UE tackles Southwestern for share of Filoil ‘B’ lead

University of the East tries to keep pace with the Group B leaders when it takes on Cebu’s Southwestern University in the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup today at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.

Coming off a two-week break, the Red Warriors tangle with the Cobras at  5 p.m. hoping to bounce back from a  96-82 defeat from the La Salle Archers that ended their four-game streak.

A fifth victory will put the Warriors back on top with  surprise package Centro Escolar University and the Green Archers.

In Group A, resurgent squads Letran (4-2) and St. Benilde (3-3) collide at 3:15 p.m.

Rey Nambatac, who’s been averaging 16.7 points per game, looks to sustain his impressive turnaround that put the Knights inside the top four after a 1-2 start.

The Blazers also try to go for a third straight triumph just a week after shocking powerhouse Far Eastern University,  70-48.

Other matches pit Adamson (1-4) and Emilio Aguinaldo College (1-5) at 11:45 a.m. and Mapua (1-5) and Lyceum (1-5) at 1:30 p.m.

The Blazers hope to crash into the top five with a fourth win following their upset of the Tamaraws where Jonathan Grey shone with 23 points.

The SWU Cobras, meanwhile, aim to build on their first win in three games versus University of the Philippines, 73-60, last Wednesday.

Boko Mupungo powered the Cobras against the Maroons with 22 points, 18 rebounds and two blocks, while John Auditor also stepped up with 16 markers and seven boards.

“It’s good to win, but we still have to get our game back,” said SWU coach Yayoy Alcoseba. “We must to improve if we want to advance.”