Bulldogs aim to close in on twice-to-beat semis bonus

Games Wednesday

(Mall of Asia Arena)

7:30 a.m. – UE vs UST (U16)

9:30 a.m. – FEU vs NU (U16)

12 p.m – UE vs UST (women)

2 p.m. – UE vs UST (men)

4:30 p.m. – FEU vs NU (men)

7 p.m. – FEU vs NU (women)

MANILA, Philippines — After clinching the first Final Four spot, National University marches on in a bid to secure at least a playoff for one of the two bonuses against Far Eastern University in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Game time is at 4:30 p.m., with the Bulldogs trying to move a step closer to the twice-to-beat incentive opposite the Tamaraws after being the first semifinalists with their ninth win last week via a 66-65 escape act from the Adamson Soaring Falcons.

University of Santo Tomas, at 2 p.m., battles the also-ran University of the East (0-11) to break free from a tie with Ateneo at No. 4, owing to similar 5-5 slates as the UAAP resumes after the postponement of games lats Sunday due to typhoon Uwan.

Ahead of UST and Ateneo are NU (9-2), titleholder UP (8-3) and La Salle (6-4), which are the only teams who could climb to 10 wins, which gives NU an inside track with another win against the dangerous FEU.

The Tamaraws are clinging just outside the Final Four picture at 4-6 along with Adamson (5-6) as the intense two-round race enters the deciding homestretch.

For head coach Jeff Napa, now’s not the time to let go of the throttle with one of its first goals already within reach for a full reversal of roles after missing the Final Four last season with a dismal 5-9 slate.

“Leveling our game coming into the last stretch is very crucial for us,” said Napa, whose wards trumped the Falcons on Mark Parks’ game-winner for their third straight win. “This will determine who and what we are going all the way to the Final Four. “

The Bulldogs have beaten all UAAP squads except for the Fighting Maroons — who beat them twice — including an easy 84-68 win over the Tamaraws in the first round.

NU, however, expects a tougher fight this time with FEU slowly but surely scaling the ranks to stay afloat in the tight Final Four race.

The Tamaraws, after a forgettable first round start, had won two of their last three games to catch up with the Falcons as well as the suddenly struggling Growling Tigers and the Blue Eagles for the desired fourth seed.

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