Big matches up for Bulldogs, Maroons as top two race enters homestretch
Defending champion University of the Philippines and league-leading National University are far from being happy, even after practically locking up Final Four berths in Season 88 of the UAAP men’s basketball tournament last week.
There’s this thing of a twice-to-beat privilege to chase, after all.
“It’s hard to say I’m happy and I can’t really say I’m satisfied either,” National U coach Jeff Napa said in Filipino as his Bulldogs tackle Adamson Saturday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion with the elimination round entering its final phase and they try to cling to No. 1 ranking for, effectively, the lightest semifinal assignment.
National U will be coming off back-to-back wins and sewing up win No. 9 with a repeat win over Adamson could practically lock up a top two berth. But of all of the Bulldogs’ eight wins so far, the one against the Falcons in the first round could be the hardest.
“I’m somewhere in the middle—pleased, but not too much—because I know I still have a mission for them,” he said as he tries to steer his charges to a strong finish, starting with a win over the Soaring Falcons, whom they beat, 56-54 in the first round, in the 4:30 p.m. game.
Adamson needs a win to be able to stay in the thick of the Final Four race. Heading into their last four matches, the Falcons are tied at fourth with the idle University of Santo Tomas and Ateneo.
With an 8-2 record, the Bulldogs are a full game ahead of the Fighting Maroons for the No. 1 spot and if the eliminations were to end now, there’s a possibility that they would go up against the Soaring Falcons in the playoffs, needing to win just once to advance to the title series.
The Maroons, meanwhile, will be slugging it out with the ousted University of the East in the 4:30 p.m. match and coach Goldwin Monteverde is not about to take the Red Warriors lightly.
“Every game matters,” Monteverde had said after a thrilling 89-88 nipping of the University of Santo Tomas. “Whatever lessons or improvements we can get from our preparations and from handling the challenges in front of us, that’s what we’re focused on.”
The Maroons will be playing a side that has nothing to lose and everything to gain, and a stumble against the winless Red Warriors could make things complicated as far as the pursuit of a semifinal bonus is concerned.
“We respect every opponent and we always prepare for each one the same way,” he went on. “Our approach to preparation doesn’t change, no matter who we’re facing.”
It’s safe to say that No. 2 is not that much comfort heading into the Final Four, for sitting at third spot is powerhouse La Salle, which has a 6-4 card and made it no secret that it’s immediate target at the moment is to just advance so that the Green Archers could welcome back Mason Amos and Kean Baclaan.
