The wild race to the UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball Final Four resumes on Saturday, November 5 at the Araneta Coliseum, as all teams again suit up in a loaded quadruple-header slate capped off with the season’s second Ateneo-La Salle rivalry match.
UE (4-5) vs UP (8-1)
Kicking off the league’s last game date before the FIBA break is an 11 am showdown between the much-hyped UE Red Warriors and the defending champion UP Fighting Maroons.
UE, coming off a much-needed win over UST to snap a three-game skid, will try to get more consistent outings from their sniper trifecta of CJ Payawal and the Paranada brothers Nikko and Kyle, while big men Gani Stevens and Luis Villegas continue to hold down the front court.
Meanwhile, UP will shoot for at least a playoff game for a Final Four spot with its sixth straight win, and all eyes will be fixed on the Maroon bench mob of Henry Galinato, Cyril Gonzales, Harold Alarcon, and RC Calimag to see if they can consistently support an already solid starting group.
UST (1-7) vs Adamson (3-5)
Facing off at 1 pm are two teams holding on for dear life on the edges of Final Four contention, the free-falling UST Growling Tigers and the Adamson Soaring Falcons.
UST, losers of seven straight games, will try to regain long lost momentum against its first and only victim so far this season as fans look on to see if Nic Cabañero can recreate some semblance of his magical 33-point opening day explosion.
Through some unlucky coincidence, Adamson is actually in danger of getting swept against the Growling Tigers if its key cogs Jerom Lastimosa and Vince Magbuhos are unable to suit up due to injuries they suffered last game against UP.
Look for the likes of Joem Sabandal, Joshua Yerro, and Lenda Douanga to pick up the slack if ever the Falcons’ leaders are indeed unable to play.
NU (6-3) vs FEU (4-5)
Two teams with sky-high momentum are set to clash at 3 pm as the NU Bulldogs butt heads with the FEU Tamaraws in another game with huge Final Four implications.
Coming off a historic win against Ateneo in its last game, NU is looking to further strengthen its foundation with a revenge win against its surprise first-round conqueror, and will lean on the likes of Omar John, Michael Malonzo, and Jolo Manansala to anchor the post against the gritty Tamaraws.
FEU, on the other hand, will shoot for its fifth straight win and an elimination round sweep of the Bulldogs to pull even after a horror 0-5 start. Look for Xyrus Torres to still have the greenest of lights from three-point land, while LJay Gonzales and Patrick Tchuente cover all bases on offense and defense.
Ateneo (5-3) vs La Salle (3-5)
In a fitting final game before the two-week FIBA break, the Ateneo Blue Eagles and La Salle Green Archers lock horns at 6:30 pm, in what is expected to be an even more heated rivalry game than their first-round matchup.
The Blue Eagles look to rebound – literally and figuratively – after reigning MVP Ange Kouame bottomed out in their historic loss to NU with a 2-point, 4-board performance in 27 minutes. Look for the likes of Kai Ballungay and Geo Chiu to lead the front court if ever Kouame’s cold streak stretches on.
Meanwhile, the Green Archers are also dealing with their own personnel problems as leading MVP candidate Schonny Winston is still a game-time decision to play after injuring his calf two games prior.
If Winston cannot go, La Salle hopes that the return of Evan Nelle and Michael Phillips will be enough to put them over the hump and possibly complete an elimination round sweep of their rivals.
Which teams will give their Final Four campaigns a much-needed jolt before the break?
