Champs feeling their way through UAAP

The struggle is real for the past two champions of the UAAP men’s basketball tournament.

“We’re really struggling, learning the ropes at this point,” Far Eastern U coach Nash Racela said of his defending champion Tamaraws, who are running in the middle of the pack just like the Bulldogs.

The Tamaraws battle a similarly scrambling University of Santo Tomas in a rematch of last year’s Finals in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament today.

“More than focusing on UST, again because of our struggles, we spend more time on ourselves, correcting things,” said Racela. “Hopefully, we come out better against UST.”

Game is set at 4 p.m., right after the  Bulldogs also go for a fourth victory against University of the Philippines in the first game at Mall of Asia Arena.

“It’s still a work in progress for us,” said NU coach Eric Altamirano after the Bulldogs nearly blew a huge lead in their 75-68 triumph over the Tigers. “In the coming games we cannot afford to do that again. Just like any typical young team, they get carried away or lose their focus when things aren’t going their way.”

Altamirano said the Bulldogs should also be wary of the Maroons, who gave the Tamaraws a scare in a 51-49 decision.

“There are no pushovers in this league,” said Altamirano. “You cannot overlook anybody.”

“We have to work now on how we finish the game,” said NU guard Jay Alejandro, who starred with 16 points in his last outing.