Stampeding Tigers shoot for bonus vs Falcons

Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

University of Santo Tomas gets a shot at closing its elimination campaign the best way possible.

And coach Bong dela Cruz knows the Tigers shouldn’t let the opportunity pass as a win over also-ran Adamson Wednesday will assure them of the twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four of the UAAP men’s basketball tournament.

“We’re seeing the character of this team,” said Dela Cruz, confident that his Tigers can pull through.

Game time is 2 p.m. at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

An embattled La Salle also hopes to make the most of its chances when it clashes with another eliminated team, University of the Philippines, in a crucial 4 p.m. match.

Aside from earning the semifinal bonus with an 11th win, the Tigers may even wrest the No. 1 seed from Far Eastern University by the end of the elimination round next week.

A UST triumph puts pressure on FEU, which then must win its last two games to grab the top spot with 12 wins.

Otherwise, the Tigers will stay at No. 1 even if they wind up tied with the Tamaraws due to a better quotient.

La Salle, though, faces bigger worries as the Green Archers dropped out of the top four at 5-7 after skidding to a third straight loss last Sunday.

“The boys are out there fighting; no one’s giving up,” said La Salle coach Juno Sauler.

The Archers know that their Final Four fate remains in their hands as a win over the Maroons will boost them into a share of fourth spot with National University.

“We need to shoot better and defend better,” said Sauler as the Archers try to rebound from a loss to rival Ateneo, 73-62, where they blew a double-digit lead.