Tams gun for Final 4 anew vs Falcons

MANILA, Philippines - Denied twice before, erstwhile pacesetter Far Eastern U makes another go at a Final Four slot in the UAAP Season 76 men’s basketball tournament today as it squares off with struggling Adamson at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Tamaraws (8-4), who in their last two outings were unsuccessful in picking up that all-important ninth win and a big cushion entering the stretch of the tight race for the semis, try again in their 4 p.m. tussle with the Falcons (4-8). 

“We’re one win away from the Final Four and we’re trying our hardest best to get that next win. Hopefully we play together and as a team against Adamson,” said FEU coach Nash Racela, whose wards are coming off a 78-79 double overtime loss to University of Santo Tomas last Sunday and before that a 73-92 blowout at the hands of Ateneo.

The Tams seek their objective minus American center Anthony Hargrove, sacked for one game for accumulating two unsportsmanlike fouls in the tournament. The 6-6 slotman was called for the infraction for bringing down Tiger Karim Abdul in the last game.

The Morayta-based squad, which has actually lost four of its five assignments after a sweep of the first round of play, faces off with a team that’s also been on a hump in the second round. The Falcons had just broken a six-game slump with a 67-53 disposal of University of the Philippines but with a lowly record, are virtually out of it all.

“We want to make a statement that even though we’re out of the tournament for the Final Four, we will go for a win. We have to finish this season with pride,” said AdU coach Leo Austria, who has declared plans to step down after the season.

The Falcons may come into the game fired up after Austria gave an emotional post-match pronouncement that he was no longer coming back in the AdU bench after this one in the wake of discontent among their supporters.

Meanwhile, University of Santo Tomas (6-5) seeks to get solo fourth in the 2 p.m. first game against UP (0-11).

The Tigers hope to carry the momentum of their big win over FEU six days back to try to sweep its last three assignments (UP, La Salle and Ateneo) to salvage a spot in the Last-4.

“Hindi pa kami out, andyan pa kami (We’re still in contention),” said UST coach Pido Jarencio after their morale-boosting W over FEU.