De La Salle University is expected to be in full force when it battles National University in the Final Four of Season 88 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

According to a school insider, the heady playmaker is recovering from the knee injury and is expected to return when they gun for a crucial victory against his former team — the Bulldogs — in the semifinals.

Baclaan was having a solid performance for the Green Archers in his first five games, averaging 10.2 points on 34-percent shooting from the field, to go with 4.2 assists and 3.2 rebounds in 21 minutes of play.

He, however, suffered an injury in their 111-110 win over University of the East when Wello Lingolingo landed on his right knee when going for the loose ball. He was later declared to have suffered a Grade 2 medial collateral ligament tear that requires seven weeks to recover.

The source said Baclaan is responding well to PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) treatment and could be back on Wednesday, seven weeks since he suffered an injury.

“Yes, he will play,” the source told DAILY TRIBUNE on condition of anonymity for lack of authority to speak on behalf of the team. “But he’s not yet 100 percent,”

With Baclaan out, La Salle blew hot and cold in the preliminaries.

In fact, the Green Archers nearly missed the bus headed for the Final Four if not for the dramatic 78-72 win over rival Ateneo de Manila University last Wednesday, a game that was highlighted by Jacob Cortez’s clutch steal and pull-up jumper.

All in all, the Green Archers wrapped up the double-round eliminations with eight wins in 14 games behind to set a Final Four battle with the Bulldogs, who will have the twice-to-beat advantage after posting an 11-3 record. Other Final Four match will pit second-seed University of the Philippines against third-seed University of Santo Tomas.

La Salle coach Topex Robinson, however, tempered expectations, saying that it’s not yet sure whether Baclaan will see action in most crucial game of their season.