Falcons battle Eagles in bid to forge playoff for No. 4

Adamson’s Matt Erolon and Joshua Yerro during a win over UE in UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Adamson battles Ateneo at the close of the UAAP men’s basketball tournament’s elimination round, with the Falcons knowing that no less than a win at FilOil EcoOil Centre would let them live another day in Season 87.

A playoff for the last Final Four berth is at stake for the Falcons in the 5:30 p.m. contest, and while Ateneo will be playing for practically nothing but an ending to a forgettable season with a win, the Blue Eagles are not just going to roll over and die.

Adamson will come into the game with a 5-8 record and could claim a tie for No. 4 with University of the East with a win, hence a one-game playoff for the right to battle La Salle in the Final Four.

The powerhouse Green Archers ended eliminations with a 12-2 record.

Second-ranked University of the Philippines (11-3), which also has a twice-to-beat bonus, and No. 3 University of Santo Tomas (7-7) will battle in the other half of the Final Four.

And the Soaring Falcons will be trying to conquer a foe that has denied them of Final Four spots the last two seasons.

‘Best shot’

“You respect your opponent and you respect yourself and you can only do that if you go out and give it your best shot every game,” Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin said. “That’s what you can expect from us in the final game against Adamson.”

The Blue Eagles hope to force a four-way tie from fifth to eighth spots at 5-9 and make it the first time in the Final Four era that no bottom team will end up with double-digit losses.