NATIONALU’s Glenn Khobuntin (right) disputes the rebound with La Salle’s Jason Perkins (center) and Norbert Torres during a recent game at Mall of Asia Arena. La Salle and NU will become only the No. 3 and No. 4 teams to clash for the title if they upset Far Eastern U and Ateneo, respectively, in their coming knockout matches. EDWIN BELLOSILLO
MANILA, Philippines — La Salle and National University have a shot at league history after forging a pair of sudden-death matches in the Final Four of the UAAP men’s basketball tournament.
The defending champion Green Archers and the Bulldogs may emerge as the lowest seeded teams to arrange a championship showdown if both squads overcome their semifinal opponents’ twice-to-beat advantage this Wednesday.
“If history dictates itself, so be it,” said NU coach Eric Altamirano. “At this point, we’re just giving everything that we have.”
The Bulldogs aim to oust No. 1 Ateneo at 2 p.m., while the Archers also try to topple No. 2 Far Eastern University at 6 p.m., both at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Since the league introduced the Final Four format in 1994, the No. 4 squad had overcome the twice-to-beat edge of the top seed only once to advance to the title series.
It happened just last year when University of Santo Tomas sent No. 1 NU packing.
Only seven No. 3 teams had eliminated the second-ranked squad to reach the Finals in the last 20 seasons, with Far Eastern University accomplishing the last one in 2011, when it stunned No. 2 Adamson.
But the league never had both lower seeds forging upsets at the same time to arrange a championship showdown.
“We were just grateful for the opportunity to play,” said La Salle coach Juno Sauler. “I told [the players] to make the most out of the situation that you’re in. So whether we win or lose, we weren’t looking at that, but just to play our best given this opportunity.”
Both Ateneo and FEU blew their first attempt to nail a title berth as the Blue Eagles bowed to the Bulldogs, 74-78, last Wednesday, while the Tamaraws got blasted by the Archers, 73-94, last Saturday.
The Eagles have never beaten the Bulldogs in five meetings since last season, while the Tamaraws lost only for the first time in four games against the defending champion Archers this year.
But the two top seeds think they can regain the dominating form they showed for most of the season.
“We’re still positive,” said Tamaraws coach Nash Racela.
“The only thing they did was force a do-or-die. No one is in the Finals yet.” “We already burned our first chance,” said Ateneo coach Bo Perasol. “We just have to do better.”