3-way race up for UAAP jrs twice-to-beat

MANILA, Philippines - There was no major shakeup in UAAP Season 74 juniors basketball action over the weekend, but with one more playing day to go in the double-round eliminations, the race for the twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four has turned tight.

Far Eastern University (FEU), La Salle-Zobel and National University (NU) all won – in contrasting fashions – on Saturday at the Blue Eagle gym and maintained their hold of the top three places that at this point could result in a triple tie for first – depending on Saturday’s results.

FEU had to pour it all in the fourth quarter to subdue a stubborn University of Santo Tomas (UST), 51-48; La Salle-Zobel breezed past University of the Philippines Integrated School (UPIS), 78-56; and NU also had to struggle past University of the East (UE), 57-50.

FEU and La Salle-Zobel remained at 1-2 on 11 wins and two losses, but NU stayed within striking distance at third with a 10-2 record.

Ateneo lost to Adamson University, 76-61, and although it dropped to an 8-5 card, the team stayed in the hunt for a fourth straight crown. Adamson hiked its record to 6-7, but it’s way outside the Final Four picture.

FEU and NU face each other in Saturday’s first game at 9 a.m. and a victory by the Baby Tamaraws would secure them the twice-to-beat advantage as they would be assured of remaining in the top two spots.

A Baby Tamaraws victory would also guarantee the Junior Archers a twice-to-beat advantage, regardless of whether or not they would beat the Blue Eaglets in the 1 p.m. game.

Saturday’s other games – which won’t carry a weight in the Final Four but would determine the bottom half of the standings for the season – pit Adamson against UST (5-8) at 11 a.m. and UPIS   (0-13) against UE (1-12) at 3 p.m.

Jerie Pingoy had 26 points with nine rebounds for FEU, which had to outscore UST, 16-9, in the fourth quarter to avoid the upset ax. Nicko Bahia had 12 points and 10 rebounds and Angelo Latoreno 12 markers and also 12 caroms for UST.

La Salle-Zobel was fluid against the hapless UPIS crew as 12 players head coach Boris Aldeguer fielded scored two points or more with Gabriel Reyes topscoring with 21 points and seven rebounds.

The Bullpups found the Junior Warriors tough customers. They trailed in the first three quarters – 6-17, 24-26 and 34-37 – but found their rhythm in the final period to also avoid being stunned. Norjohn Tendenilla led NU with 12 points, while Raphael Atangan and Paolo Rivero added 11 and 10 markers, respectively.

Standings: FEU 11-2, La Salle Zobel 11-2, NU 10-3, Ateneo 8-5, Adamson 6-7, UST 5-8, UE 1-12, UPIS 0-13.