UNIVERSITY of the Philippines and National University seek to gain the needed separation against La Salle in the race for the two twice-to-beat slots in the Final Four as the joint leaders play struggling foes today in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Sporting similar 9-2 records, the Fighting Maroons and the Bulldogs are holding a one-game lead over the Green Archers, who are in third spot at 8-3 and have won their last five contests.

UP will take on Far Eastern University at 2 p.m., while NU tangles with also-ran University of Santo Tomas at 4 p.m.

La Salle will go up against a University of the East side fighting for its Final Four lives at 4 p.m. tomorrow at the Big Dome.

The Fighting Maroons will make their fifth straight Final Four appearance, while the Bulldogs are back in the semifinals for a second consecutive season.

Making a comeback after missing the Final Four bus the last time around are the Green Archers, who have fully recovered from their early season struggles.

With La Salle making a strong push of finishing in the top two after the eliminations, UP and NU is now focusing of getting as many wins as possible to secure the coveted Final Four incentives.

“Nasa Final Four na kami pero hindi pa tapos,” said third-year Bulldogs head coach Jeff Napa. “Mayroon pa kaming goals at mga pangarap. Lagi kong hinahamon yung mga players ko na abutin kung ano ang kaya namin.

“Parang sa US NCAA, mayroon pa rin kaming March Madness. Lagi namin dapat isipin na mahalaga ang bawat laro para makuha yung pangarap namin,” he added.

The Fighting Maroons cannot afford to be complacent against the Tamaraws, who will be formally eliminated from Final Four contention with a loss.

After completing a eliminations head-to-head sweep against defending champion Ateneo to open the second round, FEU has lost its last three games to drop to 3-8.

The Tamaraws does not have control of their Final Four destiny, as the Morayta-based squad needs to sweep its last three elims matches and hope that the No. 4 team in the standings won’t reach seven wins to force a playoff for the remaining berth.

For NU, its all about getting ready for the bigger battles.

The Bulldogs have high respects on the Growling Tigers, who gave the Blue Eagles fits in their previous game before getting booted out of the Final Four race for the third consecutive season.

The chase for the last Final Four spot remains hanging in the balance, as Ateneo and Adamson, which are tied in fourth place at 5-6, clash at 2 p.m. tomorrow.

The Red Warriors, sitting in sixth spot at 4-7, are in a must-win situation against the Green Archers.