UNIVERSITY of the East hopes to set aside its second-round struggle and pull off a reversal over University of the Philippines to catch the last Final Four slot in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament today, Wednesday, at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
After their first two scheduled duels last month were postponed due to different circumstances, the Red Warriors and the Fighting Maroons finally face off in the lone men’s game at 5:30 p.m.
The Red Warriors went on a 5-2 run in the first round but has lost five of their last six matches and dropped to fourth place at 6-7.
UP, already assured of a Final Four berth and a twice-to-beat advantage against No. 3 University of Santo Tomas, is out to close out the elimination round with back-to-back victories.
Adamson University, which will clash with also-ran Ateneo this Saturday at the San Juan arena, will be an interested spectator.
The Falcons, who dropped to 5-8 after last Saturday’s 49-75 loss to the Growling Tigers, are hoping for a Red Warriors defeat and a victory over the Blue Eagles to forge a playoff for the No. 4 spot.
A UE victory will eliminate Adamson and will shove the Warriors to a Final Four showdown with defending champion and top-ranked La Salle.
The Red Warriors, who are out to end a 15-year Final Four drought, will end up tied with UST at 7-7 with a victory but the Growling Tigers will end up No. 3, having beaten UE twice in the eliminations.
Even if they lose to the Fighting Maroons, the Warriors can still clinch a Final Four berth outright if the Falcons lose to the Blue Eagles.
The Red Warriors will have Nigerian center Precious Momowei, who missed last week’s 67-71 defeat to the Blue Eagles to serve a one-game suspension.
As the Fighting Maroons warm up for the Final Four, coach Goldwin Monteverde wants to see his troops motivated and remain sharp.
“Every time you have to battle it out until the end, it makes you proud as a coach,” said Monteverde after UP defeated Far Eastern University 86-78 last Saturday.
In high school play, UE shoots for its 12th consecutive win when it battles winless University of the Philippines Integrated School at 8 a.m.
