DLSU to face FEU in another must win game

Barely 48 hours after surviving the fangs of elimination, the De La Salle Green Archers face their toughest assignment left to stay alive in their Final Four hunt.

The Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws pose a big threat to the Archers’ semis bid when the 72nd UAAP men’s basketball resumes on Saturday at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Game time is at 4 p.m.

“FEU is a veteran team. Even their rookie RR (Garcia) can be considered as a veteran. We have a work cut out for us but I think making it to the Final Four is still doable,” said La Salle coach Franz Pumaren.

Pumaren knows this by heart as he had handled Garcia in the Nokia RP Youth Team.

Garcia, who was picked as UAAP Press Corps Best Player last week, alongside Smart Gilas-RP Team stalwart Andy Barroca will be La Salle’s biggest thorns in the backcourt.

The duo combined for 27 big points in FEU’s 65-51 rout of La Salle early in the first round.

But with their season on the line, the Archers would have to fight like there’s no tomorrow as typified by James Mangahas’ charge in leading La Salle to a pulsating 68-64 win over UST last Thursday.

After he rode on the bench in the first half, Mangahas fired 13 of his team-high 15 points in the fourth period alone, including the go-ahead three-pointer.

A loss on Saturday coupled with a UST win over Adamson on Sunday will automatically eliminate the Archers from the Final Four.
The Tamaraws, meanwhile, aim to assure themselves of a top two finish with a win over the Archers.

“Hindi na pwedeng mag-relax dahil pa-playoffs na. Target namin ang top two para may twice-to-beat advantage at momentum kami going into the Final Four,” said FEU coach Glenn Capacio.

In the 2 p.m. curtain-raiser, University of the East (UE) hopes to sustain its run in a hope of forging a playoff for the second twice-to-beat bonus as it play also-ran National University (NU).

The Red Warriors, who have won their last four games, are aiming to sweep their last two assignments. They are also hoping the Tamaraws would lose to the Archers and Ateneo Blue Eagles to catch FEU at 10-4.

“We have won our last four games and we have to win six more to win the championship. Nagsimula na ang playoffs para sa amin,” said UE coach Lawrence Chongson, who is hoping to steer the Warriors to the title they last won in 1985.

source: ABS-CBN sports