National University and De La Salle University face off in a crucial showdown that could determine the top two spots at the end of the eliminations, while Adamson University looks to strengthen its Final Four bid against Far Eastern University in the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena. The Bulldogs previously bested the Green Archers, 82-78, in the first round — a game that also saw La Salle lose Mason Amos to an MCL injury.
NU currently holds the top spot with a 7-2 record, a game ahead of De La Salle and defending champion University of the Philippines, who are tied in second at 6-3.
Coach Jeff Napa wants his Bulldogs to enter their 2 p.m. rematch against La Salle with renewed focus and energy. The Green Archers have won four straight since that loss to NU last October 12.
“Kailangan namin ulit i-refresh yung mga utak namin talaga kasi alam namin na may win streak yung La Salle ‘eh. So ang laki ng pinagbago nila mula nung first round hanggang ngayon sa pagpasok ng second round. We have to be ready talaga against La Salle,” said Napa, whose team last defeated Ateneo, 66-50, a week ago.
La Salle coach Topex Robinson expects a tough battle against the Bulldogs, who have been solid all season. The Green Archers are on the rise after a slow 2-3 start to their campaign.
“Well, again, they’re number one for a reason. They have a good combination of veterans. Omar John is really playing well. Again, so much respect for the staff. They’re really doing a good job preparing this team to really go further this season. So, again, at the end of the day, we’re just going to try to be the best version of ourselves. We try to get better each and every time,” said Robinson after La Salle’s 84-72 win over University of the East last Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Adamson remains very much in the Final Four race—and even within reach of a twice-to-beat incentive—as the Falcons sit just a game behind La Salle and UP.
Adamson pulled off a 97-96 overtime win over University of Santo Tomas last Wednesday, completing an elimination-round sweep of the Tigers and tying them at 5-4 in fourth place.
Coach Nash Racela is hopeful that his Falcons can sustain their rhythm heading into this crucial stretch, especially after their balanced offensive showing against UST. Top scorer Cedrick Manzano got much-needed help from Monty Montebon and Matty Erolon in that thriller.
“To be honest, if you look at all the other teams, you see three guys in double figures — palaging exploding and it’s not a low double figure, it’s a really high number. If you look at our box score, it’s always one guy scoring. That’s why we struggle offensively and that’s why we have a hard time winning games — we defend well, but our offense is not really the best offense,” Racela admitted.
“But today (versus UST), nagulat ako na four guys in double figures. Sana ganito palagi and the next guy nine points. I hope this game gives the other guys confidence and just really seeing why we made the shots — and that was because of the right plays,” he added.
FEU, sitting in seventh at 3-6, will need to start winning immediately if it hopes to stay in contention, as the Tamaraws are two games behind the last Final Four spot. They are coming off a 75-89 defeat to UP.
In the women’s division, defending champion NU aims to secure one of the remaining Final Four berths when it faces De La Salle at 12 noon, while FEU and Adamson collide at 7 p.m. in a crucial battle for the No. 4 seed.
Coach DA Olan and his Lady Bulldogs (8-1) are determined not to leave anything to chance against the resurgent Lady Archers, who have won four of their last five games following a 0-4 start.
“I think we’re on the right track. We always say na we take it one game at a time, kahit sino ’yan — we respect every opponent we have and we’re not only looking at UST and Ateneo. Ang mindset namin every game ay every team is capable of beating us. We always have to be ready and happy kami dahil good momentum ito of starting the second round with a two-game winning streak,” said Olan.
The Lady Tamaraws, who slipped into a tie for fourth with La Salle at 4-5 after a 70-82 loss to Ateneo, hope to bounce back, while the Lady Falcons (3-6) aim to keep their semifinal hopes alive.
In the 16U division, NU-Nazareth School goes for its 10th straight win against La Salle-Zobel at 9:30 a.m., while FEU-Diliman and Adamson square off at 7:30 a.m. in a game crucial to the race for the No. 2 spot.
