The five-time depending champion of the UAAP, the Ateneo Blue Eagles will try to depend their crown as they are vying for the last Final Four slot in the UAAP Season 76 basketball tournament against the equally-talented UST Growling Tigers today, September 18 at the Araneta Coliseum.
Results: UST Defeated Ateneo Score 82-74 Secured Final 4
Both the Blue Eagles and the Growling Tigers were finalists in the last season of the UAAP basketball tournament, they are currently tied at the 4th spot with an identical 7-6 win-loss card.
During their first encounter of the Season 76, the Ateneo defeated the UST Tigers winning their first round match 61-57 but the UST played without superstar guard Jeric Teng. The win was also the second of Ateneo’s five-game winning streak after a slow start, but they have since lost two of their last three games and are in danger of missing the elite Final Four after five years of dominating the tournament.
The Ateneo Blue Eagles will be playing without their head coach Bo Perasol, who will served his suspension in their final game of the elimination round, but according to Coach Perasol his team will fight for the Final Four slot with or without him at the helm.
The UST Growling Tigers on their part came off from a sorry loss at the hands of the De La Salle University last Saturday with 64-69 loss against the Green Archers. UST head coach Pido Jarencio was quoted as saying that, “We are down, but we are not out.” he said.
On today’s first game at the Araneta Coliseum, the UE Red Warriors will face the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons who suffered a winless season. The Red Warriors is already out of contention in the Final Four after they were defeated by Ateneo wanted to end their season on a high note.
