Wide open semis up in Flying V caging

MANILA, Philippines - Ateneo and San Beda brace for another showdown for the Filoil Flying V Pre-Season Hanes Cup crown but National University and La Salle are going all out to press their respective title bids when the Final Four is held tomorrow at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Various finals scenarios came to fore after the league’s top four teams toppled their respective quarterfinal rivals to arrange a pair of explosive semifinal matches in the tournament presented by Bostik Phils., Inc., in cooperation with Total Phils., Corp. with major sponsors Vulcaseal, Meralco, NLEX Road Warriors, TMS Ship Agencies, Inc., KIA Motors, Nature’s Spring, Bayo,  BDO, Molten and Oxycan.

For one, Ateneo will be facing an NU side that has not dropped a game since the start of the tournament, putting the pressure more on the defending champion Eagles than on the red-hot Bulldogs.

They clash at 3:30 p.m.

Equally interesting is the 5:15 p.m. match between San Beda and La Salle with the Red Lions also staking their unbeaten slate against the surging Archers, who beat the Eagles last weekend to clinch a berth in the quarters.

All four teams are also coming into the semis with impressive victories in the quarters.

Ateneo sealed a spot in the Final Four after disposing of Far Eastern University, 74-63, NU, despite a sloppy start, recovered in time to oust University of Sto. Tomas, 77-68.

San Beda College, on the other hand, primed up for the semis with a 60-41 rout of St. Benilde while La Salle whisked off San Sebastian’s physical game to post an 84-70 victory.

Drawing firepower from Jeron Teng and LA Revilla, the Archers wore down the Stags, who resorted to some cheap fouls in the fourth quarter.

Calvin Abueva, who combined with Ian Sangalang for 33 points, elbowed Teng and was banished from the court with still seven minutes left, while Michael Juico followed suit after another hard foul on Revilla.

La Salle coach Gee Abanilla, though, said the highly physical game could turn out to be a good learning experience for the Archers.

“It was a good learning experience because the boys showed character out there.  They controlled themselves and just played basketball,” said Abanilla.

He, however, expects a tough outing against San Beda.

“They’re a very fluid, strong team. We’re the underdogs here, but we’ll go out there and play our best,” said Abanilla.