Archers, Altas bid for last quarterfinal slot

MANILA, Philippines - La Salle is in danger of missing the quarterfinal round of the Filoil Flying V First Five Pre-Season Invitational Cup, needing to win over Arellano tomorrow and hope that Perpetual Help lose to San Beda on Saturday.

The Green Archers lost to the Red Lions last Saturday, 58-78, and dropped into a two-way tie with the Altas with 3-3 cards in Group A heading into the last two elims playdates.

La Salle closes out its elims campaign against Arellano, which totes a 2-4 card, tomorrow while Perpetual goes up against San Beda at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Victories by the Archers and the Altas will tie them at No. 4 spot. But the Altas will clinch the last quarters berth via the winner-over-the-other rule. Perpetual beat La Salle, 71-56, last May 21.

A victory by Arellano coupled with Perpetual loss, will give the Chiefs the quarters berth since they beat the Altas, 83-56, last April 14.

For the Archers to make it to the next stage, they have to get past the Chiefs and hope that the Altas lose to the Red Lions.

Ateneo (6-1), San Beda (5-1) and University of the Philippines (5-2) have clinched the first three quarter seats in Group A. In Group B, Adamson (4-3) appears to have a lock on the No. 4 spot.