Archers seek playoff for No. 2 berth

AFTER emerging as the surprise second-round top performer, La Salle tries to forge a playoff for the last semifinal bonus in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament today.

The Green Archers, unbeaten in their last six games, take on a University of Santo Tomas side also playing with a lot at stake in the 4 p.m. match at Mall of Asia Arena.

“Coming into the second round, I told our players to be mentally prepared,” said La Salle coach Juno Sauler. “My aim is for us to keep improving every ball game and to come out with a better mindset and mental toughness.”

Eliminated teams Adamson and University of the East tangle in the first game at 2 p.m.

National University already claimed the first twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four since it will finish no lower than second due to a superior quotient.

A La Salle victory will put the Archers in a three-way tie with NU and Far Eastern University at 10-4. But the Bulldogs will get the No. 1 spot, leaving the Archers and the Tamaraws to dispute the semifinal incentive in a winner-take-all match.

If La Salle loses, the Archers will still advance to the Final Four but will have to wait for the last UST and Ateneo game to find out if they’ll get the third or fourth spot. In this scenario, FEU will get the top seed over NU since the Tamaraws hold a better head-to-head quotient over the Bulldogs.