ALLAN THE MAN

The men's basketball action for UAAP Season 76 is down to its final two playdates but the Final Four picture is not yet set as two teams are still fighting for the last twice-to-beat advantage, while two other teams are still knocking on the semis doors.

Far Eastern University (10-4) and De La Salle University (9-4) are jockeying for the second win-once edge as National University (10-4) is the only team guaranteed with the win-once bonus in the Final Four. 

While, University of Santo Tomas (7-5) and Ateneo de Manila University (7-6) are set to square off in an all-important September 18 game to determine their season’s fate.

Solar Sports looks at the possible scenarios in the Final Four:

SCENARIO #1: UST beats La Salle on September 14; UST beats Ateneo on September 18.

1 FEU 10-4

2 NU 10-4

3 UST 9-5

4 DLSU 9-5

FEU will get the No. 1 seed since they beat NU by four points (87-83 last July 17) while only losing to the Bulldogs by one point (59-58 last August 14). UST having won two games against La Salle will get the No. 3 seed, with the Green Archers settling for No. 4. So it will be FEU vs DLSU and NU vs UST in the Final Four.

SCENARIO #2: UST beats La Salle on September 14; Ateneo beats UST on September 18.

1 FEU 10-4

2 NU 10-4

3 DLSU 9-5

4 UST/ADMU 8-6

FEU will get the No. 1 seed since they beat NU by four points (87-83 last July 17) while only losing to the Bulldogs by one point (59-58 last August 14). NU will battle with La Salle, which will finish at No. 3 with a 9-5 record. While, UST and Ateneo figure in a knockout match to determine the last semis slot and the right to face FEU.

SCENARIO #3: La Salle beats UST on September 14; Ateneo beats UST on September 18.

1 NU 10-4

2* DLSU 10-4

3* FEU 10-4

4 ADMU 8-6

NU having the better quotient against La Salle and FEU will get the No. 1 seed and face No. 4 Ateneo with a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four. While, the Green Archers and the Tamaraws will have a one-game playoff to determine who gets the No. 2 seed, making the affair a virtual best-of-three series.

SCENARIO #4 La Salle beats UST on September 14; UST beats Ateneo on September 18.

1 NU 10-4

2* DLSU 10-4

3* FEU 10-4

4 UST 8-6

NU having the better quotient against La Salle and FEU will get the No. 1 seed and face UST with a twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four. While, the Green Archers and the Tamaraws will have a one-game playoff to determine who gets the No. 2 seed, making the affair a virtual best-of-three series.

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