Veteran guard Nic Cabañero will lead the charge for home team UST as the Growling Tigers go up against defending champions UP at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
The UST Growling Tigers look to make a statement on their home floor when they battle defending champions UP Fighting Maroons in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament on Sunday, Sept. 21.
Game time is set for 4:30 p.m. at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
With the España crowd behind them, the Tigers hope to ride their community spirit against the defending UAAP champions.
Star guard Nic Cabañero is expected to carry the load in the absence of Forthsky Padrigao, who is serving a one-game suspension.
UST will also count on key returnees Gelo Crisostomo and Kyle Paranada for stability while ushering in rookies Koji Buenaflor and Collins Akowe, who look to make an immediate impact in their collegiate debuts.
The challenge is steep against UP, which opens its title defense after losing leaders JD Cagulangan, Quentin Millora-Brown, and Francis Lopez.
The Fighting Maroons will now lean on their “Maroon 5” core of captain Gerry Abadiano, Harold Alarcon, Terrence Fortea, Reyland Torres, and Janjan Felicilda to maintain their championship form.
Sunday’s clash also serves as a rematch of last year’s Final Four encounter, where UP eliminated UST, 78-69. This time, the Tigers will aim to flip the script and deliver an upset to kick off their Season 88 campaign.
(With reports from Luisa Morales)
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]