Fiery UM Hawks seek Naascu cage title today

MANILA–University of Manila hopes to revive its dynastic rule in the National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (Naascu) when it guns for the men’s basketball championship against STI today at the Makati  Coliseum. The Hawks, winners of Game 1 (78-73) last Wednesday, can clinch their first title in five years with a win in the 2:30 p.m. main game. UM captured five straight titles from 2001 to 2005 highlighted by a record 86-game winning streak while STI prevailed in 2007 at the expense of the Hawks. Coached by Felix Castillo, UM will again be powered by six-foot rookie guard Rhandelle Colina who, at 24 years old, will be ineligible next year. The sweet-shooting Colina, who hails from Davao, scattered 28 in Game 1 and STI has to stop him to forge a deciding third game in the best-of-three showdown. Informatics and Centro Escolar will dispute third place in the 1 p.m. match. Fatima will be the prohibitive favorite when it tries to clinch the junior title against Centro Escolar at 11:30 a.m. University of Manila and St. Claire will battle for third place at 10 a.m.