Game today:

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)

3:30 p.m. — La Salle vs NU

It’s judgment day for the two teams slugging it out for the right to challenge University of the Philippines’ (UP) reign in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 men’s basketball tournament finals.

Expect an all-out war when an inspired De La Salle University crew battles a wounded but fiercer National University (NU) side in a no-tomorrow Final Four clash Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

All eyes are focused on the match, firing off at 3:30 p.m., with both teams now on equal footing after the Green Archers forced the Bulldogs to use their twice-to-beat advantage.

The winner will move on to face the repeat-seeking Fighting Maroons in a best-of-three championship series unwrapping on Wednesday.

Already in full strength with the return of guard Kean Baclaan from a knee injury and EJ Gollena from a one-game suspension, La Salle surprised its elimination round tormentor with an 87-77 victory last Wednesday to force a rubber match.

The Green Archers are now eyeing to become the first No. 4 seed to reach the finals in six years following University of Santo Tomas’ run in the stepladder semifinals in 2019.

From a shaky start to catching the last bus ride to the semis, La Salle is now on the cusp of a third straight finals appearance for a chance to reclaim the throne it surrendered last year.

However, Green Archers head coach Topex Robinson and his wards know NU will not give the finals seat on a silver platter.

“Obviously, the game on Saturday will be harder. You know, this team will not just roll down and die. We just have to make sure that we’re always humbled by this experience, knowing that we still made a ton of mistakes and did things that we shouldn’t have done,” said Robinson, who has yet to miss a championship round since taking over the team three seasons ago.

Robinson will also lean on Jacob Cortez, Mike Phillips, Vhoris Marasigan, Mason Amos and JC Macalalag to bring La Salle into the biggest stage.

“So just wanna learn and you know, those moments of learning that we got from here, we’re gonna make sure we’re gonna bring it come Saturday’s game,” the mentor added.

The Bulldogs are now 0-3 all-time against the Green Archers in the Final Four. La Salle as the higher ranked squad eliminated NU in 2001 and 2023.

Still, head coach Jeff Napa remains optimistic about his team’s chances of pulling off a first-ever championship meeting with UP in the Final Four era.

“Of course, they (the Green Archers) have a psychological edge. We just need to figure out how to handle this situation and challenge. We’re still positive, even though it’s definitely a challenge,” Napa said, hoping to avoid a repeat of the team’s 2013 Final Four collapse after squandering a semis incentive against eventual runner-up University of Santo Tomas.

Jake Figueroa, who had a double-double last game, will need to get more support from Omar John, PJ Palacielo, Steve Nash Enriquez and Jolo Manansala to keep their hopes of ending an 11-year title drought alive.