Ateneo VS. FEU Goes For Number 1 Spot In The Final 4 Of UAAP 73

Source:Manila Bulettin

Rival coaches Glenn Capacio of Far Eastern and Norman Black of Ateneo are not on the same page as to what’s going to happen when their teams collide Saturday for the No. 1 spot in the 73rd UAAP basketball tournament Final Four at the Araneta Coliseum.

“Sa Final Four, wala kang pagpipilian dahil parehong malakas (ang Adamson and La Salle),” said Capacio when asked to comment on the composition of the semifinals cast.

Capacio believes it will be his Tamaraws that will decide the outcome of their 4 p.m. matchup with the Blue Eagles before an expected Big Dome crowd.

“Sa nakikita ko ang mahirap na kalaban namin ay iyung sarili namin,” said Capacio, who once donned the Tams jersey.

Black is not so sure on what to expect from the Tamaraws probably owing to some technicalities regarding FEU’s superior tiebreak score.

A victory by FEU would mean the No. 1 spot and a date with La Salle for the finals berth but the Tams could still earn the top billing if Ateneo is unable to win by more than two points.

“I'm not sure if they will show all their cards considering they already have a twice-to-beat advantage,” said Black. “I think right now it's just a matter of placing but we'll go out to win.”

The No. 2 squad gets to square off with Adamson.

Adamson and La Salle will have to win twice to enter the best-of-three finals.

FEU beat Ateneo the first time they clashed, 72-69.

RR Garcia, favored to run away with the MVP trophy, leads the Tams, while another MVP candidate Aldrech Ramos and Reil Cervantes are aching to provide solid backup.

Ateneo will have veterans Eric Salamat, Kirk Long, Ryan Buenafe and Eman Monfort as main men against the league-leading Tams.

In the curtain-raiser, University of the East battles University of the Philippines.

Games Saturday (Araneta Coliseum)
2 p.m. — UP vs UE
4 p.m. — Ateneo vs FEU