Warriors gun for Final Four berth vs Tigers

The race for the last two slots in the Final Four shifts to high gear today as University of the East clashes with University of Santo Tomas in the 64th UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Ateneo Gym.

A victory by the Warriors will give them the third spot in the Final Four with defending champion La Salle (11-2) and arch rival Ateneo (10-3) already assured of the top two berths.

Aside from UE, the two other teams hoping to advance are National University and Far Eastern University. They are all tied at 7-6 and the result of the Warriors’ 4 p.m. match against the Tigers today will be crucial.

If UE prevails, then the game between the Bulldogs and the Tamaraws tomorrow will turn into a sudden-death for the last slot in the semis. A UE loss, however, will force a playoff between the two teams with 7-7 records

"We don’t want any complications so we’re focusing at a win, nothing less," said D’Jalma Arnedo, calling the shots for UE in the absence of Boycie Zamar, coach of the national team in the SEA Games.

In the other game at 2 p.m., Adamson takes on University of the Philippines with the Falcons still hoping for a first victory this season after going 0-13. Adamson also failed to notch a single win last year. — Joey Villar