Winless UP tries to avoid going 0-14 vs UE

By: Josiah Albelda | Sep 18th 2013

With another winless season in the horizon, the University of the Philippines has one last chance to redeem itself from yet another disappointing campaign.

The Fighting Maroons face also-ran University of the East to close out both squads' 76th UAAP men's basketball tournament stints at 2 p.m. on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Diliman-based squad, which has had two 0-14 seasons in the last five years, will look to avert laying another fat egg against the Red Warriors, who will be determined to end their season on a positive note after missing the playoffs.

UE coach Boycie Zamar, despite being unable to bring his team back to the Final Four, wants to end what has been a nightmarish tournament with a big win.

"Ang dami naming dinaanang bagyo, dinaanang baha," he said after his Warriors beat Adamson University. "The Final Four will always be there. Masakit sa amin, especially dahil tinawag niyo kaming contenders."

Zamar said that while superstar guard Roi Sumang is healthy enough to play, he will have to be cautious with handling his cat-quick playmaker and think of Sumang's future.

"Status niya is playable," he said. "But somebody has to finish."

On the other hand, UP will lean on the inside-out duo of Raul Soyud and Sam Marata as they attempt to arrest a losing skid that dates back to 2012.  

The game will air live on Studio 23, BALLS HD 167, uaapsports.tv and iwantv.com.ph with a same day replay starting 9 p.m. on BALLS SkyCable channel 34 or Destiny Cable channel 36.