UAAP: FEU, NU to determine Final Four cast

Prior to Thursday, there were 16 different Final Four scenarios for UAAP fans to contemplate. After victories by UST and La Salle, coupled with the rejection of the Growling Tigers' protest by the UAAP board, we're down to just two, with the Far Eastern University Tamaraws and the National University Bulldogs controlling their destiny.

The two squads clash on Sunday, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, 4pm, in the ordered rematch of their second-round encounter. The last time these two squads played, a turnover by RR Garcia was quickly recovered by his side, with Roger Pogoy zipping the loose ball back their way. The former MVP Garcia caught the ball and had two options, go for the win himself, or zip the ball into the hands of a wide-open Anthony Hargrove who was right under the basket. Garcia chose the former, and according to the UAAP board, all the instant replays available could not prove whether or not he had gotten the ball out of his hands before time expired. As a result, a replay was ordered, and this now will be the capper for the 75th UAAP season's elimination round. What happens if NU wins? What happens if FEU wins? Those two questions are answered, below. Scenario 1 - NU defeats FEU If NU wins, then the top two seeds will be set, with 12-2 Ateneo de Manila University getting the top spot, and 10-4 UST claiming the second berth. It then becomes a matter of whom they'll face while armed with a twice-to-beat advantage. NU, DLSU and FEU will figure into a three-team tie, with all of them sporting 9-5 records. To break a three-team tie, the quotient system, basically a measure of how each team did against the other two squads, will be implemented to rank the trio. Whoever has the best quotient gets the third spot and faces UST. The remaining two teams will then have to figure in a playoff for the right to challenge the defending champs Ateneo. The Bulldogs will be the third placer in this scenario. They already have the best quotient and their number will only improve because they have to beat FEU to get to this point, and DLSU has no more opportunities to hike up their score. That means the Tams and the Archers will have an additional loser-goes-home game. Interestingly enough, this projects to be the path to an Ateneo-UST Finals. The Eagles swept their season series against both FEU and DLSU, while UST won both their games against NU. The underdogs will definitely need to pull a rabbit out of their hats, not once but twice, if they're to wreck this arrangement. Scenario 2 - FEU defeats NU If the more veteran Tams squad defeats the Bulldogs anew, the host school will have to put their tail between their legs and go home, as they'll drop to 8-6, below DLSU's 9-5 card. That means the Archers get in and will face arch-rivals Ateneo in the Final Four. Meanwhile, UST and FEU will tie at 10-4. Because a twice-to-beat advantage is at stake, they'll need to battle in a playoff to determine their final standing, effectively making this a best two-out-of three series. Considering how the Tigers lost both times to the Tamaraws in the elimination round, let's just say this isn't what Espana is rooting to happen. It also sets up Ateneo versus FEU in the Finals for the third straight season. - AMD, GMA News Who will complete the Final Four cast and who will have to settle for fifth place? Let us know what you think in the comments.