SUMMARY
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MANILA, Philippines — Far Eastern University and De La Salle open their Final Four showdown on Wednesday, September 25 with both teams seeking that ticket back to the UAAP cagewars finals in Season 76.
It will be make-or-break for the Tamaraws as La Salle enjoys a twice-to-beat advantage after winning their second-place playoff last week.
Will newly-minted MVP Terrence Romeo, RR Garcia and the rest of the Morayta crew live another day against Jeron Teng, Jason Perkins and the whole Green Archer gang?
DLSU Green Archers (2nd) vs FEU Tamaraws (3rd)
Game time – 4:00 pm Mall of Asia Arena
This season – DLSU 2 – 1 FEU
First round: FEU 83, DLSU 79
Read: FEU zooms late to nip La Salle
Second round: DLSU 75, FEU 66
Read: No more meltdowns: La Salle survives FEU
Playoff for 2nd place: DLSU 74-69
Read: La Salle moves 1 win away from finals
Why FEU will win: RR Garcia and Terrence Romeo. Will these two MVP guards finally see their act end today? Not if Garcia becomes more aggressive. After scoring in double figures in 6 of their first 8 games, Garcia has seen his guns fall silent in the worst time. And if the wily guard wants to end his collegiate career on a positive note, then this is the time to shine. For his part, Romeo has to show the eagerness not only to score, but also get his teammates involved all throughout the game. If he is able to do that, then FEU can reprise its devastating first-round form.
Why DLSU will win: La Salle is the hottest team in the league right now. They are unbeaten in the second round of eliminations and they extend it further when they beat FEU in the second-place playoff. Teng, Perkins, and more recently LA Revilla, have been finding their groove just in time and if they peak at the right point of the postseason, chances are they might just win it all this year.
Key matchup
RR Garcia (12.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 3.0 apg) and Jason Perkins (12.7 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 1.7 apg)
Star players tend to make it big in the games that matter and that is what Garcia has been doing for FEU throughout his career. In the eliminations, he has basked behind the shadow of Romeo, who has had a stellar year. If the elims was Romeo’s, expect the playoffs to be Garcia’s.
On the other end of the court will be the newcomer Perkins. Throughout the season, he has put up solid numbers for the Taft-based squad. Together with Teng, Arnold Van Opstal, and Norbert Torres, they own one of the most formidable frontlines in the UAAP.
X-Factors
Gryann Mendoza (5.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 0.7 apg) and LA Revilla (4.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.5 apg)
The FEU captain will be graduating this year and what a way to end his college hoops career with a championship trophy. Everytime they reached the Finals, Ateneo has denied them. Now with no Ateneo on their sight anymore, expect Mendoza to make his last hurrah in the UAAP.
Revilla meanwhile had to survive battles on and off the hardcourt. Now that they are a few wins away from the top, Revilla has to step up his game to make a final impression in the La Salle fatefuls’ minds. Last week, his stellar game lifted the Archers over the Tamaraws for the twice-to-beat edge. On Wednesday, he will be aiming to finish their series altogether off.
What this game means For FEU, this is their last lifeline. With their backs against the wall, the Tams will be hell-bent to win this one. If not, their season will be over and Romeo’s MVP-type heroics will be put to waste. – Rappler.com
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