UNBEATEN so far in five starts, University of the Philippines coach Goldwin Monteverde is not one to count his team’s foes out.

Especially University of Santo Tomas, which he described as a “better team” in these cage wars.

“Knowing them now compared to last year, they now have a good program, definitely they are better now,” Monteverde said.

“I think in each position, they have the materials to really compete. Paghahandaan naming mabuti,” he added.

The Fighting Maroons stake their perfect mark when they clash with the Growling Tigers today in the 87th UAAP basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The match is set at 4:30 p.m., with a win seen to boost UP when it takes on defending champion La Salle in last season’s finals rematch on Sunday, Oct. 6.

University of the East, the second-hottest team in the league with three straight victories, tackles Ateneo in the nightcap at 6:30.

Coming off a 67-88 blowout loss against the Green Archers, UST hopes to close out the first round with a winning record and remain in the Final Four hunt.

The Growling Tigers, who have yet to beat the Maroons in their last six meetings since 2022, hold a 3-2 record for joint third.

UP won in double digits against Adamson University 69-57 last Saturday after battling back from a 22-point hole.

The Red Warriors are enjoying their longest winning streak since closing out the eliminations with five consecutive victories in 2014, where the Recto-based cagers just fell short of the semifinals.

Written off after losing to UST and UP by a combined 25 points to open the season, UE has found its rhythm and is proving it is no pushover.

The Blue Eagles, who occupy sixth place with a 1-4 slate, are hard-pressed to pump life into their Last Four bid.

Ateneo, which absorbed a tough 65-66 overtime defeat to Far Eastern University last Wednesday, will take on another struggling team in National University to cap its first round on Saturday.

Warriors tactician Jack Santiago hopes that his troops will learn their lessons from last Sunday’s come-from-behind 57-51 win over the Bulldogs.

“We cannot afford to relax. They are a strong team,” Santiago said, recalling a pre-season loss to the Eagles in the Fujen Catholic University Cup in Taiwan last August.

“Our last game will be against Adamson (on Sunday). Nakita naman natin ang laro nila, we cannot afford to relax.”