Now or never for La Salle

Games on Thursday
(Araneta Coliseum)
2 p.m. UE vs UP [Click here for live feed]
4 p.m. La Salle vs UST [Click here for live feed]

La Salle fights for dear life on Thursday when it meets University of Santo Tomas in a crucial UAAP basketball tournament game at the Araneta Coliseum.

A regular fixture in the Final Four the past 11 years, except in 2006 when they served out a one-year suspension, the Archers must win this game if they hope to advance to the semifinals.

With a 4-7 record – the fifth best in the eight-team field – a loss would put them out of the Final Four picture while UST advances with its 6-5 mark, towing along with University of the East in the process.

Already in the Final Four are Ateneo (11-1) and Far Eastern University (10-2).

Behind Most Valuable Player candidate Dylan Ababou, UST manhandled National University, 79-58, to move nearer the semifinals which it will formally clinch with a win over La Salle today.

Clashing at 2 p.m. are UE and University of the Philippines with the Warriors, already assured of playoff berth, going for a repeat over the Maroons.

UST coach Pido Jarencio is not taking things lightly against the Archers or any team for that matter despite needing to win at least one of its final three games to reach the next phase.

"Hindi kami umaasa sa iba basta kami goal namin is to win every game at titingnan namin kung saan kami pupulutin," said Jarencio. "Basta kami, pasok (sa Final Four) o hindi, gusto namin manalo."

After winning four straight games, the Archers dropped their next five assignments, including a 66-64 loss to UE last week.

"We just have to win our last three games but the way I look at it, our destiny is not in our hands anymore. We also have to rely on certain teams too," admitted Archers head coach Franz Pumaren, who never had a losing season in his 11-year stint with the team.

The Warriors, with a 7-4 record, are hoping to secure their 8th straight appearance in the Final Four.

UE coach Lawrence Chongson remains hopeful they could earn a twice-to-beat advantage in the semis. So far, only Ateneo enjoys that privilege.

"We want to win our last three games and at least try to take that twice-to-beat advantage," said Chongson.