MANILA, Philippines–More than securing third place, De La Salle and Adamson try to boost their morale when they collide in their final elimination game in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament today.
The Green Archers and the Falcons tangle at 4 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum with the winner expected to be brimming with confidence when the Final Four starts next week.
“We want to stay sharp,” said La Salle coach Dindo Pumaren. “So I reminded the boys that it’s important that we go into the Final Four with a win.”
Eliminated squads University of Santo Tomas and National University wrap up their respective campaigns earlier at 2.p.m.
“We can’t be complacent,” said coach Leo Austria, whose Falcons narrowly beat the Archers, 70-68, in the first round.
The winner of the La Salle-Adamson duel will earn the No. 3 spot and go up against the second seed, while the loser will face the No. 1 squad in the Final Four.
League-leaders Far Eastern University (11-2) and Ateneo (10-3), already assured of the twice-to-beat semifinal incentives, will fight for the top spot on the final elimination playdate on Saturday.
The Archers and the Falcons have identical 8-5 records after both fell in upsets last weekend that dashed their hopes for a semifinal bonus.
Pumaren hopes to work on their defense after his Archers fell to the University of the East Warriors, 80-74 last Saturday
“We have to do better because we ran away from our system the last time,” said Pumaren, who will bank on Simon Atkins, Joshua Webb, Maui Villanueva and rookies Luigi dela Paz and Almond Vosotros.
The Falcons, led by Jan Colina, Alex Nuyles and Lester Alvarez, also plan to rebound from their 62-59 upset loss against the Bulldogs.
Another setback will leave the Falcons skidding to their third straight loss before the Final Four.
The Falcons advanced to the semifinals only for the second time since the Final Four format was introduced in 1994, while the Archers made the cut anew after missing the Final Four for the first time last year.
National U, meanwhile, shoots for its seventh victory in a bid to tie its best elimination record in 2001, the last time the Bulldogs reached the semifinals.
The Tigers, who missed out on the Final Four for the second time in three years, vie to duplicate their 59-58 nipping of the Bulldogs in the first round.
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