The DLSU Green Archers need only one thing to get into the UAAP Season 88 Final Four: win. Here are the scenarios for the last game day of the elimination round.
The race for the final spot in the Final Four for UAAP Season 88 is as tight as ever with the fate of three teams hanging in the balance heading to the final day of the elimination round slated on Wednesday, November 26, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The DLSU Green Archers, the Ateneo Blue Eagles, and the FEU Tamaraws are all still in the running for that last spot, with league leading NU, defending champions UP, and season hosts UST already assured of their spot in the semis.
With only one spot remaining, it all comes down to the wire with all three teams playing on Wednesday, with permutations also adding even more color to an already competitive Ateneo-La Salle rivalry.
Meanwhile, the peaking FEU Tamaraws face off against a nothing-to-gain UST team — which could mean they would want the win more.
Before the ball tips off for the last day of eliminations for the men’s basketball tournament, we take a look at all the scenarios:
Scenario 1:
- Game 1: FEU WINS OR LOSES vs UST
- Game 2: La Salle WINS vs Ateneo
Result: La Salle (8-6) gets Final Four spot, Ateneo (6-8) and FEU (7-7 or 6-8) eliminated
The Green Archers have the easiest route to the Final Four, with a “win to get in” situation against archrivals Blue Eagles.
Already with seven wins to their name thanks to their big victory over finals rival UP last weekend, the Green Archers are ahead of the pack heading into the last day of elimination round games. However, they will need to watch their back against a desperate Ateneo side.
Ateneo, at 6-7, will need to beat the Green Archers to stay alive for the Final Four. They will have the advantage manpower wise as EJ Gollena was handed a one-game suspension.
That second game will spell the fate of the FEU as well. No matter their result against UST in this scenario, a Green Archers win would eliminate the Tamaraws.
[READ: EJ Gollena suspended for La Salle's elimination round finale against Ateneo]
Scenario 2:
- Game 1: FEU LOSES vs UST
- Game 2: Ateneo WINS vs La Salle
Result: Ateneo (7-7) forces playoff for No. 4 spot against La Salle (7-7); FEU (6-8) eliminated
A win for Ateneo would mean that the Blue Eagles will hold their fate for the semis, forcing a playoff for the last spot against the La Salle Green Archers.
This will result in a quick turnaround for the arch rivals who will meet in the next scheduled game day to fight for the right to face league-leading NU in the semifinals. The Bulldogs will be entering the semis with a twice-to-beat advantage.
The Blue Eagles missed out on the Final Four last year after years under the watch of head coach Tab Baldwin, with a chance to turn their fates around, Ateneo will be going all out.
For FEU, a loss to UST and an Ateneo win is an effective elimination.
Scenario 3:
- Game 1: FEU WINS vs UST
- Game 2: Ateneo WINS vs La Salle
Result: Three-way tie at 7-7 between Ateneo, La Salle, FEU. They will engage in a stepladder play-in for the last spot.
This is where things get interesting.
If Ateneo and FEU manage to win both their games on Wednesday against La Salle and UST, respectively, this would create a three-way logjam for the fourth spot at 7-7.
The set-up complicates things as the teams will have to go through a step-ladder play in, with quotient determining their ranks from No. 4 to No. 6.
Teams ranked fifth and sixth will engage in a knockout match for the right to face the No. 4 team.
The winner between the fourth-ranked team and the victor of the KO match will then be the last team into the Final Four this season.
The UAAP men’s basketball tournament has been competitive, but not like this in recent years.
With seasons on the line and Final Four hopes still hanging in the balance, expect fireworks in the last day of eliminations before UAAP Season 88 kicks into high gear with the semifinals.
The men's basketball games this Wednesday start 1:30 p.m. It will be livestreamed on Pilipinas Live, as well as aired on One Sports and the UAAP Varsity Channel.
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Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.