By Kristel Satumbaga
Standings
*Ateneo 12-0
UP 8-4
UST 7-6
FEU 7-6
La Salle 6-6
Adamson 4-8
UE 3-9
NU 2-10
*-semis
Games Saturday
(Ynares Center, Antipolo)
2 p.m. – NU vs Ateneo
4 p.m. – UST vs Adamson
Ateneo guns for a 13th straight win while University of Santo Tomas seeks a playoff for a semifinal berth Saturday in UAAP season 82 men’s basketball at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Ateneo Blue Eagles gun for their 13th straight win in a clash with the National University Bulldogs. (MB File Photo / Rio Deluvio)
The Blue Eagles clash with eliminated National University Bulldogs at 2 p.m. before the Tigers battle Adamson Falcons at 4 p.m.
UST’s Renzo Subido (MB Photo / Rio Deluvio)
A victory for Ateneo would inch them closer to sweeping the double-round eliminations for an outright finals ticket, although coach Tab Baldwin wants his stalwarts to focus on the game ahead instead.
“We’re just thinking about NU,” he said. “For any team in this position – things like undefeated seasons, sweeps – they happen because you take it one step at a time, not because you make some grand statement about how good you are.”
He added: “Sport is about performance, not about bragging about performance, so we’re very much focused on what our next performance is gonna be.”
For NU, it will be about trying to end their last two games on a high note.
Meanwhile, UST tries to regain bearings after a crucial 80-79 loss to De La Salle that cost them an early semis entry.
Now, the Tigers have to thread through the eye of the needle to make it to the next phase with four teams battling for three Final Four tickets.
UST is currently tied with Far Eastern University at third to fourth places with 7-6, while University of the Philippines is at second with 8-4. La Salle resides at fifth with 6-6.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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