Pivotal push

Games today:

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)

2:30 p.m. — UST vs UE

5 p.m. — Adamson vs Ateneo

University of Santo Tomas (UST) fights to stay on track for a Final Four seat against an upset-seeking University of the East (UE) in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 89 men’s basketball tournament Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Tipoff is set at 2:30 p.m. followed by the 5 p.m. clash between a head coach Louie Alas-less Ateneo de Manila University and Adamson University.

Struggling to find form in their first three second round outings, the Growling Tigers pulled through in their fourth attempt in a narrow escape over Far Eastern University (FEU).

UST holds a 5-6 win-loss record tied with the Blue Eagles outside of the top four. However, the Tigers are within striking distance of defending champion De La Salle University and the Tamaraws, both in second to third with 6-5 marks.

League-leading University of the Philippines (UP), holding a 9-2 win-loss card, is already through to the next round, while National University has a foot in the semis door with an 8-3 record in solo second.

The Tigers ended their skid with an 86-85 victory over first round tormentor FEU last Sunday behind the troika of Amiel Acido, one-and-done Landyn Jumawan and Mark Llemit.

UST has addressed their shortcomings in its previous games, especially in rebounding after outworking the Tamaraws, 44-33.

But the Tigers still have a lot of work to do and no time to relax with the Final Four race already in its crucial stretch.

“We’re not a perfect team. We’re from it. But as long as we stick together, the coaches stick together, we are all focused, we’ll get it one game at a time,” UST assistant coach Peter Martin said.

UST defeated the then-reeling Red Warriors, 98-87, in the first round last 30 September.

However, a repeat over UE gets a little trickier this time with the Red Warriors rediscovering their winning form after a two-year, 31-game wait.

UE halted a 30-game losing skid with a 53-47 shocker over Adamson University last Saturday behind the 14-point efforts of Mo Tanedo and Toper Lagat.

After getting the monkey off their backs after a 0-10 start and playing without pressure after an early elimination in the semis race, the Red Warriors are looking to add the Tigers on their list of victims.

“We now know how to win and for sure we’re hungry for more. We’ll build up from this win (against Adamson) and hopefully, we can sustain this this season up to the next season,” UE first year head coach Paulo Hubalde said.

Despite its humble record, the Red Warriors remain a big threat to all remaining semis contenders as UE can derail a team’s bid to enter the next round.

Meanwhile, the Blue Eagles will charge into battle sans Alas after he was meted with a two-game ban after accumulating two technical foul infractions and unsportsmanlike conduct following Ateneo’s 74-82 loss to UP last Saturday.

The first-year mentor is also out for the Blue Eagles’ game against UST on Sunday.

Ateneo will try to rebound and replicate its 73-68 victory over Adamson in their first meeting last 26 September.

After a good first round, the Falcons are on a nosedive after losing four in a row for a 4-7 record in seventh.

Adamson needs to find a way to end its alarming slump or risk missing the Final Four ride for a second straight season.