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DE LA
SALLE coach Franz Pumaren believes the experience of
University of Santo Tomas (UST) will be the Tigers’ main
weapon when their teams collide today in the University
Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 71
men’s basketball tournament at Philsports Arena.
“Looking
at their lineup, they [UST] have several senior guys
while my team only has JV Casio and Rico Maierhofer as
the veterans who got major minutes from our [title] run
last year. Hopefully, we could defend well against
them,” said Pumaren.
Pumaren
was referring to fifth-year players Francis Allera,
Chester Taylor, Japs Cuan and fourth-year guys Dylan
Ababou and Mark Canlas.
Add to
the veteran core reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP)
Jervy Cruz and the Tigers can give the defending
champions a run for their money.
The
Green Archers take on the Tigers at 4 p.m., with both
teams coming off their first victories Saturday. De La
Salle beat Far Eastern University (FEU), 73-62, while
Santo Tomas trounced University of the Philippines (UP),
94-75.
“After
we won, it was a short-lived celebration because we will
be facing UST. They are big and are playing well,”
Pumaren added.
Last
Saturday’s losing teams FEU and UP look to get back on
the winning track as they face each other at 2 p.m.
The
winning teams on Thursday will join University of the
East (UE) in second position with a 2-1 mark. Idle
Ateneo is alone at the top with 3-0.
From the
standpoint of UST coach Pido Jarencio, all he promises
is a team prepared to face the defending champions.
“Alam
mo naman tayo, basta naka-ready kami parati,” said
Jarencio.
So far,
Jarencio said Cruz is still not a hundred percent
because of his hamstring injury, but the MVP center
still gives opposing teams a scare down low. He is
averaging 20.5 points and 13 rebounds after two games.
Also
making an impact in the Tigers’ win over State U was
rookie Jerick Fortuna, who had 11 points on Saturday.
“Talagang
hinabol ko siya [from De La Salle-Zobel].
Napakatalinong bata. Siya ang magiging future point
guard ng UST,” Jarencio said of Fortuna.
Jarencio
is also thankful that the other Tigers are a
hundred-percent healthy. Lanky forward Khasim Mirza will
be back in action after battling the flu.
Casio
exploded for 29 points, eight rebounds and three steals
for the Green Archers, while Maierhofer had 11 points
and a game-high 17 rebounds against the Tamaraws
Saturday.
Both
will be marked men for the Tigers in Thursday’s affair.
Standings: Ateneo 3-0, UE 2-1, FEU 1-1, UP 1-1, De La
Salle 1-1, UST 1-1, Adamson 1-2, NU 0-3. |
