Games today:
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
1:30 p.m. — FEU vs UE
4:30 p.m. — UP vs La Salle
Defending champion University of the Philippines (UP) and De La Salle University’s second round meeting holds greater magnitude than just being a rematch of last year’s finals.
More than having their six-game winning run at stake, the Final Four-bound Fighting Maroons are after a chance to advance into the next round as the top seed, as well as payback against their first-round tormentor.
The Green Archers, on the other hand, are trying to revive their flickering semifinals hopes amid a shaky final stretch run in the elimination round.
These storylines make the two squads’ much-anticipated meeting in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 men’s basketball tournament Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum even more exciting.
Tipoff time is set at 4:30 p.m. following Far Eastern University’s (FEU) attempt to stay in the Final Four hunt against also-ran University of the East at 1:30 p.m.
The top two semis seats with a twice-to-beat advantage are already occupied by league-leading National University (11-2) and second-running UP.
Following a stinging 69-72 loss to La Salle at the end of the first round last 19 October, the Fighting Maroons went on a six-game tear for a 10-3 slate.
Gerry Abadiano, who scored 16 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, and Francis Nnoruka anchored UP’s latest conquest — a come-from-behind 79-75 victory over Ateneo de Manila University from 16 points down last Wednesday to secure a sixth straight Final Four incentive.
Now, the Fighting Maroons are focused on completing a sweep of the final half of the eliminations and building momentum heading into the playoffs.
“For me, like any other team, we just need to be consistent,” UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde said.
“Right now, as I always say, after this game, we just have to watch and see. Even if it’s just one game in the second round, we still need to see what we need to work on,” he added.
“Of course, it’s La Salle, so we need to prepare for them.”
While the Fighting Maroons are comfortably settled in the next phase, the Green Archers are fighting for dear life in the quickly closing semis race.
La Salle has dropped its last three games, including a 60-61 heartbreaker against Adamson University last Sunday.
Despite the efforts of Vhoris Marasigan, back from a one-game suspension, EJ Gollena and Mike Phillips, the Green Archers slid to a 6-6 record in a dangerous fourth spot position.
La Salle is just half a game ahead of the Falcons (6-7) and within striking distance of Ateneo and FEU, which both carry 5-7 slates.
Another defeat will put the Green Archers on the brink of elimination.
On the other hand, the Tamaraws remain in survival mode, needing to win all their last two matches to force a playoff for a Final Four seat.
The Sean Chambers-mentored squad will close its elims campaign against University of Santo Tomas (UST) next week.
FEU, however, has no control over its fate in the Final Four race as it not only needs to sweep its remaining games but must also pray that either UST or La Salle won’t reach eight wins for a playoff crack.
But the Tamaraws must hurdle first a Red Warriors side trying to avoid a winless season.
UE has yet to win after 13 tries for a 19-game losing skid overall since the second round of last season.