 |
| c/o UAAP |
UAAP Season 88 Basketball Standings
Men
*NU 11 2
*UP 10 3
UST 7 5
DLSU 6 6
AdU 6 7
FEU 5 7
Ateneo 5 7
UE 0 13
Women
*UST 12 0
*NU 12 1
*Ateneo 8 4
AdU 6 7
FEU 5 7
DLSU 4 8
UP 3 10
UE 0 13
*Final Four
Games Saturday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum
7:30 a.m. – UPIS vs DLSZ (16U)
9:30 a.m. – FEU-D vs UE (16U)
11:30 a.m. – FEU vs UE (Women)
1:30 p.m. – FEU vs UE (Men)
4:30 p.m. – UP vs DLSU (Men)
7 p.m. – UP vs DLSU (Women)
DEFENDING champion University of the Philippines may have little left to play for besides securing the No. 1 ranking in the Final Four, but the Fighting Maroons are determined to avenge their first-round loss to De La Salle today in the UAAP Season 88 Collegiate Men's Basketball Tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Fighting Maroons, already assured of a top-two finish in the eliminations for a sixth consecutive season, are expected to bring their full intensity in the 4:30 p.m. clash with the Green Archers, who are suddenly fighting for their Final Four lives.
Earlier, Far Eastern University aims to clear the first of two must-win games to secure a playoff for the last Final Four slot when it takes on last-place University of the East at 1:30 p.m.
A UP win over De La Salle, combined with a National University loss to University of Santo Tomas on Sunday, would give the Diliman-based squad the top ranking and the right to face the No. 4 team in the Final Four with a twice-to-beat advantage. The Fighting Maroons (10-3) hold the tiebreaker against the Bulldogs (11-2), having won both elimination round matchups.
UP coach Goldwin Monteverde emphasized the need for focus as the team prepares for bigger challenges ahead.
"Siguro, for me, like any other team we just need to be consistent. Right now, yun naman lagi sinasabi ko eh, after this game we just have to watch and see kahit isang game nalang kami sa second round, what we need to work on parin. Siyempre, pag La Salle ang kalaban we really need to prepare for them. At the same time, try to improve more sa kung ano pa yung pwede naming gawin," Monteverde said.
("Maybe for me, like any other team, we just need to stay consistent. Like I always say, after this game we just have to watch and see—even if we only have one game left in the second round—what we still need to work on. Of course, if our opponent is La Salle, we really need to prepare for them. At the same time, we need to keep looking for ways to improve.")
The Fighting Maroons are motivated to get back at the Green Archers after dropping a 69-72 decision last October 19, their first meeting since last season's Finals. De La Salle is coming off a heartbreaking 60-61 loss to Adamson University last Wednesday.
Clinging to a half-game lead over the Falcons (6-7) in the race for the last Final Four slot, De La Salle captain Mike Phillips stressed the importance of staying present.
"We want to base this season around the term grit, and that's all we have right now. I think that we're down, but we're not out. It's gonna really take the heart of a champion and a fighter to rise from this. I never doubt or question what God has in store for us -- sometimes I don't agree -- but God has put us in this situation and I know that He's trying to build something in us. I believe that the biggest thing He's putting in us is perseverance. If we're not able to rise from this, we don't deserve it," Phillips said.
"But I know we can rise from this, and we can really show everybody, especially the LaSallian community, which continues to support us even in this losing streak, what we're capable of. This is what I talk about when I say I really want to fight for La Salle because it's probably one of the most lowest points of the season and [the fans] keep showing up for us. Despite our performances, they still show up for us. I think that's something we can rally behind and rally behind the Animo spirit the community is showing us," he added.
De La Salle must sweep its last two games to avoid being dragged into a playoff for the No. 4 spot.
Far Eastern University's path to the Final Four is not entirely in its own hands, as the Tamaraws trail De La Salle by a game and are currently tied with Ateneo at 5-7. Wins over the Red Warriors today (Saturday) and the Growling Tigers on Wednesday—a make-up of their postponed November 9 clash—would assure a playoff for the last Final Four berth.
If FEU defeats UE, it will watch Sunday's Adamson-Ateneo game, a virtual knockout match. A win over the Growling Tigers would secure a playoff for No. 4, with the Tamaraws awaiting the outcome of the Green Archers-Blue Eagles clash to determine their potential do-or-die opponent.
University of Santo Tomas, currently third at 7-5, needs just one win in its final two games to clinch a Final Four berth. The Growling Tigers have two chances—against the Bulldogs on Sunday or the Tamaraws on Wednesday.
In the women's division, FEU aims to join Adamson in the No. 4 spot when it faces UE at 11:30 a.m. The Lady Tamaraws, at 5-7, trail the Lady Falcons (6-7) by half a game in the race for the last Final Four slot.
De La Salle, at 4-8 and one-and-a-half games behind Adamson, seeks to beat also-ran UP at 7 p.m. to keep its slim Final Four hopes alive.
In 16-and-under action, titleholder UE aims to keep its Final Four chances alive against FEU-Diliman at 9:30 a.m., following a clash between already-eliminated squads La Salle-Zobel and UP Integrated School at 7:30 a.m.
All games will air live on the Pilipinas Live app, One Sports, and the UAAP Varsity Channel.
No comments:
Post a Comment