Archers target playoff vs Tams

MANILA, Philippines – La Salle fights for dear life today against Final Four-bound Far Eastern U, shooting for an all-important victory to force a playoff for the remaining semifinal seat in the UAAP Season 78 men’s basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Archers aim to finish the eliminations with an even 7-7 card to tie the idle defending champion National U Bulldogs at No. 4 and set the stage for a knockout match for the right to join the UST Tigers (11-3), the Tams (10-3) and the Ateneo Eagles (9-5) in the Final Four.

“We just have to come out and show a lot of heart,” Archers coach Juno Sauler said of their make-or-break match at 4 p.m.

DLSU kept its semis hopes alive after snapping a three-game skid with a 72-68 victory over University of the Philippines last Wednesday for 6-7 overall. But its chief rival for the fourth berth, the Bulldogs, picked up their seventh win at the expense of FEU last Saturday, 70-68, to move ahead in their race for No. 4.

Although the Tams are already sure of No. 2 and twice-to-beat, they’re looking to get back on the groove after suffering back-to-back losses to UST and NU.

“The mentality is still the same – win the game. It won’t change our position but it’s important for us to go to every game with the intention of winning it,” said FEU mentor Nash Racela.

“We need to win our last game to get momentum (going into the Final Four),” he added.

The Tamaraws blitzed past the Archers the first time they met, 93-75.

“FEU is a tough squad, their players can shoot from the outside, they can attack the basket and coach Nash knows what he’s doing there. It’s going to be a tough game,” said Sauler.

If FEU will prevail, it will be responsible for giving DLSU the boot for the second straight season. Last year, the Tams knocked the Archers out in their showdown in the semis.

“We’ll prepare against La Salle; we’ll do our best to win this game,” said Racela.

In the 2 p.m. curtain-raiser, University of the East (5-8) and host University of the Philippines (3-10) seek to finish their respective campaigns on a high note.

The Red Warriors have won two of their last three games, spiked by upsets over the Tigers and the Eagles, but just couldn’t reach the No. 4 even if they beat the Maroons today.