It's been a very productive year for all the UAAP teams this year. Why? Since all of the teams are very competitive and aggressive with the kind of team tally each teams has showed. Proof is the steep competition between these teams. As the league is near to its semi-finals, 4 teams are doing their best thing for the Final Four challenge. 3 teams already are already sure to occupy sports to the semi-finals. (FEU, Ateneo and Adamson)
However, one team, the team that has been consistently on the Final Four for the past 3 years is on the verge of being dethroned on its spot, The De La Salle Green Archers. The big question for this Taft-based team is, Will they make it to cut this year?
Court Experts gave their opinions on the said clinching round together with the other 3 teams - UST, NU and UE. Here's what they say:
Record: 6-4
Remaining schedule: FEU (August 28), UST (September 2), UE (September 4), Adamson (September 9)
The Green Archers have the toughest schedule among the middle-of-the-pack squads along with NU, see below. They have to play league-leaders FEU Tamaraws and the Adamson Falcons, but La Salle controls their destiny: if La Salle wins three of their last four games, they're in. A split of the remaining games will give them a playoff spot to get to the semi-finals.
There's no reason for La Salle to panic, however, if the first round is anything to go by. DLSU lost to FEU in double-overtime and led Adamson for three quarters before caving in. Also, a win over University of Santo Tomas eliminates the Growling Tigers, even if the Tigers win all their other games. The same goes if La Salle defeats University of the East.
Record: 4-6
Remaining schedule: UE (August 29), FEU (September 2), Adamson (September 4), UST (September 9)
Curiously, the Bulldogs are facing the same opponent, DLSU, in their last four games. But NU has to hope that La Salle loses one or two of those games, if coach Eric Gonzales' team has any shot at making the semis.
More specifically, NU has to win at least two games, then pray that La Salle doesn't win any more. If the Archers win just once in their last four games (the next best situation for NU), the Sampaloc outfit will wish that the Green Archers will beat UE or UST, since it will rid NU of the chance to take the last post-season spot. Should that happen, the Bulldogs will only have to win three of their last four games to secure a rubber match with DLSU for a Final Four spot. A Green and White split of the remaining four games will require NU to step up in order for a playoff with La Salle to take place.
Record: 4-7
Remaining schedule: NU (August 29), DLSU (September 4), UP (September 11)
UE is on the heels of two straight wins over Adamson and Ateneo, but a loss to La Salle would end the Red Warriors season automatically. The Warriors' edge, though, lies in their schedule: they have already faced the three highest-ranked schools, and having UP on their schedule is a bonus.
If DLSU manages to win only once from this point on, UE will be able to secure a playoff for the last post-season stretch should the Red Warriors go undefeated in its last three matches. Two more La Salle wins, regardless of the opponent, will send the Red half of Recto packing.
Record: 3-7
Remaining schedule: UP (August 28), DLSU (September 2), Ateneo (September 5), NU (September 9)
UST can afford to lose once – but not against DLSU – and still have a shot at the last four. Like UE, the Growling Tigers would have to sweep all their remaining games if La Salle wins at least once, to force a decider with the Green Archers for that all-important game. Should DLSU win twice against any team, it will be all over for UST.
The problem for UST is the Ateneo game. The Blue Eagles have won eight straight tussles with coach Pido Jarencio's squad dating back to 2007.
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