UP Fighting Maroons during a game against UST Growling Tigers in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

After eight games so far, two teams, unsurprisingly, still banners the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament—defending champion La Salle and last year’s Finals rival University of the Philippines (UP), who are both sporting similar 7-1 (win-loss) records.

When the two squads locked horns once again this season, the Green Archers reasserted their dominance over the Fighting Maroons in an emotion-filled 68-56 result, thus ensuring that no team got past the first round without a scratch.

SCHEDULE: UAAP Season 87 basketball

To start the second round, La Salle avenged its only loss dealt by fast-rising University of the East by trimming the Warriors, 77-68. UP, meanwhile, repeated over University of Santo Tomas (UST), which led the Season 84 champions in both games they faced off only to crack when it mattered the most.

“For me, we have takeaways in every game especially with a team like UST,” UP coach Goldwin Monteverde said after the Maroons completed a come-from-behind victory, 83-73, against the Growling Tigers on Sunday night.

“We all know that this season will be the hardest for us,” La Salle coach Topex Robinson said. “Just like what I always tell these players, that’s what you get for being the defending champions: Every team will always come out with guns blazing every time they play you. So, gone are the days that you’re just going to blow by teams because there’s so much respect for you now.

“And that’s just going to make us better … We’ll learn from [these games], we’ll grow from it.”

La Salle Green Archers during a UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball game. -MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

UP welcomed back leader JD Cagulangan, who at one point was seen drawing up a play for his teammates while trailing to UST, after the star guard missed a few games at the end of the first round.

“JD really has a huge impact for us and the team. His leadership and having him back, we’re happy to see his return,” Monteverde said. “We would always want to see our teammate to be able to play and express himself in the game.”

READ: UAAP: JD Cagulangan makes immediate impact in UP return

Sitting at the third spot are the Red Warriors who, after absorbing a 0-2 (win-loss) start, took the league by storm by carving out a five-game win streak before being dragged back to earth by the Archers for a 5-3 card.

UST, meanwhile, had a promising start to the season but now look vulnerable at 4-4, with the always-dangerous Adamson and coach Nash Racela, who have clearly stated their desire of snagging a seat at the big boy table, holding a 3-5 record.

And the Tigers’ hell week is just getting warmed up.

UST faces La Salle at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.

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