UAAP Saturday games bring huge Final Four implications

MANILA, Philippines – A day before the 2014 UAAP Cheerdance Competition takes center stage at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Season 77’s men’s basketball tournament will have its most important play date of the elimination round on Saturday, September 13.

The first day of the weekend festivities will feature the four teams currently positioned to make the tournament’s Final Four round, with implications for seeding and twice-to-beat advantage on the line.

As of this moment, the Ateneo Blue Eagles and FEU Tamaraws lead the UAAP standings with 10-3 records. The De La Salle Green Archers and NU Bulldogs come in right below with identical 9-4 win-loss clips, while the UE Red Warriors are currently on the outside looking it but not far behind at 8-5. 

At 2 pm on Saturday, Far Eastern University and Ateneo will go head to head, followed by La Salle vs. National U at 6 pm.

The winner of the first battle will go on to take the no. 1 seed (with twice-to-beat advantage) in the Final Four round. The loser will have to face the victor of DLSU vs. NU in a playoff (what the UAAP calls a do-or-die match) to determine who takes the second seed (also with twice-to-beat advantage), while the defeated ends up taking no. 3.

Assuming UE wins their elimination round closer against UST on Tuesday, September 16, they will get the right to face the loser of the Green Archers-Bulldogs duel in a playoff to determine who gets the fourth and final Final Four seed. If the Growling Tigers play spoiler and upset the Red Warriors, the loser of DLSU vs. NU will automatically attain the fourth seed. 

When the positioning has been finalized, the no. 1 seed will duel with the no. 4 seed, while the no. 2 seed takes on no. 3. 

The last time FEU and ADMU squared off, the latter prevailed, 81-78, after Mike Tolomia’s heave from near half court ricocheted off the rim. In their first round meeting, La Salle earned their first victory of the season by leaning on Jason Perkins’ clutch shots to beat NU, 57-55.

DLSU and NU both lost their recent games against UE, 68-66 and 94-71, respectively.

Familiar Foes

An FEU loss to Ateneo and DLSU win over NU would put both squads in a similar situation. 

Last year, Season 76, the Green Archers and Tamaraws were tied with the Bulldogs atop the league standings at 10-4 following the elimination round. By virtue of the UAAP’s quotient system, NU gathered the no. 1 in the Final Four round while DLSU and FEU faced off in a playoff for no. 2, which the former won, 74-69. In the F4 round, La Salle beat FEU a second straight time, 71-68, to book their ticket to the finals and eliminate the Tams.

The year before in Season 75, the Green Archers also met the Tamaraws in a playoff for the no. 4 seed, which Jeron Teng and company won, 69-66.

Right now, La Salle and Far Eastern University own the record for most meetings in the Final Four era, having faced each other in 10 series. (DLSU-UST is second at 9). Another series between both sides again would further increase that lead, give the Tamaraws a shot at vengeance, and give the Green Archers an opportunity to take their rivals out of the running for a third straight season.

Final Four facts

If DLSU fails to make the Final Four in 2014, they will be just the third defending champion to not make the semis since the UAAP’s implementation of the Final Four format in 1994.

La Salle leads the UAAP in the F4 era with 17 appearances and 14 finals appearances. They are also tied with Ateneo for most championships at 6.

FEU comes in second with most Final Four appearances at 16 while Ateneo is right on their heels with 15 (including 2014, as both teams have already secured spots in the semis). The Blue Eagles, however, have more finals appearances than the Tamaraws, 9-8, as well as titles, 6-4.

National University is aiming to make their third straight F4 appearance, and fourth overall, in 2014. UE, meanwhile, is trying to break a four-year slump away from the Final Four round. The last time they were there was during the Paul Lee era in 2009, when they ran into Ateneo who won their second of five straight championships in three games. – Rappler.com