Ateneo wasn’t thinking about the Final Four until the Blue Eagles derailed what could have been an automatic trip for the La Salle Green Archers to the championship of the UAAP Season 79 men’s basketball tournament.
The Blue Eagles will now attempt to solidify their bid for the twice-to-beat No. 2 spot in the playoffs against the second-running FEU Tamaraws at 2 p.m. today at Mall of Asia Arena.
“If we end up with the No. 2 spot, we’ll be happy,” said Ateneo assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga. “If not, we’ll just continue to keep on improving every game and let’s see where we’ll end up,”
That pressure-free mentality has brought the Eagles on a winning curve with three consecutive victories capped by a magnificent 83-71 upset of arch rival La Salle, which absorbed its first defeat in 13 games.
In the 4 p.m. match, the Falcons (6-5) will play the first of three chances to cement a Final Four slot beginning with a face-off with the UST Tigers (3-9).
One more victory by the Falcons will complete the Final Four cast and put the NU Bulldogs and UP Maroons, both at 5-8, out of the running.