WHO CAN STOP UP?

Red-hot University of the Philippines (UP) guns for a sixth straight win and a step closer to securing a Final Four seat in a rematch against slumping Adamson University in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 89 men’s basketball tournament today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The league-leading Fighting Maroons will try to win convincingly this time when they meet the Falcons at 5 p.m. after a controversial first-round escape.

After snapping a two-game skid in the first round, UP went on a roll, winning five straight matches, including a 101-70 drubbing of listless University of the East (UE) before a 10-day break.

The Fighting Maroons displayed their depth against the Red Warriors with their bench mob scoring 61 points and dominating the paint, 60-20.

“I think we’ve grown a lot as a team. Our coaches say that at the start of the season we shouldn’t be at our peak. It should be at the end of the season that we’re in constant track for our consistent growth,” UP veteran big man Gani Stevens said.

“So, I think now we’ve definitely grown more since the first round.”

UP remains atop the standings, sporting a 7-2 win-loss record. However, breathing down the Fighting Maroons’ necks is National University, which sports a 7-3 mark at solo second.

Adamson poses a huge threat to the Fighting Maroons’ winning run, especially after they gave UP fits in their first meeting.

UP needed to erase a 13-point first half deficit and weather the Falcons’ late onslaught to walk away with a 69-67 win on 14 October.

Adamson, however, questioned a non-call in the closing sequence after the Falcons alleged Fighting Maroons center Dikachi Ududo pulled guard Monty Montebon’s jersey as he attempted a half-court heave for a desperate three-pointer as time expired.

The Falcons have a chance to avenge their defeat and halt their back-to-back slide.

Adamson is in solo sixth with a 4-5 slate just behind Ateneo de Manila University (5-5) and just half a game ahead of University of Santo Tomas (4-6).

Meanwhile, Far Eastern University seeks to restart a winning run against winless UE in the curtain-raiser at 2:30 p.m.

The Tamaraws ended an alarming three-game slump at the expense of Adamson, 73-66, last Wednesday for a 5-4 mark and solo fourth.

FEU will try to replicate its 93-70 whipping of the Red Warriors in the first round.

But head coach Sean Chambers knows UE remains dangerous, especially now that it is playing without pressure after its elimination in the Final Four race.

“It’s a tough league. We all have sympathy for them on what they’re going through as an organization but at the same time it’s a must-win for us to get to where we want to get to,” said Chambers, who also works as Gilas Pilipinas assistant coach.

“I think those guys are playing good basketball. I like that they continue to fight and represent UE. No doubt that it’s a game that we must win to continue to compete for this Final Four.”

With a 0-9 mark and being booted out of semifinals contention, the Red Warriors are playing the spoiler role for those still in the thick of the battle.

UE holds the league’s second-worst losing skid at 29, which started in Season 87.