Games Wednesday

(Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay City)

6:30 p.m. – UE vs Adamson

University of the East and Adamson clash for the last Final Four ticket in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament at Mall of Asia Arena Wednesday evening, Nov. 27.

After a split of their two assignments in the elimination round, the Red Warriors and the Soaring Falcons are expected to pour it all into their 6:30 p.m. encounter where the victor gets the right to face the top seed and defending champion De La Salle Green Archers in the semis.

Final Four action fires off on Saturday, Nov. 30, with the other semis pairing of University of the Philippines and University of Santo Tomas already set in stone.

“When you get to the playoffs, you get into a knockout game.Yung mga nangyari before, wala ‘yon. Sinasabi ko sa kanila na expect na hindi mangyayari ‘yong mga nangyari dati. It will be a totally different ball game,” said Adamson head coach Nash Racela.

“You don't really know what to expect. Sa amin, gagawin pa rin namin yung [best namin]… mas limited because we play Wednesday. So it will be different but we will do our part in preparing the players,” he added.

The San Marcelino-based squad pushed hard in the final stretch of the second round, winning three of its last four games to force a playoff for the No. 4 seat.

On the other hand, UE is expected to go all out as it aims to return to the semis which it last achieved in 2009 (Season 72) where Paul Lee anchored the Warriors to the championship series.

Though the Recto-based group endured a rough second-round stint including a five-game slide, Jack Santiago strongly believes that UE can still make its way back to the Final Four.

“I still believe we will be in the Final Four,” said Santiago. “Either way, I can say we can make it there.”