For the University of the Philippine Fighting Maroons, a scenario that is favorable to them is unfolding in the 81st University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament.
And there will be four scenarios that can be played out when the La Salle Green Archers clash with the Fighting Maroons at 4 p.m. today in the 81st University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Green Archers now have an 8-5 slate after taking a 62-72 loss to the defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles last Sunday.
First, a loss to the Fighting Maroons will complicate matters for the Green Archers, as they will be put in a three-way tie for third with the UP and the Far Eastern University Tamaraws.
For the Fighting Maroons, a victory will mean that they will have the chance to reach the Final Four for the first time since 1997 as the no. 3 seed team with La Salle’s loss.
“We need that one win on Wednesday. We have to put this win behind us. We cannot overthink this because there is a much more crucial game on Wednesday,” said UP coach Bo Perasol.
La Salle, which is the leading rebounding team in the league at 48.3 per game, is expected to hold its ground against UP.
And the Fighting Maroons are in an upbeat mood after their 83-69 win over the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers
In the second of scenario of four scenarios, if UP wins over La Salle, and FEU prevails over Adamson, the Maroons will remain third, while La Salle and FEU will playoff for the no. 4 seeding.
If La Salle prevails over UP, while Adamson takes down FEU, La Salle will be no. 3, while UP and FEU will have a playoff for fourth.
In the fourth scenario, if La Salle wins over UP, and FEU gets past Adamson, La Salle is third while FEU is fourth.
Earlier, the defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles will be a complete squad in their 2 p.m. clash with the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers.
The Growling Tigers will be without CJ Cansino, who suffered a season-ending ACL injury in UST’s loss to UP over the weekend.
Cansino averages 13 points per outing, along with 10.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists in his rookie year.”‹