NU and UP boast of twice-to-beat incentives when they clash with lower-ranked DLSU and UST, respectively, in the UAAP Season 88 men's basketball Final Four.
Top two teams National University and University of the Philippines aim to use their twice-to-beat incentives to the hilt as they collide with their lower ranked foes in the UAAP Season 88 men's basketball Final Four at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao Wednesday, Dec. 3.
The No.1 Bulldogs (11-3), the first team to secure a slot in the penultimate round nearly three weeks ago, tangle with fourth-ranked La Salle, which just sealed its spot via a win over Ateneo Wednesday, Nov. 26.
Match is at 1:30 p.m.
Meanwhile, defending champion and second-seeded Fighting Maroons (10-4) face the dangerous No. 3 University of Santo Tomas (8-6) in the main game at 4:30 p.m.
UP aims to repeat the result of last year's semifinals, where it halted the Growling Tigers in one game.
On the women’s side, a stepladder semifinal format is set thanks to UST's impressive 14-0 sweep of the elimination round.
The Growling Tigresses took down their last prey, Far Eastern U, Wednesday, Nov. 26, to book an outright finals berth.
No. 4 AdU (7-7) and third-seeded ADMU (9-5) begin the stepladder action in a repeat of last year's matchup at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City Sunday, Nov. 30.
Tipoff is at 10:30 a.m.
Defending champion and second-ranked NU (12-2) awaits the winner between the Lady Falcons and the Blue Eagles
It’s a similar situation in the 16-under tournament, where National U-Nazareth School waits for its foe in the finals after an elimination round sweep.
FEU squares off with AdU in the first stepladder semifinal at 8:30 a.m., also on Sunday, for the right to face UST.
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Luisa Morales is a sportswriter 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.