UAAP Basketball Tournament
Seniors                 W       L       Pct
Ateneo                   8        1      .889
FEU                        7        1      .875
UE                          5        4      .556
UST                        5        4      .556
La Salle                 4        5      .444
NU                          2        6      .250
UP                           2        6      .250
Adamson               2        7      .222

Games on Thursday
(Araneta Coliseum)
2 p.m. UP vs. UST
4 p.m. NU vs. FEU

Far Eastern University seeks to reclaim a share of the lead when it takes on lowly National University on Thursday in the 72nd UAAP basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Tamaraws are heavy picks to win their eighth consecutive game and tie idle Ateneo at the top of the leaderboard in their 4 p.m. date with the Bulldogs, who carry a 2-6 card.

Opening the day’s hostilities at 2 p.m. will be the duel between University of Santo Tomas and University of the Philippines with the Tigers hoping to gain advantage over La Salle and University of the East in the race to Final Four.

But the Fighting Maroons are expected to deliver an all-out assault on the Tigers after a slim 78-76 win over NU last Saturday. They also pushed the Tigers to the limit in the first round last August 8 before bowing, 85-95.

The Maroons, however, will have to stop UST’s MVP candidate Dylan Ababou, rookie Jeric Teng and Khazim Mirza as well as role players Chris Camus and Jeric Fortuna.

The Tamaraws are coming off a tough 75-67 win over UST in a game that saw Smart Gilas standout Mark Barroca score 17 of his 23 points in the first half while ably supported by Aldrech Ramos, Pipo Noundou and Paul Sanga.

Head coach Glenn Capacio, though, is not taking things lightly as he believes that they are one of the teams being targeted by all teams.

“Dapat pa naming madagdagan ang preparation dahil lahat ng team kami ang tina-target kasi kami ang nasa taas,” Capacio said.

In the first round, FEU easily demolished NU, 82-57, last July 25 behind the 20 points, seven rebounds and five assists of rookie guard Ryan Roose Garcia.

The Tams could gain a much more advantage as Bulldogs top big man Jewel Ponferrada could be suspended today after entering the playing court during an altercation between teammate Joseph Terso and UP’s Miggy Maniego. Ponferrada and reserve Jerome Tungcul were ejected by game officials.