UAAP Final Four: The heat is on

HAIL TO the team that survives the heat of the UAAP Final Four format. The newly determined final cast of the playoffs will go through the gauntlet in the remaining games of the season. FEU, Ateneo and Adamson are out to secure top-two slots and gain a twice-to-beat edge. This stress has created nerve-wracking battles that only the strong will survive. And once in the Final Four, the top two teams will be under the microscope of their faithful communities who will want nothing less than the full use of the twice-to-beat edge.  FEU at 10-2 and Ateneo at 9-3 will dispute the No. 1 spot when they meet on Sept. 11. Inquirer UAAP reporter Jasmine W. Payo told me that in case of a tie for the top two slots, a quotient system featuring the match between the two teams will break the deadlock. This will happen if, in its remaining schedule, FEU wins against UP, and Ateneo stops UST and FEU.  FEU needs only to beat Ateneo to take first outright. Ateneo must beat FEU by at least four since FEU won by three in the first round. * * * FEU is the most experienced squad, as well as the pre-season favorite, and there is pressure trying to remain on top. This became apparent in its recent loss to La Salle. The defeat wasn’t really due to a false sense of security, especially since the Tamaraws had already secured the first Final Four berth. It’s because other teams want to beat them as well. La Salle wanted to distance itself from National U, University of Santo Tomas and even University of the East in that hunt for the fourth spot. Back-to-back champion Ateneo doesn’t have last year’s key players, and this has raised concerns. The Blue Eagles’ morale-boosting win against the Green Archers just couldn’t spill over to the game against UE. The Eagles flopped against the Warriors, who were in survival mode at the time. * * * Still, Ateneo’s advantage this season is its variable offensive options—a dilemma for other teams—because scoring comes from different players. Adamson, riding one of its best seasons in recent years, is the dark horse. It has shown it can beat FEU and La Salle, although it hasn’t won against Ateneo and break the jinx of their last 27 encounters. The Falcons have the grittiness to match up against the Eagles but can’t seem to get a break against their possible Final Four foe. * * * La Salle is back in the Final Four with a rookie-laden team that shines with its full-court press. The Archers, though, also need the resolve they had when they came back against Ateneo in the first round. So who will make the Finals? Check the eyes of the players when they hit the Final Four in two weeks.  If they blink, they’re probably feeling the heat. If their gaze remains fixed and unperturbed, look out.  You’ve just seen your Season 73 champions.