By John Bryan Ulanday
WITH unbeaten Ateneo already in the Final Four, University of the Philippines (UP) wants a quick entry of its own while five more teams clogging in the middle of the standings scramble for positions in the pivotal University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 84 playdate at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The Blue Eagles (9-0) on Tuesday already clinched a spot in the postseason with a 76-63 win over University of the East, making it a tightrope race for the remaining three seats in the last five games of the elimination round.
UP, riding on an eight-game win streak at solo second with an 8-1 card after a 73-70 win over FEU, has an inside track for one of those spots when it troops into battle at 4:30 p.m. against streaking Adamson (3-6) that has joined a three-way logjam at No. 5.
Before that, fourth-running National University (NU) (4-5) seeks to firm up place inside the magic four against Far Eastern University (FEU) (3-6) at 12:30 p.m. while La Salle (6-3) eyes separation at third against winless University of the East (UE) (0-9) in the main game at 7 p.m.
In the curtain-raiser at 10 a.m., Final Four-bound Ateneo still wants no let-up against Santo Tomas (3-6) to extend its 35-game win streak and boost its chance for a potential automatic finals ticket should it complete a 14-0 campaign anew like in Season 82.
“Each game is crucial, especially with still five games to go. For us, we just have to continue improving each game. Whatever lessons we can get every game moving forward, we’ll get it,” said UP mentor Goldwin Monteverde, bracing for an Adamson fightback.
The Fighting Maroons escaped with a 73-71 in the first round against the Soaring Falcons but this time, they will be up against a whole different squad on a two-game streak to join a Final Four chase.
“Our players learn through experience. Without a pre-season tournament, the first round served like one. We just want to have a better performance in the next games moving forward. Hopefully by doing our part, we get good results whatever that means,“ noted Adamson coach Nash Racela.
Save for a 78-47 loss against Ateneo, Adamson lost five heartbreakers in the first round by an average gap of only three points before starting to take care of business in the second stage with two straight wins against FEU, 64-63, and NU, 62-55.