The UP Fighting Maroons have yet to lose a game while the UE Red Warriors aim to finish strong as UAAP Season 87 reaches halfway mark.
The UP Fighting Maroons and the UE Red Warriors hope to extend their win streaks going into the final week of the first round of UAAP Season 87.
Both teams play on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum where last year’s runners-up will gun for a 6-0 start while the Red Warriors target a fourth straight win after a 0-2 record to begin the season.
As the first half of the season draws to a close, let’s take a look at the schedule of games for the last three game days of Round 1.
October 2, 2024 (Wednesday)
UP vs UST (4:30 p.m.)
Before the Fighting Maroons (5-0) head off to finish their first-round campaign against rivals La Salle on the weekend, they will face another formidable foe in the revamped UST Growling Tigers (3-2) in the opening game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday.
UP is eyeing their 6th win of the year and are coming off of a huge comeback victory over the Adamson Soaring Falcons. But UST, who will be eager to bounce back after their stinging loss to DLSU, will try to challenge the powerhouse.
Armed with arguably the best crowds in UAAP basketball, UP and UST face off at 4:30 p.m. at the Big Dome.
UE vs Ateneo (6:30 p.m.)
The UE Red Warriors (3-2) have been one of the more surprising teams this season, and they aim to continue on their winning path as they face the Ateneo Blue Eagles (1-4) in the main game on Wednesday still at the Araneta Coliseum.
Not only are the Red Warriors on a three-game tear, they are also currently 2-1 against last season's Final Four teams. Now facing the only remaining semifinal team they haven’t gone against this year, UE head coach Jack Santiago and his boys will hope to stage another upset.
Still riding high on wins over the DLSU Green Archers and the NU Bulldogs, UE tries their hand at the battle-tested Ateneo Blue Eagles at 6:30 p.m. in Araneta.
October 5, 2024 (Saturday)
UST vs FEU (4:30 p.m.)
An age-old rivalry opens weekend action at the Mall of Asia Arena as the Growling Tigers play their final game of Round 1 against the FEU Tamaraws (1-5) who are fresh off of an exhilarating first win in UAAP Season 87.
The curtain raiser to the double header will pit UST against the young Tamaraws as they hope to place in the top half of the standings midway through the season.
Meanwhile, the Tamaraws, who drubbed NU in overtime last weekend, hope to ride the momentum of their first win of the year to get two in a row before the start of the second round.
UST-FEU faces off at 4:30 p.m in Pasay City.
Ateneo vs NU (6:30 p.m.)
Coming from a Final Four appearance in Season 86, Ateneo and NU (1-5) will be looking to turn things around as they both aim to finish the first round strong after a shaky start to Season 87.
The Blue Eagles flaunt a young team against an all-local Bulldogs team as the latter tries to break out of a 4-game slump. Ateneo seeks to recover from a tough loss at the hands of the FEU Tamaraws while NU will be carrying the sting of losing at the buzzer against Adamson.
Both win-hungry teams square off to close the penultimate game day of Round 1 at 6:30 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena.
October 6, 2024 (Sunday)
Adamson vs UE (3:30 p.m.)
A tale of resurgent teams open Sunday action at the Mall of Asia Arena as the Adamson Soaring Falcons (3-3) and the UE Red Warriors battle it out in the prelude to La Salle and UP’s rivalry clash to close out Round 1.
Adamson, who gave the Fighting Maroons a run for their money the last time around, tests the mettle of a young star-laden UE squad as both teams target a good position to compete for a Final Four later on this season.
The Soaring Falcons and the Red Warriors collide to jockey for position in the standings at 3:30 p.m.
UP vs La Salle (6:30 p.m.)
Powerhouses meet as the season reaches its halfway mark with a rematch of last year’s finals between the UP Fighting Maroons and the DLSU Green Archers (5-1) to close out action at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Fighting Maroons will hope to get back at their tormentors at last year's finals and assure themselves the top spot in the standings after seven games.
Meanwhile, La Salle, who were already blemished by UE earlier this year, hope to restate their dominance with another win over their storied rivals.
The game, which will be a separate ticket, tips off at 6:30 p.m.