maintain comfortable gaps from chasing rivals led by reigning champion Ateneo and La Salle, both at 4-3, as other squads try to pump some life to their Final Four hopes after the first round.

The Maroons clash against the fifth-running Adamson Falcons (3-4) in the main game at 6 p.m. after the duels between La Salle and University of Santo Tomas (1-6) at 11 a.m., NU and University of the East (2-5) at 1 p.m., and  Ateneo and Far Eastern University (2-5) at 4 p.m.

In a wild turnaround of events at the close of the first round courtesy of Ateneo’s victory over erstwhile unbeaten UP, no squad will take a perfect slate in the second round for a free-for-all race instead of a potential stepladder format.

The Maroons, after wiping out their first six opponents in what seemed a cruise control, hit a roadblock with a 99-89 overtime loss to their Katipunan rivals in Act I of their finals rematch.

That should serve as enough warning for the dribblers from Diliman, coach Goldwin Monteverde noted, after not learning their mistakes amidst a then unbeaten run so far.

“Hindi kami natututo sa mga past games namin dahil nananalo kami. Sa standings, we’re No. 1 but sa akin, we’re just halfway through the season,” said Monteverde, urging that any inch of complacency would turn the Maroons’ fate upside down in the crucial stage — with all squads targeting their backs.

“Our concern right now is how to play consistently. We just have to gather ourselves together and be ready for the games. We need to be consistent doing things.”

For Ateneo, it’s about time to turn their