MAROONS VOW TO STAY ON THEIR TOES IN BID TO SOLIDIFY NO. 2 SPOT HOLD

MANILA, Philippines — The University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons stressed that they are not taking anyone lightly, as they face the still-winless and already-ran University of the East Red Warriors. 

The Maroons, who currently sitting at solo second, will try to tighten their grip on the second spot against the 0-10 Red Warriors in their UAAP Season 88 men's basketball clash on Saturday.

UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde, though, said that the Final Four advantage is still far from their sights, with four more elimination round games to come and with the standings being too close for comfort.

“I mean, we need to take it a game at a time pa rin. So, right after this, we need to think about UE,” Monteverde told reporters after a gritty 89-88 win against the free-falling University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers on Wednesday. 

“Every game, whatever na mapupulot namin or magigain namin through preparing at the same time, whatever we could improve on while we take yung mga tasks yun, yun naman nasa isip lang namin,” he added. 

He said that UE’s close 78-74 loss against Ateneo also on Wednesday showed that you cannot take anyone lightly in the league. 

“Wala naman team dito sa UAP na pwede mong pabayaan. Kumbaga, we respect every team. We would always prepare for every team na haharapin namin,” he said. 

“Pare-parehas lang ang pananaw namin sa kanila when it comes to preparation.”

UP is currently holding a 7-3 win-loss record, just behind National University (8-2) Bulldogs and ahead of La Salle (6-4).

But with four more elimination games left, nothing yet is set in stone, as all seven teams still remaining in the hunt — Ateneo, UST and Adamson (tied at 5-5), and Far Eastern University (4-6) — could technically still make it to the Final Four. 

2025-11-07T04:31:24Z