Key UAAP matches as eliminations end today
THE elimination round of Season 79 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines ( UAAP) men’s basketball ends today with a pair of games carrying huge playoff implications particularly for the second spot.
Set to do battle at the Mall of Asia Arena are the University of the East Red Warriors and Far Eastern University Tamaraws at 2 p. m. and the Ateneo Blue Eagles and Adamson Soaring Falcons at 4 p.m.
Defending champion FEU (85), Ateneo (9-4) and Adamson (85) are all eyeing the number two seed and the twice-to-beat advantage that goes with it in the Final Four. UE (3-10), while already out of the running, is angling to end its campaign on a positive note.
Lost their last three games, the Tamaraws are in danger of dropping all the way to fourth place and a meeting with powerhouse De La Salle Green Archers ( 13-1) in the semifinals if their slump continues.
They need to beat the Warriors in their opening game today to at least keep their hopes for number two alive or fortify a spot for third. A loss would do them little favor.
Considering where it is coming from, FEU has to have a better end-to-end performance than what it is showing of late especially against a UE team out to play the role of spoiler in its final game of the season.
The Warriors are coming off a victory in their last outing against the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, 80-67, in a game they considered showed their true potential with contributions coming from all over the place.
They now hope to follow it up with another victory to build on it for the future as well as stave off finishing dead- last in the standings this season.
OUTRIGHT SECOND
In the second game, Ateneo has the opportunity to claim second spot complication-free if it beats Adamson.
The Eagles are currently the hottest team in the UAAP, winning their last five games, including dealing rival and top seed La Salle its lone defeat of the season.
The Katipunan- based dribblers beat season host University of Santo Tomas in their last game, 74-64, behind the spirited play of big man Isaac Go, named UAAP player of the week.
But despite in a good position to a favorable finish at the end of the eliminations, Ateneo Coach Tab Baldwin underscored the need for them to stay focused and continue the momentum, especially since the field is looking at them now as a serious contender.
“Expectations are now high for us and it’s up to us as a team how we will deal with it. We have to continue improving and learning and not let our guards down even if we are playing better of late,” he said.
The same goes for Adamson, which is also streaking in the homestretch.
Like FEU, the Falcons have to win today if it is to be in the mix for a shot at number two.
A victory by the Falcons, coupled with an FEU loss, tie them with the Eagles and force the latter to a playoff.
If FEU wins over UE, however, Adamson needs to win by 31 points or more over Ateneo to force a playoff with FEU with the Eagles dropping to fourth.
In the event both Adamson and FEU lose today, the latter takes third by virtue of a higher quotient.
For Falcons Coach Franz Pumaren, though, regardless of where they end up, their mindset is to continue to be go-getting as they build a winning culture in San Marcelino.