Adamson, FEU try to inch closer to UAAP Final Four

MANILA—Overconfidence is one thing Adamson hopes to manage as the Falcons try to preserve their hold of the second spot in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament Saturday.

The Falcons—just two wins removed from formalizing their entry to the Final Four—take on the hard-luck University of the Philippines at 1 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“It may look like that one foot is already in [the Final Four], but no team is really sure yet,” said Adamson coach Leo Austria. “We should not be overconfident.”

A victory by the Falcons, ranked second at 7-3, will assure them of at least a playoff for a semifinal berth.

Far Eastern University, running third at 6-4, also tries to boost its Final Four drive against National University at 3 p.m.

Only Ateneo, the three-time champion still unbeaten in 10 games, has secured a Final Four slot.

So just like Austria, FEU coach Bert Flores reminded his Tamaraws of the tight battle ahead for the three remaining semifinal seats.

“I kept telling them we can’t relax,” said Flores. “We just had a big win, so I reminded them we have to sustain it instead of getting overconfident.”

The Tamaraws arrested a three-game skid after slipping past the Falcons, 62-61, last Sunday where last season’s MVP RR Garcia shone anew.

That narrow victory snapped Adamson’s own four-game winning streak, and the Falcons hope to regroup behind Alex Nuyles, Lester Alvarez, Eric Camson and Jerick Cañada.

Nuyles had one of his better outings against UP as the 6-foot-2 swingman fired 21 points in the Falcons’ 72-46 drubbing of the Maroons in the first round.

The Maroons, at the bottom at 2-8, must win their remaining four assignments, and at the same time, hope that University of Santo Tomas, La Salle and NU won’t reach six wins to advance to the Final Four.

The Bulldogs, led by star rookie Ray Parks, have a better shot after tying the Archers at fifth place with a 4-6 card.

“We have to be consistent with our game,” said NU coach Eric Altamirano. “We have to come into the game expecting to compete, even if it’s up against the big teams. The players have to believe they can do it even though they’re young. It shouldn’t be a hindrance to winning.”