Four teams continue to vie for last two spots in UAAP Season 87 semis before UAAP takes a short break in favor of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers.
The race for the last two spots in the Final Four of UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament is set to reach its climax as the league enters its final week of elimination round games.
Though two of the men’s games, which were slated in an earlier date and were cancelled due to inclement weather, are still going to be played after this weekend, a bulk of the action will happen at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion and the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
With four more teams still in the running for two semis slots, fans are in for an action-packed week with Final Four hopefuls jockeying for position as the race goes down to the wire.
Let’s take a look at the games this week.
November 13, 2024 (Wednesday) - UST Quadricentennial Pavilion
La Salle vs NU - 2:00 pm
The week begins with a no-bearing game between the also-ran NU Bulldogs (4-9) and defending champions La Salle Green Archers (12-1), who are already assured of the top spot in UAAP Season 87.
With their fates no longer expected to change for the rest of the elimination round, it will be a battle of pride among the two schools after they went wire-to-wire during their first round encounter.
Both teams last met during their respective season openers where the Bulldogs almost forced La Salle’s hand, but were nipped by a game-winner from reigning MVP Kevin Quiambao.
Now with nothing to lose, NU hopes to pull off one last surprise before hanging up their jerseys for the year.
UE vs Ateneo - 6:30 pm
An undermanned UE Red Warriors (6-6) hope to win to get in to the Final Four without the services of Nigerian big man Precious Momowei, who will be serving a one-game suspension during their match against the Ateneo Blue Eagles (3-9) in the main game, Wednesday.
Even if they’re only a win away from that elusive Final Four spot, it will be a tall task for the Red Warriors as they field an all-local lineup against the wounded Blue Eagles, who have missed the Final Four for the first time since UAAP Season 76.
With their goal now limited to finishing the season strong, Tab Baldwin’s young Blue Eagles squad will do their best to play spoiler to the Red Warriors.
But with Wello Lingolingo, Jack Cruz-Dumont, and the rest of the UE team eager to snap out of their three-game losing streak, the matchup will surely bring fireworks.
November 16, 2024 (Saturday) - FilOil EcoOil Centre
UP vs FEU - 2:00 pm
The UAAP’s return to the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan for the first time this season will open with a matchup of teams with opposite situations — one with nothing to gain, and another with everything to lose.
The FEU Tamaraws (5-8) have everything to gain in their weekend matchup over the UP Fighting Maroons (9-3), who have already locked in their no. 2 spot in the Final Four.
As it stands, the Tamaraws will need to win to stay in the hunt for a semis spot, and will still need the UST Growling Tigers to lose their remaining game to have a chance for a playoff.
But UP, now on a rare two-game slump, will be eager to get back to their winning ways before playing their final game of elimination in a to-be determined date ahead of the Final Four.
UST vs Adamson - 6:30 pm
Perhaps the most crucial matchup of the weekend falls on the main game on Saturday where the UST Growling Tigers (6-7) and the Adamson Soaring Falcons (5-7) collide for a matchup with big repercussions for the Final Four race.
The Growling Tigers will need a win to get in, but Adamson also have their fate solely on their hands. If the Falcons win over UST, they will be assured of at least a playoff for a semis spot.
This is because the Soaring Falcons, who still have one game left in their schedule after this week, will have clearance to lose one more game — with UST and FEU with at least eight losses for the year.
Though the Growling Tigers are back to their winning ways, the Soaring Falcons are also in the midst of a win streak — having won back-to-back games.
With all on the line, this game promises to bring fireworks before the UAAP takes a short break for the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers slated later this month.