University of the East became the darkhorse in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament after a five-game winning streak to end the first round of eliminations suddenly put the Red Warriors in Final Four conversation.

Opening with two consecutive losses, the Warriors even stunned defending champion La Salle in that run, a victory that heading into the Final Four remains the only blemish in the powerhouse Green Archers’ record.

But from needing a few more wins at 6-3 early in the second round to assure itself of a Final Four spot, the Warriors have lost four straight and now have their backs against the wall to catch the last bus to the semifinals.

La Salle and UP occupy the first two spots and have twice-to-beat protection against the Nos. 4 and 3 teams, respectively.

Running at No. 4, the Warriors were battling University of the Philippines at press time, and the Warriors can expect to gain no quarters from the Fighting Maroons, who are also out to sharpen their games with a semifinal collision with dangerous University of Santo Tomas coming.

The UP-UE clash should’ve been done by now if not for two postponements due to different circumstances. And it just fell on a perfect time to complete the semis cast.

And the Warriors, who will have Precious Momowei back just in time for the all-important matchup after serving a one-game suspension, are looking to advance to the semis for the first time since 2009 before bowing to the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the Finals.

Technically, Adamson is the only team that can catch UE at No. 4, but the Soaring Falcons would have to hurdle Ateneo and hope that the Maroons do beat the Warriors for them to be tied at 6-8.

A UE victory closes the door on Adamson.

But UP is not one to simply give special treatment to anyone despite already being assured of a semis spot and not especially after slowly gaining back traction from a two-game skid as it wants to take a winning feeling heading into the Final Four.

“We will always prepare for [anyone] in the best way that we could,” UP coach Goldwin Monteverde said after the Maroons eliminated the Tamaraws over the weekend. “When it comes to that day, we would always demand from ourselves to give our all at both ends.

“It’s already on our mind how to prepare for the Final Four so these two games that went by us, this is already a part of what we can learn here going toward the Final Four,” Monteverde said.

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