FEU seeks semis incentive vs luckless UP

Early semifinalist Far Eastern University (FEU) shoots for a twice-to-beat incentive when it battles winless University of the Philippines (UP) on Sunday in the 73rd UAAP men's basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.

Sporting a 10-2 slate, the Tamaraws are expected to easily brush aside the hapless Maroons when they collide in the 2 p.m. opener of a scheduled doubleheader. The second game will have three-peat seeking and second-running Ateneo battling University of the Santo Tomas at 4 p.m.

The Blue Eagles, with a 9-3 record, try to keep themselves within striking distance of FEU for the lead before their highly-anticipated clash on September 11 that will wrap up the league's double-round eliminations.

Behind top Most Valuable Player (MVP) contender RR Garcia, the Tams shrugged off a third quarter meltdown for a 77-62 win over the pesky National University Bulldogs on Thursday.

Although clearly holding a distinct advantage over UP, coach Glenn Capacio doesn't want to see any complacency from his team. "From now on, we'll treat every game like we're fighting it out for the championship."

Aside from Garcia, FEU can also rely on Smart Gilas Pilipinas member Aldrech Ramos, Reil Cervantes and rookie Terrence Romeo when it comes to offense and the needed defensive stops.

UP has yet to get that elusive first victory after 12 games. And if the squad of acting coach Boyet Fernandez won't get their acts together in their final two matches, they'll became the first team in three years to go 0-14 during a season.

Ironically, it was the Maroons who last achieved the sorry feat with current members Woody Co and Martin Reyes also part of the squad that failed to win a single game in the 2007 season.

Meanwhile, the Eagles play their first game since surviving a 55-52 victory over Adamson last week.

Coach Norman Black will tap the services of American guard Kirk Long, Nico Salva, Eric Salamat and Ryan Buenafe.

Already out of contention, the Growling Tigers, behind Jeric Teng, Melo Afuang and Clark Bautista, will try to play spoiler role on the Eagles' quest of earning the twice-to-beat incentive in the Final Four.

UST, which will miss the Final Four for the second time in the last three seasons, holds a 4-8 record. - JVP, GMANews.TV