Archers eye Final 4 slot versus Tams

Defending champion La Salle seeks an outright Final Four slot as it takes on an undermanned yet dangerous Far Eastern U today in the 71st UAAP basketball tournament at the Philsports Arena.

The Archers try to duplicate their 73-62 win over the Tams in their first-round meeting as they eye a 14th straight Final Four stint since the format was introduced in the league 15 years ago.

La Salle is running second with an 8-2 record but FEU is close behind with a 7-3 slate.

 “FEU is tough despite playing undermanned. They’re playing with a lot of emotion,” said La Salle coach Franz Pumaren of the Tams, still doing good in the absence of star forward Mac Baracael and talented rookie Robert Kave.

The FEU game will be the last for Pumaren before he takes a temporary leave with La Salle to call the shots for the RP Youth team in the FIBA-Asia Junior Men Championship in Tehran, Iran.

“This is an important game for us. We want to make it to the Final Four before I go to Iran,” said Pumaren, who will be missing games against Santo Tomas, Adamson and bitter rival Ateneo on Sept. 6.

The Tigers, who are at No. 5 with a 4-6 card, hope to boost their sagging bid as they gun for a much-needed win against the National U Bulldogs in their 2 p.m. duel.

The Archers downed the Tams in their first round meeting but the latter has since gone on a searing run.

“We understand that we will be playing without two key players. All we can do now is make do with what we have,” said FEU mentor Glen Capacio.

The Eagles have already clinched the first spot in the next round – their 10th straight – as early as last week.