Two teams that already exceeded expectations in UAAP Season 82 seek to progress deeper in the men’s basketball tournament as the stepladder phase begins Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Far Eastern U and University of Santo Tomas will have little room for error as they battle for the right to face University of the Philippines in the next round.
Waiting for the survivor of the stepladder phase in the finals are the defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles, who are two wins away from completing a perfect season.
With the two teams splitting the elimination-round matchups, coaches Olsen Racela of FEU and Aldin Ayo of UST expect a dogfight in their 4 p.m. duel.
“No team will give an inch,” said Racela, whose team is appearing in a seventh straight Final Four, the last three under him.
“We will need to execute very well on both ends to stand a chance against UST.”
Racela certainly knows what to expect from the Tigers, whose newcomers Mark Nonoy, Soulemane Chabi Yo and Rhenz Abando have had their share of brilliant performances this season.
“I think their athleticism will be a concern for us,” said Racela, whose team bucked a slow start by winning seven of their last nine games to reach the playoffs.
“They are a team with tall wingmen who are very athletic. They play hard and play with pace so getting back in transition will be key for us,” Racela said. “Their offensive rebounding could also pose problems as well as their three-point shooting.”
The second half of the season has seen the Tamaraws getting more consistency from their veterans like Ken Tuffin and Wendell Comboy. Sophomore LJ Gonzales and Royce Alforque have also made their presence felt this season.
Having seen his team yield to FEU, 58-72, in their second round meeting following a barrage of triples from the Tamaraws in the endgame, Ayo believes staying true to their defensive identity will be key for the Tigers.
UST beat FEU, 82-74, in their first battle this season thanks to the hot shooting of rookie Sherwin Concepcion.
Ayo has also squeezed some stellar performances from CJ Cansino late in the second round.
“We didn’t expect a lot this season because this is still a young team, but I’m happy we’ve improved,” said Ayo. “But we’re not going to stop there because this is a competition. We’re going to continue to strive.”