Final or bust for Tigers, Warriors

It’s do or die for University of the East and Santo Tomas as they clash for the last finals berth today in the 69th UAAP basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.

Drawing superb efforts from second stringers Mark Canlas and Jun Cortez, the Tigers downed the Warriors, 79-75, in Saturday’s Final Four to force the 4 p.m. knockout duel.

Ateneo de Manila, which topped the elimination round with a 10-2 (win-loss) slate, edged Adamson, 76-73, to clinch the first seat in the best-of-three finale slated on Sunday on the same venue.

The Warriors last advanced to the finals 16 years ago while the Tigers booked their last championship slot seven seasons ago. Both teams lost to eventual champion La Salle.

"It’s a matter of believing in our abilities and knowing that anything is possible if we play with pride and heart," said UST coach Pido Jarencio.

"We remained optimistic despite the loss," said UE mentor Dindo Pumaren.

Canlas, who averaged 10 playing minutes or less, got more minutes and delivered a career best 16 points while Cortez scored six of his seven points in the final 21 seconds to power the Tigers to the win.

But focus will be on MVP candidate Jervy Cruz, who struggled with just 11 points and nine rebounds in his last game and the Warriors top gun Bon Bon Custodio, who fired 17 points in the last game but committed seven turnovers mostly coming from crucial plays in the second half.

And Pumaren is confident Custodio will maintain a hig level of competitiveness in the match although he stressed he would still put premium on teamwork and defense to scuttle the Tigers and barge into the championship.

"Custodio works hard in practice. But what we’re focusing on is team effort because we always try to balance our production," Pumaren said.

Meanwhile, the Blue Eaglets seek to ride on a 12-game elimination round sweep as they take on the Far Eastern U Baby Tams in the best-of-three junior finals starting at 2 p.m. today.