November 22, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — La Salle takes on archrival and Final Four-bound UP in a bid to gain control of its playoff fate in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Clinging to dear life at fourth place (6-6), the Green Archers battle the Fighting Maroons in the main game at 4:30 p.m. with hopes of snapping a costly three-game slump. FEU (5-7) figures in a do-or-die battle against also-ran UE (0-13) at 1:30 p.m.
La Salle, after back-to-back finals appearances, is on a tailspin and another loss would put its chances in peril especially with Adamson (6-7), Ateneo (5-7) and FEU knocking on its doorstep for the last seat via multiple tie.
A win, however, would give the Green Archers some breathing ground and full control of their chances to go as high as 8-6 as Santo Tomas (7-5) holds an inside track to the third spot. NU and UP have already clinched the Top 2 seats for twice-to-beat incentives in the Final Four.
For team captain Mike Phillips, there’s hope amid the adversities marred by the season-ending MCL injuries of Kean Baclaan and Mason Amos.
“We know that each game is really going to be do or die for us,” said the SEA Games-bound Phillips after La Salle’s 61-60 backbreaking defeat to Adamson.
La Salle lost Baclaan and Amos late in the first round but showed some resilience by stringing four straight wins including a 72-69 stunner of UP to end the first round – undermanned and all.
Under Topex Robinson, the Green Archers never finished lower than the Top 2 and now embark on a new challenge of still making the Final Four.