Five-year dynasty ends: Four squads seek UAAP’s biggest prize

MANILA, Philippines - And then there are four.

After a tightly fought elims that saw the end of a long reign, the chase for college basketball’s most coveted crown is now down to National U, De La Salle U, Far Eastern U and University of Santo Tomas.

NU, DLSU and FEU ended the double-round elims with identical 10-4 (win-loss) cards, underscoring the level playing field of the “open season” that was the UAAP season 76.

UST booked the last ticket to the Final Four by logging a 8-6 slate, pulling off the semis-clinching win at the expense of holders Ateneo, 82-74, on the final day of elims.

Practically untouchable the last five years, the Eagles saw a crushing end to their dynasty, a stop to their remarkable run to the Final Four after 14 straight appearances.

With the Eagles out of the picture for good, the Bulldogs, Archers, Tamaraws and Tigers are hungrier than ever to take over the mantle.

“It’s about time magpalit na, mag-iba naman ng champion,” said Tigers coach Pido Jarencio.

NU, which took No. 1 seeding by virtue of having the highest quotient among the three teams at the top, seeks to put the finishing touches to its transformation from the league’s whipping boys to the top dog. And yes, it’s been half a century since NU last brought home the coveted UAAP diadem.

Like the Bulldogs, the Archers, Tams and Tigers long to quench their thirst for UAAP glory.

The Archers, who swept the second round en route to a second consecutive semis stint, have their sights on a first title in six seasons under first-year coach Juno Sauler.

The Tams of coach Nash Racela, who got off to a red-hot 7-0 start to boost their bid, have set a Bull’s eye mark on a follow-up diadem to their conquest in 2005.

The Tigers, who bucked an injury-plagued season to book a return trip to the semis, seek to pull off a miracle run to the plum in the mold of their triumph in 2006.

NU and UST kick off their semis duel today at Smart Araneta while DLSU and FEU, which disputed No. 2 and its corresponding  twice-to-beat bonus first yesterday, tangle in their Final Four faceoff on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.