MANILA, Philippines -- Early front-runners vie for important wins on Sunday to boost their respective campaigns halfway into the 73rd UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Philsports Arena.

Top-seed Far Eastern University (FEU) stakes its perfect 5-0 record when the momentum-feeding Tamaraws battle the 2nd-running Adamson University Falcons at 2 p.m.

University of Santo Tomas (UST) and De La Salle University will seek to improve their records when they meet at 4 p.m.

FEU is coming off an 84-80 double-overtime victory against the Archers held last Thursday, while the Tigers eked out a 59-58 squeaker over the Bulldogs to join La Salle at 3rd place with identical 3-2 cards.

“Adamson is one of the top teams this season,” FEU coach Glenn Capacio said. “Hindi namin pwedeng balewalain sila. They’re deep in almost all positions.”

Capacio sure knows what he’s talking about.

Aside from depth, the Falcons have remarkably matured as a unit in the last three seasons with veteran court general Lester Alvarez playing the stabilizer’s role for Adamson, which currently holds a 3-1 ledger.

With Alvarez and back-up Jeric Canada ably setting bigmen Alex Nuyles, Jan Colina and rookie Austin Manyara underneath, the Falcons have since made life difficult for their opponents inside, both offensively and defensively.

But FEU has the tools to compete up front with seasoned bangers Aldrech Ramos, Riel Cervantes, JR Cawaling and sophomore Pippo Noundou at Capacio’s disposal. Add to that offensive equation the reliable backcourt tandem of the spitfirish RR Garcia and rookie wonder Terrence Romeo and the Falcons are in for a tough defensive grind.

The Tigers, meanwhile, hope to remain on the winning track against the hungry Archers, who are known for rattling the opposition’s ball handlers with a menacing full-court pressure defense.

“Aggressive silang dumepensa. Kailangan naming mag-ingat at alagaan ang bola,” UST coach Pido Jarencio said. “Madami pa kaming dapat ayusin sa laro namin. Sana maka-tsamba ulit.”

UST will lean on Jeric Teng, Jeric Fortuna, Chris Camus and Clark Bautista to deliver the goods while the Archers expect fireworks from Simon Atkins, Maui Villanueva, Sam Marata and Joshua Webb, among others.