UAAP: FEU, UST battle in stepladder Final Four

By Kristel Satumbaga

Games Wednesday
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
12 noon – FEU vs Adamson (women’s)
4 p.m. – FEU vs UST (men’s)

Far Eastern University and University of Santo Tomas resume their title bids today when they clash in the stepladder semifinals of the UAAP season 82 men’s basketball at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Game is at 4 p.m. with the winner facing University of the Philippines in the second phase of the semis.

The semis was reduced into a stepladder format after defending champion Ateneo propelled straight to the finals with a 14-0 elimination round sweep.

UP enjoys a twice-to-beat advantage after finishing second with a 9-5 mark.

FEU and UST, meanwhile, had to thread through the eye of the needle to earn Final Four slots after finishing with identical 8-6 marks in the elims.

UST coach Aldin Ayo said making this far is already an accomplishment, but they are not settling for less.

“We’re still going to strive hard,” he said. “Before the start of the season, our goal is to just surpass our five wins last year. But now that we’re here, we’re not gonna stop.”

FEU coach Olsen Racela has the same mindset for his stalwarts.

“Our goal every year is really to make it to the Final Four, then we move on to the next goal. We’ve achieved our first goal, and next goal na kami,” he said.

The two teams split their two meetings in the eliminations with UST winning their first encounter, 82-74, before FEU avenged that loss with a 72-58 triumph in the second round.

But it will be a clean slate as far as the two squads are concerned, coming off from a long break.

Meanwhile, action also heats up in the women’s stepladder semis pitting the FEU Lady Tamaraws and the Adamson Lady Falcons at 12 noon.

The winning squad will clash with second seed UST Tigresses, who have a twice-to-beat semis privilege.

The National University Lady Bulldogs earned an outright finals ticket after an elims sweep highlighted by a 94-game winning streak.

Source: Manila Bulletin