We’re halfway through the second round of UAAP Season 87 and the Final Four picture is taking shape.
The DLSU Green Archers needed a couple of second round wins to secure their postseason slot, with the UP Fighting Maroons following suit. The UE Red Warriors are currently on pace to end what has so far been a 15-year Final Four drought.
All that’s left to be determined would be the fourth seed.
The five remaining UAAP member schools still have a statistical chance of making the postseason, but only four have a realistic chance at getting that last Final Four spot: the UST Growling Tigers, the Adamson Soaring Falcons, the FEU Tamaraws, and the Ateneo Blue Eagles.
At 5-6, the Growling Tigers are in pole position to take the fourth seed, with their 79-70 victory over the Tamaraws greatly aiding their chances.
Simply put, it was a balanced offensive night from UST. From a generally good shooting performance (45.5 percent from inside the 3-point line and 34.9 percent behind it) to contributions from more than a handful of players (eight players scored at least six points for the Growling Tigers), UST was able to keep FEU at bay and spoil a career night from rookie Veejay Pre.
UST currently holds a game and a half lead over the Tamaraws, the Soaring Falcons, and the Blue Eagles and with their remaining matchups in the elimination round of Season 87, the Growling Tigers could very well go 3-0 and into the Final Four.
As it stands, UST will only need to face the Red Warriors, the NU Bulldogs, and Adamson, with UE perhaps providing the stiffest challenge. The Soaring Falcons did beat the Growling Tigers in the first round, but both teams have come quite far since then. UST is currently in control of their postseason destiny and they have the tools to follow through on that.
The Growling Tigers’ offense has been solid thus far as their 71.8 points per game trails only the Green Archers and the Fighting Maroons. Much of this has come from their accuracy from inside the 3-point line (48.2 percent behind only UP). Everyone’s familiar with Mo Tounkara, Forthsky Padrigao, and Nic Cabanero, but Kyle Paranda reintroduced himself with a strong performance against FEU. As more of their key players find their groove, UST could all the more become a tough matchup in the latter parts of Season 87.
Going forward, though, the Growling Tigers will need to have all hands on deck as they need to shore up their defense. Unfortunately, UST currently allows the most points in the UAAP (73.4). Teams tended to have their best offensive performances against the Growling Tigers, especially from the perimeter.
The week and a half layoff between their game against FEU Tamaraws and their matchup against the NU Bulldogs should also allow the UST Growling Tigers to recharge and devise a proper game plan against their remaining opponents.
After all, the Growling Tigers are currently being afforded all the chances to advance to the UAAP Final Four after five years. It’s on them to turn their postseason dreams into a reality.
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