Gelo Santiago is set to return from a five-game suspension when National University collides with De La Salle 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.

But it wasn’t just a simple reinstatement.

Bad blood is expected to boil as the 6-foot-1 Santiago will be facing a Green Archers side that is itching to gain vengeance after he collided with Mason Amos that led to his knee injury in their first-round encounter.

Although the act was unintentional, it still left a bitter taste in the mouths of La Salle coach Topex Robinson and Amos, raising the intensity, the drama and the excitement of their Final Four encounter, where the Bulldogs enjoy a twice-to-beat advantage after topping the double-round eliminations with an 11-3 record.

Santiago was later slapped with a five-game suspension after he elbowed Ateneo de Manila University sophomore Waki Espina in the back of his head.

In a previous interview, Robinson said the suspension was the outcome of the “choice” that Santiago made.

“These are grown men. Grown men make grown-man decisions. And with that decision, with those kinds of decisions come circumstances,” said Robinson, whose wards are coming as the fourth seed in the Final Four while second-seed University of the Philippines and third-seed University of Santo Tomas clash in the other semis bracket.

“If you are trying to hurt a player intentionally, there's no room for that in the UAAP or even in basketball because that's really something that's not really taught, I'm sure, by any coach, to really intentionally hurt a player so he made it on his own, I'm sure.”

On the other hand, Amos admitted that he wasn’t happy over Santiago’s action that led to his injury, which cost him seven games and put the Green Archers on the brink of getting eliminated.

“I’m gonna be honest, no. I’m not expecting an apology,” the Filipino-Australian forward said, referring to his relationship with the younger brother of volleyball stars Dindin Manabat and Jaja Santiago.

“Things happen, it’s basketball, so I’m not gonna dwell on it.”

Even NU coach Jeff Napa admitted that Santiago’s physicality had done more harm than good as he lost one of his top defenders after he sat out in their last five games.

“I immediately talked to Gelo and I made him realize his mistake. He should have never done that,” said Napa after Santiago struck Espina on the head in their second-round duel.