Scramble for 4th spot continues

Games today (Smart-Araneta Coliseum) 10 a.m. – Adu vs Feu (men) / 12 noon – DLSu vs ue (men) 2 p.m. – Adu vs Feu (women) / 4 p.m. – DLSu vs ue (women) Far Eastern U tries to close in on the coveted fourth spot while Adamson wants to stay in the thick of the race when they figure in a crucial duel in the UAAP women’s volleyball tournament today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Lady Tamaraws hold an inside track to the last Final Four slot with a 5-4 slate and are not keen on allowing others to get closer, starting against the Lady Falcons (2-7).

Game time is at 2 p.m. before defending champion and semifinal-bound La Salle, possibly without reigning MVP Angel Canino, beefs up its twice-to-beat bid against another Final Four hopeful University of the East (2-7) at 4 p.m.

La Salle (8-1) and NU (8-2) along with pacer Santo Tomas (9-1) have booked the first three Final Four tickets, leaving one final slot up for grabs among FEU and three other contenders including UE and Ateneo (2-7).

The magic number to the Final Four is with seven wins, not giving FEU enough cushion just yet even if it manages to squeak past Adamson for a potential 6-4 slate.

That would leave Adamson, UE and Ateneo with slim chances to get to six wins as well, provided that FEU can’t buy another win.

But a victory now would push the Lady Tamaraws closer. And it’s here for the taking.

“That’s the goal,” said FEU mentor Manolo Refugia. “Pero kailangan pa rin naming pagtrabahuhan. Gusto naming manalo kaya trabaho pa rin.”