UAAP: UP vs ADMU round one preview and live-scoring

Game starts at 2pm. Page auto-refreshes every 30 seconds.


The University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons will try to clinch their first win of Season 76 when they face a wounded and reeling Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles team, Sunday at the MOA Arena.

UP (0-4) hung tough with the NU Bulldogs last week, sticking to within five with under two minutes to go in the third quarter, but role players Troy Rosario and Gelo Alolino keyed in a big run bridging the last two periods, establishing a double-digit lead for the Bulldogs that they never relinquished after that. All-in-all, UP scored just 13 points in the final canto, going 4-of-17 from the field including missing all four of their three-point tries.

As it stands, UP boasts of a poor offense, finishing dead last in points scored (67.0), field goal percentage (35.2), and assists (10.5). However, unlike their previous opponents, Ateneo does not boast of an intimidating big man ala Ingrid Sewa or Emmanuel Mbe. That might encourage the Maroons to take higher percentage shots nearer to the basket, instead of relying on three-pointers, of which they hit just 26.4 percent.

Ateneo (1-4) on the other hand crumbled late against the UE Red Warriors, giving up back-to-back drives to the basket and the lead to their foes' incursions to the hoop. They were also forced to go most of the second half without Ryan Buenafe, who had been one of their best contributors, due to an ankle injury, while star player Kiefer Ravena gamely played 24 minutes off the bench, despite still not being 100 percent.

Still the big number in this game was free throw attempts, as UE got 25 tries. Though they made just 14, it was still far and away better than Ateneo's 4-of-6 clip. Overall, ADMU has 79 free throw tries in five games, a number that's less than only UP (59), who have played one fewer game. While the Eagles are a perimeter squad this season, just as they don't have any established rim protectors, UP doesn't have any either, and so someone like Chris Newsome could find himself with more freedom to go straight to the rack.

Game starts at 2pm.  


Previous assignments -

UP Fighting Maroons -  Bulldogs keep Maroons winless

ADMU Blue Eagles - Comeback falls short as UE defeats Ateneo


Season 75 history lesson:

Round one - Eagles win late, survive Maroon mob

Round two - Ravena shines as ADMU downs UP