The University of the East and Adamson University battle in the first round of the UAAP Season 87 Men's Basketball in Pasay City on October 6, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN NewsMANILA -- Adamson University and the University of the East will face off for the third and last time in the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament on Wednesday, with the winner advancing to the Final 4.
Tip off is at 6:30 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The winner of the playoff will go on to take on defending champion La Salle, the No. 1 seed, in the Final 4 that starts on Saturday at the Araneta Coliseum. The other Final 4 pairing features No. 2 University of the Philippines against third-seed University of Santo Tomas.
Armed with twice-to-beat protection after finishing 1-2 in the eliminations, the Green Archers and the Fighting Maroons need only to win once to advance to the best-of-three Finals.
For the Falcons and the Red Warriors, it's all about fighting for survival.
"When you get into the playoffs or you get into a knockout game, yung mga nangyari before wala yun eh. Ang lagi ko sinasabi sa kanila expect na hindi mangyayari yung mga nangyari dati," said coach Nash Racela, as Adamson tries to make it back to the Final Four after missing the bus last year.
"It will be a totally different ball game so you don't really know what to expect but samin gagawin pa rin namin yung best namin," he added.
READ: Adamson forces playoff vs. UE by trouncing Ateneo
With a 3-7 record and mired on a five-game losing streak, the Falcons were one-and-a-games behind then No. 4 Growling Tigers last Oct. 27, when they won three of the last four contests in the eliminations to finish with a 6-8 record.
During the same period, UE was sitting comfortably in third spot with a 6-3 record and was three-and-a-half games ahead of Adamson when the Recto-based squad dropped its last five matches and is now on the brink of missing out the Final Four.
The Red Warriors last reached the Final Four in 2009, where they went all the way to the Finals. UE last played in a playoff in 2014, narrowly losing to eventual champion National University, 49-51, when Bong Galanza missed a potential game-winning three-point shot in the dwindling seconds.
"Actually medyo mahirap because mentally, medyo down yung mga players or even yung coaches, but we just need to compete on Wednesday," said Red Warriors coach Jack Santiago.
"We had a talk with the players and sabi ko nga, nag reset kami, 0-0. Hopefully, maglaro kami ng maayos. It's a do-or-die, no turning back, there's no tomorrow," he added.
READ: Alarcon carries UP past UE to end elims on sweet note
In the junior high school division, reigning champion National University Nazareth School looks to clinch the last Final Four seat when it takes on De La Salle Zobel at 12 p.m.
However, the Bullpups would have to rely on an Ateneo Blue Eagles loss to the UST Tiger Cubs at 2 p.m. to formally lock in their postseason ticket.
University of the East aims to regain its winning form in a clash against also-ran Adamson to open the five-game slate, while Far Eastern University-Diliman looks to keep University of the Philippines Integrated School winless at 10 a.m.
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