UAAP: Three teams fight for last Final Four spot

MANILA, Philippines–University of Santo Tomas avoided a complicated scenario by clinching the third Final Four berth in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball on Sunday.

That leaves La Salle, Ateneo and Far Eastern University as the only teams left standing, with the possibility of them having to go through a stepladder to determine the last semis slot.

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FEU battles UST while La Salle and Ateneo renew their age-old rivalry on Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum, with the result of the two games determining their respective fates.

Holding control of its destiny is La Salle with a 7-6 record, needing only a win over Ateneo to complete the semis cast.

But a Green Archers loss will assure a playoff for the No. 4 seed and a date with twice-to-beat and No. 1 National University.

Ateneo, having a 6-7 win-loss slate, will play La Salle in the event of that scenario, unless FEU, also at 6-7, comes through over UST. The Tamaraws have won five of their last seven games.

READ: UAAP: Ateneo keeps Final Four bid alive, eliminates Adamson

A three-way tie at 7-7 would create the stepladder in which the team with the superior quotient getting a bye while the two others figure in a first do-or-die affair.

The winner of that gets to face the team that drew a bye for a place in the Final Four.

La Salle won 74-72 and lost 84-83 to FEU while defeating Ateneo by an 83-78 decision in the first round. Ateneo defeated FEU 86-83 before losing 75-68 in the second round.

NU and UP earlier clinched the top two spots and the Final Four incentives before winding up with 11-3 and 10-4 records, respectively.