La Salle enters an uncharted territory when it clashes against archrival and already Final Four-bound UP in a bid to still control its playoff fate in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Clinging to dear life at fourth place, the Green Archers battle the Fighting Maroons in the main game at 4:30 p.m., with hopes of snapping a costly three-game slump. FEU (5-7) figures in a do-or-die battle against also-ran UE (0-13) at 1:30 p.m.
La Salle, fresh from back-to-back finals appearances, is rattling at 6-6 and another loss would put its chances to peril especially with Adamson (5-7), Ateneo (5-7) and FEU knocking on its doorstep for the last seat via multiple tie.
A win, however, would give the Green Archers a breathing ground and a full control of their chances to go as high as 8-6 as University Santo Tomas (7-5) holds an inside track to the third spot. NU and UP have already clinched the Top Two seats for twice-to-beat incentives in the Final Four.
For team captain Mike Phillips, it’s there and them for the taking amidst all the adversities marred by the season-ending MCL injuries of Kean Baclaan and Mason Amos.
“We know that each game is really going to be do or die for us,” said the SEA Games-bound Phillips after La Salle’s 61-60 backbreaking defeat to Adamson.
La Salle lost Baclaan and Amos late in the first round but showed some resilience by stringing four straight wins including a 72-69 stunner of UP to end the first round — undermanned and all.
Under Topex Robinson, the Green Archers never finished lower than the Top Two and now embark on a new challenge of still making the Final Four but with a win-twice disadvantage or fall short altogether to the exit doors.
And that makes La Salle a far hungrier squad — even if it means toppling the mighty UP rival anew that’s on a six-game spree in the second round.
“It's kind of a weird feeling because it kind of lights something in us even more. Because there's always two roads you can take so we just tighten your stance and just really go out there.”
Count on the Fighting Maroons to prime up for playoffs and get ready for what’s left of the Green Archers’ championship poise in the tailend of a bumpy, injury-filled season of their redemption tour.
“We need to be consistent. Kahit isang game nalang kami sa second round, what we need to work on pa rin is consistency, especially La Salle ang kalaban. We have to improve more going into the playoffs,” said coach Goldwin Monteverde after a 69-75 win over Ateneo.
