Two for the Final, two for the road

MANILA, Philippines - Four teams, two final berths.

The fiercely fought UAAP Season 77 men’s basketball Final Four comes down to an expected explosive conclusion today with a twin KO slate at the Smart Araneta Coliseum featuring squads with just about equal chances of pulling through.

Top seed Ateneo and No. 4 National U dispute the first championship slot at 2 p.m. while second-ranked Far Eastern and No. 3 defending champion La Salle contest the other finals berth at 6 p.m.

This is only the third time since the Final Four format’s inception in 1994 that a double-rubbermatch is played to determine the two finalists. The first two happened back-to-back in 1997 and 1998.

The Bulldogs forced the Eagles to a you-or-me showdown after scoring a 78-74 victory at the start of their semis duel last week. It was NU’s fifth straight win over Ateneo since Season 76 but coach Eric Altamirano insisted previous records won’t matter in this KO.

“I expect Ateneo to come prepared and come hard at us so we have to be really ready,” said Altamirano, who’s looking to steer NU to its first finals appearance since 1970. “We have to throw everything out – numbers, previous history. Whoever wants it more on Wednesday (will have the edge).”

AdMU mentor Bo Perasol feels the time is ripe to finally get past NU and reach the finals again after their five-peat reign ended in 2013.

“The team has never been focused and at the same time, excited about the game tomorrow (today). We have no doubts that we can beat NU,” said Perasol.

The other semis duel got into a win-or-go-home status after the Archers routed the Tams, 94-73, last Saturday.

“All they did was force a do-or-die, regardless if it was a one-point loss or a 30-point loss. It’s all behind us now and the important thing is to bounce back in the next game,” said FEU’s Nash Racela.

“We still have one game and we have to prepare better for that game,” said DLSU’s Juno Sauler.

La Salle and NU could set history if they hurdle their respective rivals as there hasn’t been any title showdown between the Nos. 3 and 4 teams in the Final Four era.

Meanwhile, the women’s finals kicks off at 11 a.m. with unbeaten top seed National U seeking to close in on the tiara against upset-conscious Far Eastern.

The Lady Bulldogs enjoy thrice-to-beat advantage as bonus for sweeping the elims and need only two wins to capture the crown.

FEU had to survive University of Santo Tomas and twice-to-beat No. 2 La Salle in the stepladder semis before earning the right to face finalist-in-waiting NU.