In a technically no-bearing game, the University of the East Red Warriors displayed more character and poise to derail the Far Eastern University Tamaraws' hopes of securing a play-off berth for the second spot in the final four, beating the latter 73 - 61 at the Araneta Coliseum yesterday in the penultimate day of eliminations of UAAP Season 71 Men's Basketball.

The Warriors probably want to erase the stigma of their near collapse against UST that they played with more focused in the start and held off any rally the Tamaraws mounted in the fourth. The Tamaraws must now hope that Ateneo beats its archnemesis La Salle in the final playing date of eliminations to get a chance for a play-off for the last twice-to-beat incentive slot of the final four.

UE started well and scored 12 points off the 14 turnovers committed by FEu to take a 36 - 24 lead going into the halftime break.

FEU tried to rally in the third but UE kept them at bay behind Pari Llagas who scored 7 points in the quarter including a trey. Benedict Fernandez scored 10 straight points from two fastbreak lay-ups and two treys to cut UE's lead to nine, 54 - 45 going into the fourth quarter.

As they have done in the past, FEU mounted a comeback in the fourth, cutting the lead into six in numerous occasions. The last on Cervantes basket, 67 - 61 in favor of UE.

After Martinez canned two charities to up the lead to nine, the Warriors tightened their defense, Reyes came up with three steals and a fast break lay-up to finally break the Tamaraws. Paul Lee finished up the scoring with a basket, 73 - 61.

In the first game, the Adamson University Soaring Falcons ended its Season 71 campaign on a bright note by beating the National University Bulldogs 69 - 57.

The Falcons got a great game from its wingmen; Agustin, Gonzalgo and Nuyles to hand the Bulldogs the distinction of finishing last this season.

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The team that was used to be called Seattle Supersonics is now officially Oklahoma City Thunder after a formal announcement has been made by its officials. [ Click here for the article source]

Last year's rookie of the year, Kevin Durant and newly-drafted point-guard, Russel Westbrook, will have a new home and new team name to start fresh and continue the team's rebuilding program.

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The final four cast of the UAAP Season 71 Men's Basketball is now complete.

Ateneo De Manila University Blue Eagles
De La Salle Univesity Green Archers / Far Eastern University Tamaraws
University of the East Warriors

Only the positioning as to who is no. 2 and no. 3 will be determined.

Which team do you think will make it all the way? Read on for my predictions.


Final Possibilities and Prediction:

ADMU vs DLSU

An epic finals match between two archrivals teeming with subplot rivalries. Tiu vs Casio. Coach Pumaren vs Coach Black. Their second round meeting might prove to be a championship preview.

On paper, the Eagles look more solid. Al Hussaini has tremendous improvement. Nonoy Baclao's rebounding and defense is an integral part of ADMU. Guards Tiu, Salamat, Buenafe and Reyes can provide the outside and slashing offense.

Coach Pumaren is the multi-titled coach that probably has seen everything in college basketball. I know he can make the adjustments needed for the Archers to repeat. JV Casio is deadly and battle tested. Rico Maierhoffer if he stay away from fouls can make life difficult for the Eagles.
The only weakness I think DLSU has is a solid pointguard. This might be the baptism of fire for Simon Atkins.

Prediction: DLSU in three games

ADMU vs FEU

As the only team so far to beat the league-leading Eagles, the Tamaraws stood a good chance of claiming season 71's trophy.

Being coached by one of the best defensive players Philippine Basketball has seen, Coach Capacio will definitely rely on defense more. Aldrech Ramos and Reil Cervantes must hold down Al Hussaini and Baclao, controlling the rebounds might prove to be the key in winning the championship. Barroca, Fernandez and Cawaling should play well to counter Tiu, Salamat and Reyes. Adolfo and Baracael need to stop Buenafe.

Prediction: ADMU in two games.

UE - DLSU

Having beaten the defending champs in the first round will suit well for the warriors and give them confidence to avenge last year's finals loss. This matchup I would like to see.

I think both teams are almost identical in their system and evenly matched in manpower. Although, the Warriors lack a go-to-guy in the caliber of JV Casio.

I hope to see a Paul Lee and JV Casio shootout.

Prediction: UE in three games.

FEU - UE

A final's match between these U-belt neighbors is unlikely but still possible. And a game between them is highly entertaining with the first meeting decided only by two points.

Advantage goes to UE, having gone to the finals last year.

Prediction: UE in three games.

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The University of the East Red Warriors and its fans heaved a sigh of relief after escaping from a furious comeback that eventually fizzled out of the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers 89 - 87 to complete UAAP Season 71 Final Four cast yesterday at the Philsports Arena.

The Tigers hanging on a slim chance to sneak inside the Final Four, dug themselves a big hole in the third quarter, launched an improbable comeback from 22 points down that shocked the Warriors in the fourth quarter but blew their chance of winning by attempting ill-advised shots when they trim the lead down to 1 and 2.

The big 22 point cushion gained by UE from playing solid basketball in the third quarter and Paul Lee's five crucial points in the midst of the Tiger's rally in the fourth proved to be enough to stem the tide in their favor.

The win officially ousts the Tigers from final four contention and enable the Warriors to avoid complications should they lost.

The Tigers are arguably the heartbreak team of UAAP Season 71 despite having, what I feel is, the best individual player in the league right now - Jervy Cruz. Cruz lacked the consistent support from roster filled with promising rookies and lost starting point guard Cuan early in the season.

The Tigers have failed to win against the Final Four teams, three of which were decided by only 1 or 2 points. Prior to this game, they lost to DLSU on a game-winning tip-in of Maui Villanueva.

Having known their predicament in order to advance in the semis, the Tigers started strong, getting steals that led to easy fastbreak points. UE closed out the quarter with an 11 - 0 run to enjoy a 23 - 19 lead.

Marcy Arellano lead UE in the second period as they erected a 46 - 35 lead going to the halftime break.

UE displayed its deadly form in the third quarter as they padded its lead to as much as 24 points on a Paul Lee basket 74 - 50.

UST showed heart by outscoring UE 16 - 6 in the first four minutes of the payoff period. Coach Pido Jarencio was given a technical foul and was thrown out of the game after complaining a non-call.

If that was a psychological ploy to fire up his boys, Coach Pido did a great job. The incident fired the Tigers more as they forced UE into turnovers and made baskets on the other end.

Paul Lee, who played his best game of the season so far, scored on a nice drive and a trey to somehow derail the Tigers' furious rally, giving UE a 86 - 72 lead. UST responded with 10 straight points, the last on Mirza's trey to inch closer 86 - 82.

A pair of Llagas free throws made it 88 - 82 before Cruz and Cuan scored 7 points to help UST threateningly close 88 - 87 with 34.6 ticks to go.

Zamar turned the ball over by stepping on the sidelines, UE's ninth turnover of the quarter to give UST a chance to take the lead with still 26.2 seconds left. But Bautista shot an ill-advised three which was blocked. Francis Allera also shot a forced trey that led to an Elmer Espiritu recovery.

Espiritu muffed both charities. With 8.8 seconds to go, UST tried to win the game on another Allera trey. When the shot missed, a great sigh of relief came altogether from the UE team and its followers.

In the first game, the Adamson University Soaring Falcons took the De La Salle Green Archers into overtime before losing 84 -79.

DLSU's win ties them with FEU at 10 - 3 win-loss slate. Both teams have a game left, should they both win or loss, they will have a play-off to determine who get the twice-to-beat incentive, virtually having a best-of-three series to enter the finals. A loss by any of the two will relegate it to the number 3 slot.

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