Stopping Nic Cabanero will be one of the main goals of the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons in their bid to continue with their best start in 26 years.
Cabanero is the leading scorer in the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball tournament with his average of 19 points after four games and he will be the main weapon of winless University of Santo Tomas in the Growling Tigers’ effort to secure their first win.
The Fighting Maroons, who are enjoying one of their best opening stints since making it to the Final Four for the first time in 1996, will confront the Growling Tigers at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The solo-leading Maroons come into the fight carrying the momentum of four straight victories, after holding their ground against the Far Eastern University, 80-76 in overtime, last Wednesday.
And they will be ready for anything that the Growling Tigers will throw at them, with coach Goldwin Monteverde having prepared the team for any level of difficulty that they will face.
Monteverde
Assistance coach Christian Luanzon said that Monteverde has told the squad that winning as many games in the first round will be a big thing for the Fighting Maroons.
“As coach Gold said in the last game, it”s always nice in the first round to gather as many wins as you can. In my experience as a player and as an assistant coach, if you are able to get at least 5 to 6 wins, malaking puhunan na ito papasok ng second round,” said Luanzon.
The Fighting Maroons will have two main weapons, with Malick Diouf being the second highest scorer after four games, with a norm of 15.5 points.
And Diouf won’t be alone as teammate CJ Cansino also ekes out 15.5 points per game.
Earlier, the defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles battle the FEU Tamaraws at 2 p.m.