A FINAL Four return after 15 long and weary years is on the crosshairs of University of the East—these cage wars’ biggest surprise.
Red Warriors coach Jack Santiago, however, is not biting.
“Zero-zero pa rin kami. Knowing Adamson, they need to win a couple of games also,” Santiago said. “For sure, they are going to prepare for us.”
UE tries to move within a win of a semis slot when it takes on Adamson University today in the 87th UAAP basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
The game is set at 2 p.m. before University of the Philippines, already assured of a Last Four berth, tackles Ateneo at 6:30.
The Recto-based dribblers will go into the duel on a high, having scored a 74-58 drubbing of the National University Bulldogs last Saturday that hiked their mark to 6-3 for third.
The Warriors will rely on the likes of Nigerian big man Precious Momowei, Ethan Galang, Wello Lingolingo, and John Abate in their drive to make the semis for the first time since 2009.
The Soaring Falcons, coming off a 59-70 loss to the Fighting Maroons last Sunday, will pin their hopes on Matthew Montebon, AJ Fransman, and Cedrick Manzano.
Despite a mid-season slump, University of Santo Tomas is holding to fourth with a 5-6 record, one and a half games ahead of the Blue Eagles.
Ateneo, trailing UST, must play flawlessly to maintain its Final Four streak, which dates back to the 77th season (2014).
The Eagles’ two-game winning run ended last Saturday with a 65-80 loss to defending champion La Salle, making this tiff critical to their playoff hopes.
With an 8-1 record, UP holds a two-game cushion over UE in the battle for the second twice-to-beat incentive in the Final Four.
“I think what’s important is that everyone is on the same page, regardless of their minutes inside, long or short,” UP assistant coach Christian Luanzon said. “Basta prepare lang kami, iyong mindset namin and ma-execute iyong lahat ng kailangan naming gawin sa loob.”
True-blue UAAP fans can now expect tighter duels as the chase for the last two Final Four slots heats up.
