Katipunan killer

Games today:

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)

2:30 p.m. — Adamson vs UE

6 p.m. — UP vs Ateneo

Rampaging University of the Philippines (UP) is out to book the first Final Four seat in a clash with Ateneo De Manila University in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 89 men’s basketball tournament Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Rolling to a six-game winning streak, the Fighting Maroons now gun to complete an elimination round head-to-head sweep of the Blue Eagles in the celebrated Battle of Katipunan at 6 p.m.

UP aims for its eighth straight Final Four appearance since 2018 and sixth in a row under the watch of head coach Goldwin Monteverde.

The Fighting Maroons hold a league-best 8-2 win-loss record. They can build a more comfortable cushion from the rest of the pack as the semifinals race enters the crucial stage.

After a shaky 2-2 start in its redemption bid, the Season 88 runner-up shifted into high gear and moved to within a win of its mission to bring the title it lost last year back to Diliman.

But even with full control of its destiny, UP has no time to relax as a single misstep could put the team in a difficult spot.

“The placing is really deceptive. What I mean by that is that anything can change in a heartbeat, basically. When the first round ended, La Salle and Ateneo were like sixth or seventh spot, and two weeks later, La Salle is like in the third spot. Ateneo, the same thing,” said Monteverde’s trusted assistant Christian Luanzon.

Looking at current standings, except for the also-ran University of the East (UE), all seven teams are in the running for a semis seat and the two twice-to-beat advantages.

UP holds a one-game lead over National University (7-3) and a two-game cushion over Far Eastern University and defending champion De La Salle University, which are tied for third at 6-4.

Ateneo, meanwhile, remains outside the Final Four picture with a 5-5 record, trailing the Tamaraws and the Green Archers by one game in the race for the coveted No. 4 spot.

Tied with 4-6 slates, Adamson University and University of Santo Tomas, despite their slumps, can turn their fortunes around with just a strong final push and climb up to the top two spots.

That alone makes the Final Four casting unpredictable until the final playdate.

“One game can change the complexion right away. As Coach Gold and I always say, ‘You cannot take any team for granted.’ Our preparation and how we prepare; we have surpass that every practice,” Luanzon said.

UP, fresh from crushing Adamson, 82-70, on Wednesday, is eyeing a repeat of its 94-75 domination of Ateneo last 19 September and an extension of its seven-game winning streak over its Katipunan neighbor dating back to the second round of Season 86.

The Blue Eagles, meanwhile, try to stand back up after suffering a 73-76 overtime loss to archrival La Salle a week ago.

In the curtain-raiser, the Falcons look to snap a three-game losing streak and get back into Final Four contention when they take on winless spoiler Red Warriors at 2:30 p.m.

Adamson, which finished the first round with a surprising 4-3 record, has yet to win in the second round.

Although lumbering in a 30-game losing skid and missing the Final Four for the 15th consecutive season, UE remains dangerous in its mission to capture the elusive win.