Game 2 without Bo: UP tests UE

University of the Philippines seeks to get back on track against University of the East, while Adamson and National U square off in a bid to stay in the thick of the battle for Final Four spots in UAAP Season 82 men’s basketball tournament at Mall of Asia Arena.

Still without suspended coach Bo Perasol, who will be serving the second of a three-game ban, the Fighting Maroons aim to end a two-game slide against the Red Warriors at 4 p.m.

UP suffered an 82-79 loss to Far Eastern U on Sunday, but assistant coach Ricky Dandan said he’d rather dwell on the positives from the Maroons’ performance.

Twice, the Maroons fought back from double-digit deficits, the last coming in the final five minutes of regulation, before they faded in overtime.

“They could have easily given up,” Dandan said of the Maroons. “So that’s what we emphasized in the dugout, ‘You guys did not give up. We made a game out of it and forced overtime.’ We were down seventeen. I’m very proud of that.”

With a 5-3 record, the Maroons are still in second spot behind the Ateneo Blue Eagles, but another loss will put them in a tie with University of Santo Tomas, which is currently in third spot with a 5-4 slate. The NU-Adamson tiff will also be crucial as the loser will drop to last place.

Their confidence soaring after an 85-79 overtime win over Far Eastern U, the Bulldogs hope to build their first winning streak of the season. A win by the Bulldogs will pull them out of the cellar, while the Falcons are aiming to stay within striking distance of the Top 4.

Kobe Paras has continued to be a bright spot for the Maroons, averaging 19 points and six rebounds so far. But the Maroons are looking to squeeze better performances from the likes of Ricci Rivero and Jun Manzo.