Tams seek 1st round sweep; Maroons search 1st win

Manila, Philippines – The Far Eastern University Tamaraws go for a first round sweep while the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons continue their search for a win when the UAAP Season 73 resume this Saturday at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The Tamaraws meet the unpredictable University of Sto. Tomas Growling Tigers at 4pm following the match between the Maroons and the National University Bulldogs at 2pm.

The Tamaraws are the hottest team in the league right now as they remained unscathed after six games while the Tigers are the hottest shooting team from beyond the arc.

FEU is leaning on its veteran-laden crew led by former RP Youth standout RR Garcia, who became the first player this season to be named UAAP Press Corps Player twice.

Garcia is averaging 17 points per contest and is deadlier in the clutch, having bailed out the Tamaraws twice from the jaws of defeats against the Bulldogs and the De La Salle Green Archers.

If the Tamaraws succeed anew, they will duplicate the team’s feat in 2005, the same year they won their last UAAP championship. The UE Red Warriors are the last team to have done that feat in 2008, the season they went 14-0 only to loss in the Finals against the Green Archers.

The Tigers, on the other hand, have been shooting hot from the three-point zone to get within striking distance of the three teams in the second spot.

Though the Tigers are coming off a loss against the Green Archers, FEU coach Glenn Capacio is still wary of this team.


Alder Almo, UAAP Sports
“Hindi kami puwedeng magkumpiyansa. Kailangan bantayan naming ang outside shooting nila (UST),” Capacio said.



The Tigers have made 45 triples in their last four games including back-to-back 16-three point conversions against UP and Adamson.



“Kung maka-four wins kami sa first round, magandang puhunan na ‘yun going into the second round. Mas mahirap ‘yung nasa itaas kasi wala kang ibang pupuntahan kundi pababa,” said UST coach Pido Jarencio referring to the league-leading Tamaraws.



In the other game, the winless Maroons try to close out the first round with a breakthrough win against the slumping Bulldogs, who have lost their last two games after a 2-2 start.



In the distaff side, the FEU Lady Tamaraws, who are tied with defending champion Adamson Lady Falcons with identical 5-0 mark, seek the solo lead when they meet lowly UP Lady Maroons (1-4) at 8am in the same venue.



Rival schools Ateneo and La Salle, meanwhile meet for the first time this season in the women’s division.



The Lady Archers currently hold a 3-2 card while the Lady Eagles are just one game behind with a 2-3 slate.