UAAP: UST vs DLSU round two preview and live-scoring

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In a game with massive Final Four implications, the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers will face off against the De La Salle University Green Archers, on Saturday at the MOA Arena.

Round one encounter

The UST Growling Tigers put themselves up big, 28-15, late in the second quarter of this season-opening game, but the Archers kept themselves in the thick of things by pulling to within a point, 50-49, with exactly two minutes left in regulation. A split at the line by Paolo Pe made it a two-point game, but a mid-range jumper by Jason Perkins equalized and sent things into overtime.

Karim Abdul stole the initiative at the start of OT, with a quick five points. The Archers made it a two-point affair anew with 28 seconds left, 60-58, but Aljon Mariano finished with a 3-of-4 clip from the foul line to start the Tigers' campaign with a win, 63-58

What's at stake

This game is pivotal towards determining who makes the Final Four and who doesn't. First off, if DLSU wins, that forces a three-way tie at the top, as they, NU and FEU will all have 10-4 records. Going by quotient, the Bulldogs will get the number one overall seed, while the Archers and Tams essentially play out a best-of-three series at the two and three spots (play off for twice-to-beat plus the ensuing series).

A DLSU win and a UST loss means the Tigers' game against the Blue Eagles next Wednesday becomes a must-win affair for last season's runners-up. If ADMU wins, they're the fourth seed, while if UST wins, they get the last ticket to the postseason.

On the flip side, if UST beats DLSU, and then beats Ateneo, the Tigers get third place thanks to a superior quotient to DLSU, who fall to fourth.

However, if UST beats La Salle, but then loses to Ateneo, there will be an additional playoff game between UST and Ateneo anew, to determine who gets the fourth seed.  

UST outlook

The Growling Tigers got back Jeric Teng, starting him recently against UP, where he played 27 minutes and scored nine points in a blowout. It was just his third complete game after having been injured and pulled out of two prior matches, both against NU, with long injury layoffs in-between. When the season began though, Teng's scoring prowess was on full display, norming 19 in UST's first pair of games.

If they're to make the Final Four, they'll need a healthy Teng back in the line-up, and he'll get a good test of his abilities playing versus his younger brother in this match.

DLSU outlook

The Green Archers have a chance to sweep the second elimination round should they defeat the Tigers, a stunning turnaround from their 3-4 finish to round one.

After starting off the season with a severe case of the sophomore slump, Jeron Teng has been particularly effective (though still not efficient). In a recent must-win game against the NU Bulldogs, Teng out-played Bobby Parks, 21-19 scoring-wise, thanks in part to making massive strides with regards to his free throw shooting, canning 8-of-13.

Just like with his older brother Jeric, Jeron's DLSU team has the potential to go very far, but only if he can continue to be a factor in crunch-time, instead of a liability.