It will be a game of death as the La Salle Green Archers face the Far Eastern University Tamaraws at 3:30 p.m. today at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Green Archers, who are struggling in the middle, need their big men to stop FEU slotman Prince Orizu when they clash in a playoff for the fourth seat in the Final Four of the 81st University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball tournament.
Former New Zealand youth team player Taane Samuel could have been the answer to the Green Archers’ manpower woes in the middle, but he missed 11 games due to a foot injury, posing serious chemistry issues with his teammates.
When the 6’9” Samuel returned, the Green Archers struggled with their rotation and took crucial losses to the defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles and the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons.
This resulted in a three-way tie from third to fifth places with their 8-6 record with the Fighting Maroons and the FEU Tamaraws.
The Fighting Maroons advanced to the Final Four on a better tiebreak record, leaving the Archers no choice but to get past the Tamaraws in order to earn a third semifinal stint in three years.
On the other hand, the Tamaraws will seek their sixth straight semifinal campaign.
Work is currently being done so that Taane will be able blend well with a rotation that involves Justine Baltazar, Santi Santillan and Brandon Bates.
So far, Taane has normed 8.0 points and 2.5 rebounds in 16.5 minutes per game, while Orizu has an average of 7.8 points and nine rebounds, while Arvin Tolentino can make 5.3 boards per game.
When Taane was absent, the Green Archers relied on the presence of Baltazar and Santillan inside. Baltazar was able to norm 9.6 rebounds, while Santillan had 8.6 per game.
“I need na hatakin muna nang kaunti si Taane for us to get better, wala namang problema rin kay Taane ‘yun. He knows kung nasaan siya ngayon,” said Green Archers’ coach Louie Gonzalez, hoping that the slotman jells with his teammates quickly.
The winner of the playoff will meet the second-seeded Adamson Falcons in the Final Four.
So far, the Green Archers are known as the league’s third best defensive team after allowing their rivals an average of 70.8 points. FEU ranks fourth in letting rivals make an average of 73.1 points at the end of the second round.
In terms of offensive rebounds, La Salle is no. 2 with 46.9 per game, with FEU in seventh at 43.1.
FEU earned this playoff match following their 82-56 victory over the Adamson Falcons. “‹